Image provided by: University of Oregon Libraries; Eugene, OR
About Just out. (Portland, OR) 1983-2013 | View Entire Issue (March 1, 1989)
L An open letter to the community January 31. on her way home from Portland’s Club 927, my lover was the victim of an unpro voked attack. The attack was made, not by any “ traditional enemies” of the lesbian and gay community, but rather by two women (one black and one Jewish) who had patronized Club 927 earlier that evening. The attack appears to have been motivated by the fact that my lover was dressed in black leather; cap, jacket, shirt, belt, chaps and boots. The instigators were armed with hatred and a vocabulary which included such words as: “ abuser,” “ nazi,” “ racist,” “ misogynist” and “ sexist.” No one was physically hurt in this confrontation, although one of the pair did swing at my lover as she attempted to get into her car. I am writing this letter because the incident infuriates me. I am a black woman and my lover is Jewish. Our relationship is based on a con sensual exchange of power (some would use the term “ S/M ” ). The attack on my lover reminds me of gay Jews being disallowed Israeli citizenship because they’re not the “ right kind” of Jews. It E T reminds me of gay blacks being ostracized from our community because we’re not the "right kind” of blacks. We as a community cannot afford to allow ourselvse to determine that those whose life styles we disagree with are not the "right kind” of gays. There are too many who are willing to hurt lesbians and gays for not being the “ right kind’ ’ of people. Let us consolidate our efforts and fight them instead of doing their work for them. Cyd Athens Portland OFF database controversy clarified To the Editor: Last month on this page, the “ No on 8” campaign directors accused me of (1) stealing, (2) name calling, (3) trust-destroying subter fuge, (4) irresponsibility, and (5) creating “ shaky” lesbian and gay organizations. Heavens, I did not steal the “ No on 8” data base. For the record, the “ database” is a com T E R puter program that has remained with the “ No on 8 ” computer director. In my capacity as “ No on 8 ” office manager, I authorized the creation of a printout of names and telephone numbers from that database, which was then used for volunteer recruitment. The day after the campaign defeat, a public planning meeting was held at the “ No on 8 ” headquarters. One hundred fifty people squeezed into the office; they decided that a full community meeting would be held the next week. I gave my copy of the printout of tele phone numbers to a working committee estab lished to publicize that meeting. The “ Noon 8 ” campaign director, who did not attend the plan ning meeting, authorized such use the next morning. No one has used the list since that one com munity meeting. It remains with the committee (specifically Stewart Joliffe who directed the effort). It can be retrieved at any time. Those responsible for the invective seem to be motivated by turf battles; such as, who gets to serve as spokespersons for the lesbian and gay community. I feel we need a multiplicity of approaches to achieve genuine liberation, which divisive invective serves only to undermine. We need to speak for our diverse selves, without conforming to any party line. Many voices make for a powerful lesbian and gay S community, and should be threatening to no official spokesperson. Carl Goodman Portland we saw i m ummon s the coorac - e to make tub dreaded “ dive OF DEATH" AFTER NEAftOf KILUUCr HIMSEIF 1 « AH EARLIER. Arlo , ■Cer tihe Dii ATTEMPT- m SAW Him CAPTURE THE &OLD INKOREA — Bor WE WOA/'r SEE 6RE& LOU&AtllS ON A BOX OF WHEATIES BECAUSE GENERA L miai said he ' s "N o t macho - Nor A HERO" FOR MEN Itt AMERICA. TRANCIATE TV£p! lust cut • 3 • March 1989