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About Just out. (Portland, OR) 1983-2013 | View Entire Issue (June 1, 1988)
G ay pride 1988: still angry after all these years HAL JONES AUTOMOTIVE JOY ENTERPRISES Those who keep silent condone bigotry because they refuse to stand and be counted against it B Y M I C H A E L S~ R E E D And we cannot forget that there are gay and y fearless editor called the other day to lesbian children, too. Those children have as tell me that someone out there found parts of this column obscene and was going much to right to the information of their subculture as does any other minority. This particular sub take it straight to the attorney general’s office. culture hasn’t the time to be squeamish about The offending column appeared in the March sexual terminology. If those children learn from 1988 issue. I believe the offending word was me how to protect themselves from AIDS, then “ cock.” The offensive passage discussed the so be it. That is how we save lives. Next ques use of that cock in an act of the love that dare not tion: what are the moralists doing to save lives? speak its name. The answer: very little. They waste precious I’m a wordsmith, and although — aesthetically time by shrieking about the innocence of — I may not like certain words because of their children as the disease spreads because people are too embarrassed to discuss the sexual issues. So, it’s time to get in their face — to stand and be counted. Begin by being at the Lesbian and Gay Pride Day march/parade. If you aren’t at the parade on June 18, then you must believe that gay people deserve to be beaten up, impris oned, quarantined and tested. Those who keep silent condone bigotry because they refuse to stand and be counted against it. As AIDS seeps into the consciousness of America, we are in more danger than ever be fore . America has already ignored the deaths of thousands of gay men, simply because it was the easiest means of exterminating us. Now, with America blaming us for AIDS, we must protect ourselves. We must be loud and strong, gathering together to make ourselves heard. We sound or how they are spelled, I find very few cannot afford to make a weak showing to the words obscene. world. We know from experience how America I could understand the fuss if I had used the feeds on the weakness of others. We cannot word “ cock” in some licentious and lascivious allow ourselves the luxury of silence when there manner: “ He licked the cock lovingly for remain so many wrongs to right. fifteen hours.” But I didn’t. I used the word in And there is room for everyone at the parade: reference to safe sex, or the lack thereof, in an gay and lesbian, black and white, butch and encounter between two men. nellie, feminists, the proud and the angry, boy- I do not believe in mincing words. This lovers, Marxists, the weak, the desperate, the country is under siege by a deadly virus, a virus hopeful, Christians, moms, dads, sisters, that is spread through blood and/or semen brothers, Jews, Chicanos, fairies and fags, (cum, jism, sperm), and its most likely mode of dykes and lezzies; everyone should be there — transmission between men is asshole/cock everyone who can walk, ride or crawl — if they contact. believe that there is room in the world for I find nothing shameful about trying to save everyone. lives. As for complaints that the word “ cock” It is our Independence Day, our celebration might damage someone’s child, I have this to of the Stonewall riots where we refused to be say: if a child is old enough to read this news oppressed by ignorance any longer. We shall paper and understand it, then he or she is old celebrate freedom from our closets, freedom enough to learn how to avoid getting AIDS. from silence. Hiding behind medical terminology is not No one is ashamed here. We are strong be enough. Honesty is. If you let someone fuck cause we have to be. We have lived in the you without a rubber on his cock, you may well shadow of the plague for seven years. We have die. It’s very simple. watched our friends and acquaintances die. We The freedom to speak frankly is one of the are still educating ourselves and, if the world is fringe benefits of being an American. It’s a willing to listen, we can share our ways of right for which we all pay a fortune in taxes each coping with this deadly disease. We are better year. Those best served by waving an obscenity informed about AIDS because we won’t hide banner are those who want our elimination. behind prudery as an excuse for ignorance. This Obscenity laws must be challenged and bro is the lesson we must teach America. Silence ken. They are wrong. Who is fit to decide such now means death. things? Where does it end? Should we allow So be at the parade. Bring your pity for the petty moralists to tell us what we can and cannot Bible-thumping moralists who haven’t the read, words we may not use, thoughts and feel sophistication to understand that AIDS educa ings we may or may not have? tion slows the spread of the virus. Bring your love for freedom and your pride for having the The answer is no. I worry when folks have such an intimate courage to live your life the way you choose. relationship with God that they forget it is Carry this message to the world: We are not human beings with whom they coexist. Human your enemy. We are your sons and daughters. beings are sexual, and no amount of moralizing We are Americans. We are human beings who will change that. Moralizing only suppresses deserve the same right to love and live as any other human being. A virus is the enemy. Stand sexuality into an unhealthy state. There are with us against this virus. Perhaps then we may worse problems in the world than the use of the achieve a world where people can live peace word “ cock” in this publication. Why aren’t fully together without imposing moral these do-gooders — these self-proclaimed pro tectors of society’s dwindling mores — work i judgments and stifling oppressions on each other. ing to house and employ the homeless or setting And bring your whistles, banners, signs, rib up shelters to protect battered and sexually bons and balloons. The point is to make noise, abused children? After all. they certainly aren’t be heard and be seen. It’s time to let the world going to protect anyone from AIDS if they know that we will never be silenced again. • believe that morality alone will stop the virus. M Bill Joy Our thanks go to those Just Out readers who number among our customers. We enjoy seeing each of you, appreciate being of service to all of you — and welcome your references — thank you very much. This month, we join our Just Out clients in celebrating Lesbian and Gay Pride and remind them to celebrate safely. 5111 N E Frem ont Portland, O R 97 2 1 3 o - ^ G oO . © 2 8 8 -1 1 3 0 b o ° o • o oO. O* ob o ° 0° O.O.o- o° ° bubble bath to lotions 0 all with your own scent ♦ over 100 fragrances ♦ soaps, bubble bath, skin care ®’ 0 ° o (3 ® 0 o G) o ♦ cards, gift bags, w r a p , . . . and more <>. g > o escen tia l now open in two locations 0*0 •. o * 7 d a y s a w ee k 0 3038 S K H a w th o rn e B lv d . 236-7976 Q * q 0 727 N W 21s' A v e . 248-9748 o & o .hist Out • 13 • ’une loss