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About Just out. (Portland, OR) 1983-2013 | View Entire Issue (June 1, 1989)
have a double mastectomy, and a young girl to have her face etched with acid.” Voices in the wilderness Military expertise? H am a gay man. I am the grand-nephew of JL Nellie Kellogg, the sister of W.K. Kellogg, the founder of the company, and I rise to protest violence in advertising aimed at sexual minorities, particularly gay people. ' T h at ad showing cowboys putting guns to the cook's head, because they think he called them ‘honey,’ sends the wrong message to our customers. I have submitted a stockholder's proposal that shall implement a policy to ensure that Kellogg’s advertisements will present in a non-prejudicial manner any member of groups victimized by hate-crimes. This company man agement has rudely rejected my proposal, and refuses to discuss the issue at this meeting.” — Joseph L. Norton spoke to shareholders o f the Kellogg Company at their annual meeting in Battle Creek, Mich., on April 28. Kellogg's CEO Bill LaMothe responded, ‘' We do not share your concerns . ’ ’ (Gay Chicago Magazine, May 4, 1989) ad but true: for gay men and lesbians to have civil rights these days, they must first have AIDS.” — Gary K. Daffin discuses the necessity to look beyond AIDS as the focal point o f gay and lesbian philanthropy. "W ho’s going to donate the necessary'funds to fight fo r gay youth programs, same-sex marriages, repeal o f repressive sex laws, spousal benefits?" he asks. (Bay Windows, April 20, 1989) S Snuff it! ocal literary light Katherine Dunn’s novel. Geek Love. was chopped to bits by critic Dinitia Smith in The Nation (May 5, 1989). Smith says, ” Geek Love is a snuff film made legitimate by a reputable publishing L he headline in The New York Times read “ Judges Back Homosexual Soldier; Basic Bias Issue Is Left Unsettled.’’ The eleven member Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit, in a 7-4 decision on May 4. held that the Army could not bar former Sergeant Perry J. Watkins because it had repeatedly allowed him to re enlist over his 14 years of service despite knowledge of his homosexuality. The majority decision, written by Judge Harry Pregerson, said, “ It would simply re quire the Army to continue to do what it has repeatedly done for 14 years with only positive results: re-enlist a single soldier with an exceptionally outstanding military record.” Only two of the concurring judges held that the court should have granted Watkins’s appeal on the basis o f the right of equal protection. In a dissenting opinion Judge Cynthia Holcomb Hall objected to the majority’s “ un warranted application of common law princi ples to matters within the military’s expertise.” The Army admitted, reclassified, re-enlisted, retained, and promoted Watkins in violation of its own regulations. That’s expertise, military- style. all right! T house [Alfred A. Knopf] ” As the following excerpt of Smith’s review makes clear. Dunn may be more than a tad homophobic, as well as misogynistic: “ The novel begins with the mother. Crystal Lil, biting off the heads of chickens in the traveling sideshow. She “ sipped! Absolutely sipped at the wriggling guts!” writes Dunn. Later, a horse's legs are amputated and it is left to stumble around in the dust; a man's face is blown off; a mother is murdered in front of her children. Most of the mutilation involves the bodies of women, for Geek Love is, above all, a book of female self-loathing. Miss Lick, the rich lesbian, “ hates beautiful female children” and pays women to have operations, which she records on videotape. One woman has all her hair burned off while doctors and nurses stand back and watch “ as the girl shrieked in fear if not pain.” Miss Lick pays another woman to Domestic partnerships OK in San Francisco an Francisco supervisors voted 10-0 to recognize “ domestic partnerships” and open the way for health benefits for live-in lovers of city workers. According to the San Francisco Chronicle, the unanimous vote fol lowed an impassioned speech by its chief sponsor, board president Harry Britt. San Francisco’s highest ranking gay public official. “ Discrimination against the right to love S as one wishes will not be tolerated in this city.” Britt said. The law is expected to be signed by Mayor Art Agnos after the board gives final approval to the measure early in June and could take effect within 30 days. The law allows public registra tion of “ domestic partnerships” at the county clerk’s office, a system similar to filing mar riage licenses. It gives city employees in “ non- traditional” relationships the same sick leave, bereavement and maternity leave benefits as married couples and paves the way for the ex tension o f health benefits to unmarried city employees registered as domestic partners The San Francisco ordinance has particular significance form e. In 1965, while living in San Francisco, 1 was fired by the US Postal Service for sharing an apartment with a woman I was not married to. It was called “ moral turpitude” in those days and I had absolutely no recourse. While the “ domestic partnership" ordi nance applies only in the jurisdictions of the city and county of San Francisco. I feel somewhat vindicated. But isn’t it about time that similar laws spread from sea to shining sea? Will Esquire follow Cosmo ? ouise Rafkm in the San Francisco Bay Times < formerly Coming Up!) quotes from “ W hat’s It lake To Be A Gay Woman Now,’’ in a recent Cosmo: “ Lesbians seem to be getting more of what all women want. Masters and Johnson found that even when men performed oral sex on female partners, there was simply no comparison to the skillfulness employed by women.” I’m waiting for a similiar piece in Esquire: “ Gay men seem to be getting more . . . ” L T Community Party Ml Aaes Welcome! Also: Portland Lesbian Choir Portland Gay Men's Chorus Tickets $15-10 in advance, $17-12 at the door, 13 and under free, childcare on site. Advance Tickets: A Woman's Place Bookstore, LCP office, Phoenix Rising office, Catbird Seat Books, Laughing Horse Books, Cup and Saucer Cafe, In Her Image Gallery, and Mother Kali’s Books (Eugene) ju s t o u i V 5 ▼ June 198*)