Hobo's response
unconvincing
To the Editor:
I remain unconvinced by Hobo’s response
to Kelly Childress’s letter. I think the
response displays an insidious and subtle
form of homophobia — the “some of my best
friends are” type.
Oh, how very supportive Jay Sauft and
Harriett Troutman are of our community —
just so long as we stay in our place and don’t
make trouble for the folks in from Gresham
with the kids. (Why do the homophobes
always have to drag in the children as an
excuse for oppressing us?)
Of course they can find gays who will
support the oppression — that’s a common
enough tactic. And you will note that only
same sex couples, one for each community
(very balanced), needed to be reminded of the
common standards of conduct. We just can’t
keep our hands off each other, can we?
Finally, what is kissing excessively? In
the wider world, it is usually not comfortable
for gay men and lesbians to show affection.
That’s why we have been invisible for so
long. So when we Find a place where we can
touch each other, we might, MIGHT, touch
and kiss more than a straight couple who have
the whole world in which to express their
love. If straight people are uncomfortable
seeing our affection, then it is an opportunity
for them to experience in part what we
experience very often.
It is unacceptable for Hobo’s to single us
out. Hobo’s is, after all, a gay bar! Their
profits should not be used to continue our
oppression, especially since it is largely our
dollars which make up that profit.
The next time someone, after a movie,
say, suggests Hobo's, I’ll suggest somewhere
— anywhere — else.
Dave Traeger
Portland
CAP Board and
accountability
To the Editor:
So, the CAP Board of Directors tells us
that change is natural, and not to worry that
both of their top leaders are gone. Well, I say
change may be natural, but consuming our
leadership is not. This kind of self
consumption goes on at many AIDS
organizations around the country — perhaps
when a community is under such pressure as
ours it manifests itself in this way. We
definitely need more healing energy, less
conflict.
The Board's column asserts that Tom
Koberstein left for unrelated personal reasons.
It is commonly understood that the catalyst
for Mike McGowan’s firing was the
perception that he was protecting Tom,
particularly with regard to the decision to hire
a staff person for the Walkathon, besides the
Development Director. It is obvious that this
firing triggered Tom ’s decision to leave.
Tom no doubt put forward “personal reasons"
out of maturity and a desire to avoid
unpleasantness.
Let’s look at a little history: Farley
Peterson, staff director of CHESS, fired.
Brown McDonald, staff director of CAP, not
hired (read as fired) after merger of CAP and
CHESS. Mike McGowan. CAP Chair,
“fired.” Tom Koberstein, resigned for
“personal reasons.” In other words, every
single top manager at CAP has been eaten
alive.
What kind of managerial talent does the
organization expect to attract now? Do
experienced managers knowingly jump into
traps? No. The agency is going to be faced
with hiring someone willing to take a huge
risk, and that is likely to be someone
balancing that risk against the opportunity to
develop new skills — i.e., a beginner.
I should disclose my own involvement: I
resigned my seat on the CAP Board of
Directors back when Brown McDonald was
fired, since I had lost confidence in the
Board's managerial skills. I continued to
contribute money and some time, since CAP
is the main AIDS agency, and we have to do
this for ourselves. Now I don't know what to
do.
I know we need more accountability from
the CAP Board to the community. Perhaps
CAP should become a membership
organization so that contributors (of money or
a set amount of time) will be able to vote on
the Directors. Perhaps we need a wholly new
agency, but that seems very risky. At the
very least, we need a higher level of critical
public attention to the workings of the CAP
Board: Are they handling their stewardship
of our funds and our lives in the manner we
would like?
Suggestions, anyone?
Interim director
clarifies CAP
agenda
To the Editor:
This is my first letter to Portland’s gay/
lesbian community in my capacity as Interim
Director of Cascade AIDS Project. I guess I
better make it good. It seems whatever gets
into print about us generates some form of
controversy. Like last month's letter from our
Board Chair, Jim Simons. Some folks think
Jim was saying CAP is going to turn its back
on the gay/lesbian community. I know Jim
pretty well, and 1 know that wasn't his
intention. But Jim can speak for himself. I
want to tell you where I'm coming from. You
have a right to know who's working for you.
I came flaming into the gay/lesbian
community 20 years ago in Boston. Except
there wasn't any community to speak of. Just
a few rundown bars. So I got together with
some newfound friends and we started
Boston's first gay/lesbian newspaper.
Lavender Vision. And we went through a lot
of pain together, trying to love each other and
to direct our anger against our enemies instead
of ourselves.
Well, I’ve never really stopped having that
Lavender Vision. Sometimes it got hard and I
backed away. But I’ve always come back to
our common struggle for freedom, justice and
the American lavender way.
All this is to say that I am not about to turn
my back on the gay/lesbian community. And
every one of the people who are coordinating
our services at CAP — Pattie Ladd, Cliff
Jones, and Mimi Luther — could have written
this letter. They all have worked for years in
our community, long before AIDS darkened
our collective door.
Yes, CAP does and will continue to serve
anyone who is affected by this terrible
disease. And yes we desperately need to
expand our base of support so that the gay and
lesbian community does not have to continue
to carry this disease on our backs. But I
understand that our work at CAP is not "just”
to fight AIDS. It is also to take part in that
20-plus year struggle to learn how gay and
lesbian people can take care of each other and
to affirm our intention and our right to
survive.
Paul Starr
Interim Executive Director
Cascade AIDS Project
Terry Miller
Portland
Starlight float
committe thanks
community for
support
To the community:
On June 3, 19X9, we made some history
here in Portland. Our Gay and Lesbian Float
in the Starlight Parade was (as far as we can
determine) the FIRST TIME there has ever
been a Gay AND Lesbian Float in any
mainstream parade, anywhere! Your cheers,
blue waving lightsticks and overall presence
made the people on the float feel surrounded
and supported, and we want to thank you for
being there.
We want to thank those 31 people who
rode on and walked beside the float. With
courage, you set aside your apprehensions
and (in many cases) fear of being so very
“out.” We want to thank those people behind
the scenes who came forward to help. We
especially want to thank the dedicated people
who headed our main committees.
There were a number of businesses in our
community we want to thank:
Dakota Cafe
Marlene Findling. Attorney at Law
The Embers
Gifford-Doving Florists
Happy Days Florists
Helen’s Pacific Costumes
Old Wives’ Tales
Spinster Textiles
The Other Side (Bend. Oregon)
and a wonderful local wholesale florist!
Also, we want to thank all of you w ho
have given money either to the Media Project
or to the float directly. We want to encourage
those of you who haven't contributed to send
us a check — because there's still a deficit to
meet (send to LCP/Float. PO Box 5931,
Portland, OR, 97228).
And finally, we want to thank the Rose
Festival Association for their cooperation and
encouragement, and for being willing to be
pioneers. Unfortunately, our loyal opposition
has had no qualms about writing the Rose
Festival telling them they made a terrible
mistake. Letters to the Rose Festival from
you and your friends will make a difference.
Tell them that you support their decision and
that diversity makes a community great.
They should be sent to: Rolf Glerum, 1989
President, Portland Rose Festival Association,
220 NW 2nd Avenue, Portland, OR 97209.
Again, many many thanks to all!
The Steering Committee
Margins to the Mainstream
Lesbian Community Project
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