Image provided by: University of Oregon Libraries; Eugene, OR
About Just out. (Portland, OR) 1983-2013 | View Entire Issue (Dec. 1, 1988)
\ ju s t o u t Steppin’ Out Co-Publishers Photo by Ja\ Brown Renee LaChance and Jay Brown Editor Jay Brown Calendar Editor Meg Grace Letters ............................ What's going on here . . . Between the Lines ......... just News ....................... just Youth ....................... The Tribal Drum ........... Profile ............................ After Eight ...................... Out About Town ........... Eating Out ..................... just Entertainment ......... Music ............................ Cinema .......................... The Amazon Trail ......... Books ............................ Counsel ......................... Classifieds ..................... Staff Reporters Anndee Hochman Harold Moore Advertising Representatives Meg Grace. Jeff Fritz. Lynn London Production Director Renee LaChance Creative Director E. Ann Hinds Typesetting Em Space Proofreading Marvin Moore Craphic Inspiration Rupert Kinnard Distribution Diana Cohen Contributors Lee Lynch Michael S. Reed Dr. Tantalus Sandra de Helen Carol SteineI Jack Riley Julie L . Baumler K C . de Gutes Harold Moore Brian Gorrin Rev. Erodo Okulam Ej Westlake Bradley J. Woodworth Nancy Rehbock Sara Edelstein Rick Kelso Eleanor Malin Just Out is published on the first day of each month Copyright 1988 No part of Just Out may be reproduced without written permission of the publishers The submission of written and graphic mate rials is welcomed. Written material should be typed and double-spaced Graphic material should he in black ink on white paper Deadline for submissions is the 15th of the m onth preceding publication. O ut About Town is compiled as a courtesy to our readers Performers, clubs, individuals or groups wishing to list events in the calendar should mail notices to JustOul by the 15th of the month preceding publication I .¡stings will not he taken over the telephone. Display Advertising will be accepted up to the 17th of each month Classified ads must be received at the office of Just Out by the 17th of each month, along with payment Ads will not he taken over the telephone. Kditorial policies allow the rejection or the editing of an article or advertisement that is offensive, demeaning or may result in legal action Just Out consults the Associated Press Stylehook and Libel Manual on editorial decisions. Views expressed in letters to the editor, columns and features are not necessarily those of the publishers. Subscriptions to Just Out arc available for $12.50 for 12 issues First class (in an envelope) is $20 for 12 issues A free copy of Just Out and/or advertising rates arc available upon request. The mailing address and telephone num ber for Just Out arc: POBox 15117 Portland. OR 97215 (503)236-1252 • 2 • IV« C O N T E N T S 3 4 5 6 9 10 11 13 16 19 20 22 23 24 25 26 27 A coming out primer Excusing other people who won't come out is as destructive as the OCA's pamphlets. None of us need to encourage each other to stay in the closet. lesbian rights, that they give this issue my face and my voice. easure 8 passed. I am disappointed but I also am requesting that. if. as a group, they not surprised. I am neither reeling in cannot cope with having an out lesbian disbelief nor wallow ing in despair, and that working for their committee/group, they ask does surprise me. me. formally, in writing, to resign. I ask that Most of us worked very hard. We tried the they state the true reason for their request, so traditional, squeaky-clean campaign, and the that the myth of "no discrimination" will not be down-and-dirty picket in the streets. The fact perpetuated. remains: it passed, which should tell us that our Although some of these people already know efforts, while commendable, while whole that I am a lesbian, the confrontational aspect of hearted and complete in the arena of the particu stating it. out loud, in the presence of the entire lar tactics used, were not enough. group, is powerful. It can prevent the practice I am now absolutely convinced that there is of tacit denial bv making it more difficult for the only one tactic which has large scale, lasting group to ignore subtle or overt oppression. impact in the advancement of gay and lesbian My purpose is two-fold: I ) to illuminate the rights. COMING OUT. You coming out. Me contributions that gays/lesbians make to the coming out. w ider community and 2) to personalize the I consider myself openly lesbian. I've issue of gay/lesbian rights to groups who have appeared publicly as an unmistakable lesbian benefited from my volunteer efforts, and to the many times. I've been frank with co-workers, members of those groups who like, respect, and open w ith family. On the continuum of "out rely on me. ness.” I'd say I'm an eight out often. Now. I'm In conjunction with this move I am no Ionizer turning to my gray areas, all those places where contributing cash resources to any non-gay/ I 've fudged — like my grandmother, because, lesbian groups. When I am approached to give alter all. I only see her once a year, anyway. I've to other groups. I will express my move of concocted a million good excuses to maintain protest against the passage of Measure 8 and these frayed edges in my coming out dress. that I will continue to support only the gay/ That 's why I’m implementing my Post Measure lesbian community until the measure is repealed 8 Coming Way Out Plan. and/or legislation making it invalid is passed. I am coming out w ith a prepared verbal Although I am out to my parents and some announcement at the next meeting of each civic siblings and have been for many years. I have group I work with I have long been content to not come out to my brother-in-law (who is a be a "Discreet queer” in many sensitive member of the Moral Majority) nor have I met political situations, neither espousing nor deny w ith the entire family and discussed my ing mv lesbianism. I subscribed to the lesbianism. I have great excuses for this: they philosophv that my sexual orientation had live I8(X) miles awa> and I am in actual danger nothing to do with the work I did there. I know of being flogged with a bible. This holiday now that the gay and lesbian community cannot season. I'm holding a Come-Out-Conference afford m> discretion. with them. Merry Christmas, everyone. In my statement. I'm asking my associates I am changing my mind about what consti for two things tutes a good excuse for not coming out. I used to I am directly requesting that each group sup sa> that "some people can't come out." I tried port m\ struggle b> remembering who and w hat to come out extra hard for them. This is I am when thev discuss Measure 8 and eav internalized homophobia in action. If I don't M \ \> \J r % encourage every gay man. every lesbian, every bisexual to come out in every way they possibly can then we will never achieve our rights. Excusing other people who won’t come out is as destructive as the OCA's pamphlets. None of us need to encourage each other to stay in the closet — ever. I am now willing to become a pain in the ass about coming out. I am willing to have people get tired of hearing it. I am willing to get tired of saying it. I am willing to hear people say that my approach is impractical and impossible and implausible and oversimplified and too scary. I am willing to be scared. In a sense, the passage of Measure 8 has been a great gift for me. The sense of disenfranchise ment I have had since November 8th has put a sharp light on my own homophobia and the fallacy that I could remain partly hidden until the coast was clear for gay rights. A month ago. I would have followed all this with a disclaimer stating that I don’t expect or recommend that everyone come out as far as I plan to. Today. I firmly believe such a disclaimer would be a disservice to my community. Measure 8 passed because we did. C arol Steinel will he holding a workshop in January on "Documenting Discrimination." For information, call 235-1356. •