/ /, v February 3 -February 17 Vol. 1 No. 8 Contributors Roseanne K ing Lisa M. Keen Jane Howard Rupert K innard D ouglas B loch S cott Swentek Diana Plunkett Garcia Phelps Bruce Mason Staff P ublisher O ut M edia Inc. D ire cto r Renee LaChance E ditor Jay Brow n P ublic R elations D irecto r Lisa Bouslaugh Art Contributor E. Ann Hinds P rod uction D irecto r Bev La Belle S ta ff P hotographers Sherri Riggs Helen Lottridge G raphic D esign D irecto r Rupert K innard D istrib u tio n Bev La Belle C harlotte W alters E A dvertising A ssociates Eve S icular Sarah Koehl B retton Palm Sherri Riggs D I T If the ’60s were the daw ning o f the Age o f Aquarius, then the '80s m ust surely be the Age o f C ynicism . In ju st one m onth, January 1984, we witnessed the follow ing: Ronald Reagan no m ina ted Edward (There are no hungry people in Am erica) Meese as his choice for United States A ttorney General; Linda Chavez, a recent appointee as Executive D irector o f the Human R ights C om m ission, said that the reason w om en and blacks do not get traditionally white male jo b s is because they d o not apply fo r them . In a m em o urging the com m ission to study the issue, saying that it may em erge as the m ost im p o rta n t civil rights issue o f the 1980s, Chavez said, “The principle that underlies com par­ able w orth is a fundam entally radical one that w ould alter ou r existing m arketplace economy.” Inequality in salaries am ong races or between the sexes is due in large measure to choice, she said — w om en o r blacks often choose jobs that pay less. She cited herself as an example: Enthusiasm and appreciation D ear Just Out, A go od m any o f m y guests and I wish to express o u r enthusiasm and appreciation o f th e article on U n le a rn in g R acism by Dennis Peterson. M y experience in being discrim inated against w hen I was a ch ild is very m inim al com pared to m any o th e rs— bu t how clearly I re m em b er it It’s m y be lie f that every parent and every teacher needs to be m ade m ore aware o f the self-esteem robberies caused by racism and d iscrim in a tio n . C ongratulations on the good q u a lity o f J u s t Out\ Sincerely, Ja cq u e lin e Barrett o f Jacqueline’s See Vue M otel Excellent forum D ear Staff: I w ant to take the op portun ity to thank you Just Out February 3-February 17 fo r y o u r excellent handling o f som e im p o rta n t and controversial issues in ou r com m un ity. Just O ut provides an excellent fo ru m fo r good investigative journalism and the valuable exchange o f ideas and in fo r­ m ation. W orking w ith your editorial staff has been a d e lig h t Best wishes fo r continued and increased su cce ss. . . we need vou. Sincerley, Roseanne K ing Unlearning Racism enlightening D ear Just Out: I w ould like to offer a hearty “ HEAR, HEAR" to D ennis Peterson’s enlightening article on “ U nlearning R acism " in the January 6th is­ sue. W hat a relief and jo y it was to hear others vocalize th e ir hurts, frustrations and anger at an age old m alady o f o u r seem ingly “ civi­ lized” society. I have been greatly concerned w ith the J u s t O u t is published every other Friday. C op yright 1983. N o part of J u s t O ut may be reproduced w itho ut w ritten perm ission fro m the publishers. W ritten and graphic m aterials are w elcom ed. W ritten m aterial sho uld be double-spaced. Deadline is ten days p rio r to publication date fo r ads and w ritten m aterial. Camera ready ads w ill be accepted no later than five days from p u b li­ catio n date. J u s t O u t w ill reject or edit any article or advertisem ent that is offensive, dem eaning, o r m ay result in legal action. The views expressed in letters to the editor, colum ns, and features m ay not be those o f the editorial staff o f Just Out. S ubscriptions are available fo r $ 10.00 for 26 issues. Ad rates are available upon re que st The m ailing address fo r Ju st O u t is 923 SW 17th, Ste. B, Portland, OR 97205. Phone 503-223-9652. O R I C O N T E N T S Out around the n a tio n ....... 4 Out in Oregon ....................... 5 Corrinne and Strough .......... 6 Out about Town ................ 8 Just Entertainment ...............10 Life of Ryan ...........................11 Profile .................................. 13 BLGU Report ....................... 14 Star Talk .............................. 14 A L “ I co u ld m ake m ore m oney in the corporate w orld, but I choose to be in public service." And if that isn’t enough; the sam e week that Reagan sajd his massive stockpiling o f m u n itio n s and nuclear warheads is keeping the w orld safe from nuclear destruction the O re g o n ia n carried a half-page story ou tlin in g the Pentagon’s plans fo r WWIV. T hat’s W orld W ar 4. A ccording to the scenario, after all the nuclear devices have been exchanged in W orld W ar 3 a Poseidon subm arine hiding under the A rctic Icecap w ill provide the denouem ent, “ You let the other guy know that no m atter what happens, we re still going to be able to make his rubble bounce a b it" This last is a com m ent made by an adviser to several congressional nuclear-freeze leaders. J a y B ro w n attitudes o f bigotry in people fo r the greater p o rtio n o f m y life. However, the past year has seen a resurgence in m y fire fo r m ilitancy against racism as I have realized m y own hom osexuality and have been witness to a m yriad o f hom ophobic statem ents from possesses the virtue by w hich we can con­ dem n som eone else." I rem em ber tears co m ­ ing to m y eyes when she so eloquently told m e th a t principle w hich has guided her life, and it was shortly after th a t that I made the decision o f choosing her to be the very first stra ig h t’ friend to hear that I was gay. I fin d it iron ic that we as gay people can becom e outraged to the po int o f physical violence at the injustice portrayed because o f the un tim ely release o f convicted killer, Dan W hite, b u t still insist on con tinuin g to judge people, even o f o u r own sub-culture, on the basis o f color, social status, clothing, appear­ ance, o r sexual preference. I’m even m ore dism ayed that we as gay people can continue to consider ourselves so alm ig hty when we ourselves are the victim s o f countless infer­ ences, pu t downs, and jokes o f bad taste by stra ig h t' society. Personally, m y com in g out heterosexual ‘friends.’ How dare we as m em ­ bers o f a culture o f proclaim ed equality co n ­ sider ourselves any better than our neighbors? W ith what standards o r criteria are we to ju d g e anyone? As a very close heterosexual friend once to ld m e: “ We are all on this earth doing the very best th a t we can and if one o f us stu m ­ bles, it is up to the rest o f us to help that hurt one along. We a ll m ake m istakes, and that is w ith o u t exception. Therefore, not one o f us process has been the single m ost en lig hte n­ ing and educational experience o f m y life, especially in reference to attitudes o f patience, tolerance and understanding co n ­ cern in g those groups w ho were at one tim e repulsive to me. C ivil rights has becom e o f param oun t im portance to me, because now it hits at hom e. (O nce a R epublican, now a D em ocrat?) The answer? F irst and forem ost is an in- erased attitude o f pride and confidence in w ho we are and that we are still viable co n ­ trib u to rs to o u r society. O ur battle cry should be: "Sexual Preference Does N ot D eterm ine P ersonality!!’’ Then a relearned attitude o f tolerance, patience and genuine concern for all indviduals regardless o f any quality in the m w hich m ay not appeal to us. And finally, a little un cond itiona l love never hurt anyone! (If this letter is printed, you m ay p rin t m y nam e boldly, w ith prid e!!) Roger Wilson 3