R
M edia watch
targets violence
on KPDX-TV
To the Editor:
The Portland Chapter of the National
Organization for Women is sponsoring a
write-in campaign during the month of
April protesting KPDX’s policy of show
ing films containing R-rated scenes of vio
lence towards women (rape, torture,
murder) during prime time, when children
will he watching.
Recently KPDX showed Deathwish II,
a very violent film containing a ten-minute
gang rape scene which included not only
multiple sexual assaults on a young wo
man, but also a brutal beating, and the
victim’s grisly death when she attempted
to escape by jumping through a w indow,
and landed on a picket fence.
The station does not have any policy for
editing films, and because it is not network
affiliated, it does not have to conform to
the standards of the National Association
of Broadcasters. KPDX asserts that its
warning that the material may be offensive
is adequate to protect audiences for whom
these scenes might be traumatic. NOW
feels that it is unreasonable to expect a
parent or adult will be able to supervise
children’s television viewing habits at all
times.
The Portland Chapter of NOW is urging
those concerned about this practice to
write to KPDX during the month of April
and ask them to either move the films
which contain R-rated scenes of violence
towards women to later time slots, or to
edit their prime time films in accordance
with network standards.
steps like those the store Headlines took in
San Francisco, offering four or so different
types of condoms at cost? At from 90 to
130 per condom, the cost certainly seems
justified, given the possible alternative.
Sincerely,
Alan Nicholson
Avila Beach, CA
Sincerely,
Portland NOW Media Watch Committee
Condom complaints
misplaced?
I find your commentary on condoms in
the February issue a bit misplaced. Despite
whatever guarantees the manufacturers
deem to give or not give, the important
thing here is that studies have shown that
condoms can be a block to the transmis
sion of HIV. True, we are not given a
recommendation for use of condoms for
anal sex nor a promise that we will escape
infection if we use them, but likewise,
neither are women given a 100% guarantee
that they can avoid pregnancy through
their use. In spite of lack of assured safety,
until proved otherwise, their use should be
advocated.
If money is a problem, why can’t some
gay-oriented store or organization take
TWO WEEKS ESCORTED FROM PORTLAND
BY ROGER BULLIS
DEPARTING SEPTEMBER 1st
RETURNING SEPTEMBER 15th
4 DAYS IN HONG KONG
11 DAYS IN REPUBLIC OF CHINA
(Guangzhou, Guilin, Shanghai, Xian, Beijing)
TOUR INCLUDES ALL TRANSPORTATION,
MOST MEALS, ACCOMMODATIONS, SIGHT
SEEING, TAXES, + VISA APPLICATION FEE.
Starved for the
metaphysical
To the Editor:
I am very sorry to have missed your
issue on Spirituality: Altaring Sensations.
I am a lesbian and several years ago finally
found a philosophy and way of life that
made sense to me — metaphysics. My life
became very exciting and worthwhile
when I started exploring spirituality and
consciousness.
What I find difficult is meeting other
gays and lesbians of like mind — I know
you must be out there.
At times I feel like I’m starving to meet
and talk with gays, male and female, who
are into metaphysics and personal growth.
I would love to see some articles on
what is going on with gay people and
metaphysics in the Portland area.
Ju st O ut 4
224-3580
a shower while wearing a raincoat. It’s
very easy to make excuses when one
doesn’t want to live up to one’s own
personal and social responsibilities. In
1987 there is no excuse for any sexually
active male not to use a condom, unless he
has been in an exclusive monogamous re
lationship for the past 10 years. Anything
less is inviting death.
Behavioral changes are not easy to
make. Changing sexual behavior, in my
experience, has been the most difficult
change of all. At the same time it has
forced me to look closely at some very
important issues in my life. Through the
process I’ve encountered untold personal
growth, frustration, and excitement as
well as a sense of self-worth, affirmation
and pride. Pride in myself for having safe-
fun, for changing risky activities and pride
in my community for taking responsible
actions to halt — or at least slow down —
the spread of AIDS and for being a good
role model for the rest of our society.
When I see the heterosexual hysteria over
AIDS I can see we HAVE come a long way
in a very short time.
Safer-sex has nothing to do with being
politically correct, keeping commitments
alive (it’ll just keep you and your partner
alive), sex as a lifestyle or social and/or
sexual represssion. It’s all quite simple
when you think about it. I forgot my con
dom, couldn’t you just die?
B. Huson
Portland
Sincerely,
David Diehnel
Portland
Quite simply,
safe-sex will keep
you and your
partner alive
Couple seeks help
on custody battle
To the Editor:
Maybe because it’s Monday and I’m a
little dense. After reading your editorial
several times I’m still not sure what the
author is trying to say. Even in his vague
ness I am compelled to respond. I’m just
not sure what to respond to.
I don’t know where your writer is from
or what cave he’s been hiding in for the
past several years, but I’m more than a
little bored with the assertion that Safcr-
Sex means no sex. I’m surprised he didn't
say that sex with a condom was like taking
Uncommon
Scents. . .
A complete line
of bath, beauty
and skin care
products.
GROUP LIMITED TO COMMUNITY MEMBERS AND FRIENDS
(lilTOIIChTirow«l)
S
Yam hill M arket Place
and 5th St. Public Market, Eugene
Uncommon Scents
To the Editor:
We are a lesbian couple involved in a
child custody suit. We live in a small rural
town and so were surprised, and of course
extremely grateful when the judge granted
us ‘Temporary Custody” at the prelimi
nary injunction. Our attorney feels we
have a good chance to win permanent
custody as well.
The major problem we are faced with at
this point is managing to keep up with the
spiraling legal fees, and the fees for the
psychologist who has been ordered by the
court to participate, at our expense. To
date, we have exhausted our finances in
paying these bills which have already ex
ceeded $4,000.00!
So out of our desperation, we are reach
ing out to you, to all our friends every
where, and to those who are sympathetic
with our struggle. We need your help. We
have no other resources nor alternatives
available to us.
Please help by sending any amount of
money, or money pulling power, and/or
positive energy and/or encouraging letter >
to. F. K ing.PO . Box235,Sutherlin.OR
97479.
In Sisterhood we are strong. We thank
you. each of you. We thank you sincerely
from the bottom of our hearts.
Sincerely,
F. King
Sutherlin. OR