Image provided by: University of Oregon Libraries; Eugene, OR
About Just out. (Portland, OR) 1983-2013 | View Entire Issue (Aug. 1, 1985)
and Seattle, and in Portland, where a gay rights ordinance was recently lost It was agreed that in Multnomah County, gay politi cal organization is “top down" — organized most at the higher levels, but less well- organized at a more grass-roots level. The decisions made for the passage of the Mult nomah County ordinance, and later for its repeal, were all made at the top. And the secrecy that characterized this decision making process tied the hands of the com munity at large, proving again that back-room politics is insufficient in the face of a right wing initiative, says Nelson. Nelson believes that a broad-based, grass roots movement can defeat the right wing’s present tactics. As long as gays work, then gay rights is a labor issue; as long as there are gays of color, then gay rights is a racial issue; as long as there are women who are lesbian, then gay rights is a feminist issue. A coalition can out-publicize, out-number, and out- organize the right wing. Standing up to adversity collectively is not however, a tactic used by conservative gay leadership. In fact according to Nelson, gay leaders sometimes have reasons to abet op pression. The elite of the movement — White, male and affluent can still buy privilege, no matter how narrow, within pre sent society. For them, there is more to fear from freedom of all individuals than reason to resent the “conditional freedom" and privi lege of belonging to an elite. By the secrecy of its dealings with established power, for exam ple, conservative gay leaders "tie the hands” of more radical gays. For the elite, there is too much to lose — affluence and privilege — by allowing equal process to all. Gay conserva tives fear less the right wing than the radical tendency of their own communty because the gay left represents the loss of privilege. All forms of oppression operate within the same network, and gay rights is not the only issue. “Anything less than 100% backing of all victims of oppression means someone is be ing sold short," said Nelson. “Mutual self- defense aid" across the realm of minorities is the only workable answer to the right wing’s present tactics. Working solely within gay politics is self-defeating. Rather, one must work in other causes as a gay "be on other people’s sides, not just your own." Solidarity at the grass-roots is the only way of meeting and defeating the right C.A.P. receives grant for condom cam paign b y B row n M cD onald The Cascade AIDS Project has received $ 1,880.00 from the Venereal Disease Action Council to begin distributing condoms in Portland’s gay bars and baths and initiate a Condom Campaign that will be on-going and self-sustaining. Several of Portland’s most popular bars have expressed a strong interest in helping to educate their customers about condoms and to make them available for a very small donation. Some of Portland’s baths are already distributing condoms to their customers. A group of bartenders and owners called Bartenders Against AIDS has formed under the leadership of David Lee to assist C A P. in managing the campaign at interested bars. Distribution of the condoms began Saturday July 20 at the City Nights Benefit featuring Sylvester. Condom use is an effective way to help prevent the transmission of disease, includ ing the HTLV-III virus, the presumed cause of AIDS. The risk of transmitting AIDS is greatly reduced and potentially eliminated if a con dom is used during intercourse and CAP. is urging all gay men to begin using condoms if they haven’t already started. C A P. plans to distribute 10,000 condoms to all bars parti cipating in the condom campaign and to make the campaign self-sustaining by asking for a 25C donation for each condom. This small donation will permit C A P. to keep the bars stocked with condoms that are a frac tion of the cost if purchased in a retail outlet The condoms selected are packaged attrac tively and non-offensively and will be attached to a card that lists sexual activities according to the level of risk involved. They also offer yet another opportunity to lem more about Safesex by attending Safesex Workshop IV at the Embers/Avenue on Saturday, August 10 from 2-5 p.m. If you haven’t attended one of the previous work shops, NOW is the time to come. Not only will they discuss and outline the mechanics of safer sex, but they will talk about the psycho logical and emotional issues involved. Past response to the Safesex Workshops has been outstanding and you’re REALLY cheating yourself if you don’t attend. The support you’ll get from the other men attending will add something very special to your life. It’s a chance to take a step that can make ALL the difference. City Nights Group works a miracle b y Jay B row n City Nights Group knows how; with one benefit event they managed to work a miracle by raising more than $ 11,000 for the gay people of Oregon facing AIDS. The moneys raised by the City Nights Group's Sylvester concert on July 20 will be given to the existing AIDS oriented organizations in Oregon, Cascade AIDS Project and the Community Health Support Services (PAL Project). “The Sylvester Concert was a rousing sue- cess," said Steve Fosler, City Nights Group spokesperson. "We are very, very pleased at the turnout and we are most happy that the concert attracted such a wide mix of more than 1000 people. City Nights Group is composed of a dozen or so men in Portland’s gay community who have been involved in other organizations. They banded together early in the year for the specific purpose of raising money by produc ing benefits for T h e gay people of Oregon facing AIDS." More benefit events are in the offing, ac cording to Fosler. We hope to do one or two a year. The overwhelming success of the Sylvester Concert surprised even us. And we re forging ahead on the next event” Barbara Aehle by Kim M ohr "We are the chosen ones — not some of us But all of us, every one Not just the meek, not just the strong These divisions are all wrong. We are the chosen ones, not just some of us But all of us, every one We are chosen to do our best ‘til we finally get to rest” "The Chosen Ones" from Secrets by Linda Tillery. Composed by Tony Eldon. Barbara Aehle died on July 9, in a one-car accident on 1-86 near American Falls, Idaho. Ms. Aehle was bom in Seattle on August 7, 1952. Barb moved to Portland in 1973, and it was about this time when she played with the Lavender Menace softball team. She was one of the original members of the jug band which was first called “Pearl Stewart and the Rocky Mountain Mamas." Barb also played guitar in Portland with a ’50s band and used her ’56 Chevy convertible, Sister Mary Elephant in many promo pictures. Barb left Portland to live on a reservation for a year, then returned to work at Bradley Angle House and W HO Farm. Barb was the heart of Red Spirit Creations, a Native American craft shop in Old Town, associated with the Urban Indian Council. Barb was an activist involved with many minority concerns. Whether the issues were Indian rights, lesbian and gay rights, women’s rights, street people, or differently abled persons. Barb’s vision and love truly brought a coalition of people together for the better ment of all people. A memorial fund in Barbara Aehle’s name has been established. The fund will be used to assist runaway youth and street people and for indigent people who need financial aid for Native American ceremonies. Contribution to the Barbara Aehle Memorial Fund may be sent to: Urban Indian Council, Inc., P.O. Box 3198, Portland, OR 97208. Attention: Barbara Aehle Memorial Fund. Looking for gay community? Join the Group Program at Phoenix Rising Activity and Growth group experiences in an 8-week biock for lesbians and gay men. The Group Program provides a place to grow, learn, play, and just be together. Next session begins Wednesday Septem ber nth, 6:30-10 p.m. Call Phoenix Rising now to register or for more information 223 8299 SUNNfySIDFUP b a k e ry and C A F 6 - - Phoenix Rising Foundation 408 S. W. 2nd Avenue, Suite 407 Portland, Oregon 97204 (503) 223 8299 - °ups -Salads »Sandwiches »Desserts ^t<uo d e rv in f é u * <*W (vine! -¿w m n d c w '^ }/c m e m a d ( ^ — 7am-8pm tues-sat ^ * * * p icn ic (uncA ^ ni^Atc onci SuncUu, m+xnincn 3566 SI Hawthorne- Just Out? August. 1985 Sundays Sam-2pm Bringing Lesbians and Gag men together since 1979 233-9405 7