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S ummer
B argains
Rape survivors memorial founded
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Our war has never been declared and our veterans
do not organize
B Y
K A M I L A
A L - N A J J A R
he word rape may evoke different images
in different minds, but a commonly felt
emotion among most women is fear and the
desire for self-protection. Many women make
decisions based upon the fear of rape — not
taking a night class, not going on a late - night
walk or run without a companion, even avoid­
ing certain secluded places during the daytime
hours. Although women do many things to pro­
tect themselves from rape, there is still no
guarantee of safety. Many women are raped by
someone with whom they are
acquainted.
Because rape has become an integral part of
the lives of women, a group of Portland women
are taking a new approach to bring the subject to
the forefront of public awareness. Zekra
Brasher, Chari Chauvin, Leslie Haigh, Dorsie
Hathaway and Carolyn Gage have formed the
founding committee for the Women’s Rape
Museum Project.
Gage, an active member and one of the
founders of the Portland Chapter of the
National Organization for Women, said, “ The
idea of the Women’s Rape Museum came to me
in stages. I was reading the book Shrapnel of the
Heart, which documents individuals’ reactions
to the Vietnam Veterans’ Memorial in Wash­
ington, D.C. The memorial is a long black wall
T
carrying the 58,000 names of the men and
women who died in Vietnam. Visitors leave
flowers, letters and articles belonging to the
soldiers on the ledge that runs under the names.
These articles are collected and preserved in a
special museum associated with the war
memorial. Volunteer veterans staff the
memorial 24 hours a day and assist people who
need help handling their rage and grief. The
testimonies in the book demonstrated the
healing power of a ritual gathering place for
survivors.
“ I began to envision such a memorial for
rape survivors. Our war has not only never been
declared, but it has never even been ack­
nowledged as war, and our veterans do not
organize. As I worked with the idea of a rape
memorial, I began to run into problems. Our
victims are still alive and certainly do not want
their names publicized. Also, our war is not
over, and there is as much need for education
and defense strategies as for grief and healing. I
saw that a museum could combine these
functions.’’
Gage encourages community involvement
and support; persons interested may attend the
Women’s Rape Museum Project planning
meeting on Sunday, June 19, from 7 to 8 pm, at
the Portland NOW office, 2215 SE Division St.
For more information, call 236-6341.
•
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‘‘A t Oak Street Station”
Cretin banner sparks confrontation at Lloyd Center
he central mall area of Lloyd Center was
the scene of a confrontation between
members of the gay community and cretins
petitioning to overturn Executive Order 87-20.
T
The cretins displayed a 10-foot banner
emblazoned with NO SPECIAL RIGHTS FOR
HOMOSEXUALS', also on display were Bibles
and other anti-gay propaganda.
Rose fe s t iv a l Court
David Olstein, a gay man
who complained about the
anti-gay banner to Lloyd
Center operations personnel,
was himself banned from
Lloyd Center property.
Olstein reported that Bert
Smith, Lloyd Center operations
manager, called him a
“ faggot.” Smith denied
Olstein’s claim.
Bob Stevens, Lloyd Center
director of marketing and
public relations, said that
Lloyd Center is powerless to
have the offensive banner
removed from their property.
“ I find the sign being used
offensive and unnecessary,”
Stevens commented. “ Lloyd
Center asked that the sign be
removed and the petitioners
refused, invoking the court
order that allows them to be in
the center.”
The petitioners must gather
more than 63,000 valid
signatures by July 1,1988, for
the initiative to appear on the
general-election ballot in
November.
— Harold Moore
Photo by Jo\ Hroo n
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P sy ch o lo g ica l R esident
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654-9866
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Just Out • 11 • June 1988