What it is like
being young and
gay, period.
To the editor,
The question is not what s it like being
young and gay in Portland (Ju st Out. O c t
1985) it's what’s it like being young and gay,
period. No matter where the youth live there
are many problem s they face. Being gay has
been for years taboo. This generation,
though, has made remarkable strides in the
trek to make homosexuals a part of today’s
society, and to finally let ‘closet cases ’
"come out and be recognized. Yet all these
strides are but small steps for those still in
hiding in small towns and com m unities like
Klam ath Falls.
I “ cam e out in, what I feel to be the most
restrictive place any gay male could possibly
com e out in, Klamath Falls. I grew up in a
suburb of Los Angeles, and moved to Kla­
m ath when I was 13 .1 did not realize I was gay
until m y sophom ore year in high school! And
to adm it to one s self that he or she was gay
as well as the many other problems a teen
faces, has been the cause of many trying
years.
Activities for youth, whether gay or not, are
very lim ited in Klamath Falls. Like many
small towns, Klamath has its gay population,
m ost o f which is forced to remain “ closet
cases.’ There just is not enough public
awareness, and initiative to give us the free­
d o m we desperately seek.
After a recent trip to Portland I found that
being around a more informed and accept­
ing society was indeed a change of pace. I
found it difficult being around other gays and
lesbians who were so open and expressive of
themselves. They were very proud to be who
they were, and weren't afraid to show it I have
com e out in a com m unity that frowns on
ANYONE beng different than the “ norm.“
This conform ity has been a detrim ent to my
own individuality. I have found difficulties in
relating to other gays, other than those here
in Klamath. I have met others in Portland,
Seattle, San Francisco and Los Angeles to
nam e a few, and have found them to be
rather expressive and forward. All these years
I have refrained from being myself. I have had
to con form to the m old society has given me.
I have tried the transition from the small town
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to the big city, but I have shied away, and
crawled back to the submission of the small
town. Maybe being restricted to the life of the
closet has kept me from seeng what the
world is really like.
I have found many times I could have used
a social group like W indfire or the Bridge
Group, but due to my locality traveling 600
miles round trip is just a little much. Being
caught in a constant battle with one’s self, as
well as others who just plainly do not under­
stand is, at times, just too hard to face alone.
After meeting Lanny Swerdlow, the owner
o f The City in Portland, and spending an
evening in his club, I realized how caught-up I
was in this world of intentional molding. It is
difficult for those.of us trapped in small
towns, unable to make the move or transition
to the big city, to become fully aware of our
sexuality. I praise the work that Lanny, and
others like him, are doing for those of us
young gays and lesbians in today’s society.
Scott Michaels (Steiner)
Comics clobbered
To the Editor:
Well, I see that, once again, the Editorial
Staff of Ju st O ut has chosen to take yet
another cheap shot at those whom it dis­
agrees with. Though not nessessarily* a big
fan of “ Paunchy Bobby" I still regard the Oct.
issue of Cathartic Comixs as offensive and
im m ature*
The glee over another papers* demise, as
shown in the Editorial page cartoon is both
unprofessional and self-serving. It does not
show the com m unities* best interest to label
an entire paper “ unconsciencess“ * simply
because of personal differences that may
exist between people.
As a wom an who is both a form er staff
m em ber of The Eagle and a leatherwoman, I
took offence* at the inference that the entire
staff of a paper would be held accountable for
personal disagreements. There were too
m any people involved with the* Eagle ,
people dedicated to the Lesbian/Gay com ­
m unity to be able to make a blanket judge­
m ent about the so-called shortcom ings of
the publication.
Portland needs choices and alternitive*
viewpoints, and the loss o f one is a loss to
everyone — not one that should be gloated
over. The petty remarks of Ju st Out insult all
the readers, staff and advertiers* of the*
E agle, and do a disservice to the Lesbian/
Gay com m un ity in general.
As a writer and a person, I will still continue
to voice my opinions in Whatever manner
may be available. The loss of one alternitive*
then only impresses upon me more the need
for more then* one avenue of expression or
focus. I challenge the Editorial Staff of Just
O ut to print this letter, and only regret that
they failed to have the moral integrity to air
such criticism while the* Eagle was still
in p rin t
Ours is a very diverse community, and
knowing the need for alternitives*. I am sad­
dened to see personel* com pitition* or vin­
dictiveness take precidence* over the greater
goal of united action and com m unity good.
Sincerely,
Sallee Huber
*(sic), ed.
to help. Some of the women not only volun­
teered for a shift but donated blood as well.
We thank the Red Cross nursing staff who
worked the drive in a professional and caring
way. And lastly, a special thank you to each of
the wom en who took the time, the energy
and the selflessness to com e in to give blood.
It was wonderful to see such powerful and
pure cooperation from all the parties involved
in this success. Watch early in 1986 for the
next drive!
Sincerley,
Lynda M. Oakley
Red Cross Consultant
. .
Lesbian Blood drive
great success
To the Editor:
A very good thing happened on Thursday,
O ctober 10th. A succesful event brought di­
verse elements of the com m unity together.
C.C.S.M. (the Gay and Lesbian Hotline) and
Parents and Friends of Lesbians and Gays
co-sponsored a blood drive for the American
Red Cross at the Y.W.C.A This blood drive
was special in that it was a women's only drive
aimed at the lesbian and women’s com m uni­
ties. Fifty-nine women came to give blood. As
always, some were unable to donate for vari­
ous reasons and in the end 49 units were
added to the blood supply. Through com po­
nent therapy, well over a hundred patients
may have their lives extended or saved
through these gifts of life.
Many, many thanks are in order. The staff
of the Y.W.CA downtown provided the site,
tables, chairs and people to help setup and
keep things flowing smoothly. Beyond this
however, they were highly supportive and
cooperative in a personal, giving way. For
helping spread the word, we thank KBOO
Radio, Ragtimes, Just Out, City Week,
Lesbian Forum, Gay Mayor’s Committee,
Primary Domain, Old Wives Tales, A
W om an’s Place Bookstore, Club 927, m em ­
bers of C.C.S.M. and Parents F.L.A.G. and a
host of individuals who did personal signing
up, passing out flyers or just talking it up.
Those who prepared the delicious snacks for
the drive were really appreciated and often
com plim ented throughout the day. Then we
com e to the volunteers who spent hours
helping out that day doing a variety of tasks.
Their enthusiasm and supportive attitudes
kept everything on a positive note. Some of
the volunteers were gay men recognizing an
opportunity for them to help the blood pro­
gram in a different way since they cannot
donate at this time. Some were members of
the sponsoring organizations showing their
support. Some were individuals just wanting
Blood drive
courageous step
To the editor:
This letter is in appreciation of your sup­
port and courage showed on October 10,
1985 by initiating, hosting, feeding and
participating in the Women Only Blood Drive
held at the YWCA
At a tim e that the A D S crisis is casting a
chill and a shadow over the two-decade-old
Civil Rights M ovement as it relates to lesbians
and gay men, it is indeed encouraging to
have the support o f all your com m unities.
It is particularly strengthening to draw
upon your efforts to demonstrate that there is
a co m m o n bridge between our respective
com m unities — a bridge of care and con­
cern. And indeed, it is also a clear statement
that the safest, m ost risk-free blood in Am eri­
ca is that o f our sisters in the movement.
It is also encouraging that the Portland
Chapter o f the American Red Cross dared to
do what some other Red Cross chapters have
steered clear ot — a controversial subject I
w ould sim ply encourage a m ore open, an­
nounced and visible effort the next time you
do so, and I hope you are already planning
such a second e ffo rt
B ut for now. and for your effort, thanks for
taking the time, the risk and the chance to
lend your support in behalf o f who we are: gay
and lesbian people who are fighting for our
lives.
Sincerely, j
Bernard N. Merrill !
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