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About Just out. (Portland, OR) 1983-2013 | View Entire Issue (July 1, 1989)
• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • # • • • • • • • PHOTO BY K. SANDWICH Steppin’ Out • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • C O N T E N • T • • • • S Co-Publishers Renee IxiChance and Jay Brown L e tte rs ............................. B e tw e e n th e lin e s . . . • . 4 W h a t's g o in g o n h e re • . 5 A ID S 1 0 1 .......................... Ju st B r ie fs ....................... J u st N e w s ...................... P r o f i l e ................................ Le sb ia n and G ay P rid e . . 14 O u t A b o u t T o w n . . . . . . 16 E a tin g O u t ...................... J u st E n te rta in m e n t . . . . 20 M u s i c ................................ A m a z o n T r a il ................ C o u n s e l .......................... C l a s s if ie d s ...................... . . 25 Editor Jay Brown Calendar Editor Littlejohn Keogh Entertainment Editor Sandra De Helen Staff Reporters Anndee Hochtnan Advertising Representatives J e ff h ritz, Chris Maier. Littlejohn Keogh Production Director Creative Director E T y peset t i n g Em Spai e Renee LaC hance Ann H inds Im pact Presentations Proofread i ng C heryl (•raphic Inspiration Distribution Welt h Rupert K innard Diana Cohen Just news Contributors Lee Lynch Dr. Tantalus Jeff rey Zurlinden Jack Riley E d Schiffer W ill Ham Struhhe Allen Sm alling Bradley J . Woodworth Wendy Wernsing Portlander heads psychiatric group Dr. Peggy Hackenbruck elected president of the Association of Gay and Lesbian Psychiatrists at San Francisco convention BY H O C H M A N r. Peggy Hackenbruck remembers marching with her colleagues down the streets of Washington, DC in October 1987, their professional banner waving overhead, and hearing a bystander’s startled comment: “Wow. there are even gay and lesbian psychiatrists.” For years, the psychiatric community was loath to acknowledge homosexuality as normal and positive — in or out of its own ranks. Gay and lesbian psychiatrists often remained closeted rather than risk being blacklisted by colleagues. The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual, the bible of mental health, listed homosexuality as a mental disorder. That changed in 1973, when homo sexuality was taken out of the book. And since then, the American Psychiatric Association (APA) has become more conscious, less homophobic and more willing to consider the needs of gay and lesbian psychiatrists, Hackenbruck said. She recently became president of the Association of Gay and Lesbian Psychiatrists, a group separate from the APA which tries to educate the psychiatric community, support gay and lesbian practitioners and serve as a resource for questions. The group, which is about 10 years old. started “w ith gay psychiatrists — men. mostly — meeting one another clandestinely in gay bars during meetings of (he APA. Men who are now in their 50s and 60s, who thought they were the only ones, and got up the nerve to say to the man next to them at the bar, T m here for the APA.’ "So it started as a social and support group." Since then, spurred by the 1973 change and the support of some heterosexual D Just Out is published on the First day of each month. Copyright 1989 No part of Just Out may be reproduced w ithout w ritten 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 be in black ink on white paper. Deadline for submissions is the 15th of the month preceding publication. Out About Town is compiled as a courtesy to our readers Performers, clubs, individuals or groups w ishing to list events in the calendar should mail not ices to Just Out by the l5thofthe month preceding publication. listings will not be 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 be 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 Stylebook 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 number for Just Out arc: PO Box 15117 Portland. OR 97215 (503)236-1252 A N N I) E E psychiatrists, the group’s focus has shifted to education, presenting panels and programs to the larger APA and publishing a journal of case studies. “I think attitudes have changed dramatically,” Hackenbruck said. “Especially within the official structure of the APA. We have gone from being given booth space [at APA conventions] in a far comer behind a pillar to being given booth space by the front door.” James Krajeski, a psychiatrist who served for six years as chair of the APA's committee on gay, lesbian and bisexual issues, agreed that the ofticial stance, as well as the more subtle response to gay and lesbian psychiatrists, has changed. "It's much easier to come out now. The leadership of the APA is very supportive of gay and lesbian issues these days,” he said. At the most recent APA convention held in San Francisco May 6-11, the program included discussions of homophobia, anti-gay violence and the training of gay psychiatrists by openly gay psychiatrists. Film offerings included the feature "Not All Parents Are Straight.” The most powerful educational tool, Hackenbruck said, is for gay and lesbian psychiatrists to come out — in their medical schools, to their colleagues, to their supervisors. "We recognize that not all our members can be out. Some people do lose their jobs, or don t get promoted, so they have to stay closeted. But we now have young people who are out in their medical schools and residencies. We feel the people who are out make the biggest difference." Because psychiatrists' attitudes about sexuality, as well as other matters, are heavily influenced in the classroom, the AGLP is now working on medical-school curricula that stress gay- and lesbian-positive teaching. Another issue that is more difficult to tackle is the public perception of psychiatry, particularly in the gay and lesbian community, as being rigidly homophobic. Hackenbruck said that while the stance of psychiatrists toward gay and lesbian issues may be among the most liberal of the medical specialties, it still lags behind that of psychologists and social workers. “I think word is gradually getting out that many psychiatrists are not homophobic, said Krajeski. “Or, at least, no more homophobic than everyone else.” Some of the changes in attitude arc tangible. The APA has included "sexual orientation” in its non-discrimination clause since 1973, and local chapters signed on to endorse the “No on 8” campaign last November and the gay-rights bill, HB 2325. in 1987. In the meantime, the AGLP continues to provide crucial support for gay and lesbian members, whether they are out or not. I g°* involved because it was very important in my coming out,” said Hackenbruck. "I needed that professional supporf." ^