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Summit Athletic
Club halted
To the Editor,
Over two years ago I had a vision of a
change I wanted to see happen in the Portland
gay and lesbian community; that of offering a
healthy alternative to our lifestyle.
I did my survey work, wrote several
business plans, did the research that was
intriguingly fun, and the vision started to
become real to me. I ate, slept, and lived
Summit Athletic Club. All I could imagine
was its success. All I could visualize was the
opening, the operation and the community's
involvement in the process.
I never imagined I would have to write
this letter telling you that at this time the
progress of Summit has halted. It’s been hard
for me as well as all those involved to let go
of this dream.
I suppose the biggest thing I’d like people
to remember about this whole process with
Summit is that it wasn’t just another gay and
lesbian project that didn’t work. Let’s give
ourselves more credit than that It was simply
the effort of a dream that preceded its reality.
This happens in the straight community time
and again, but they don’t attribute their losses
to being straight.
What I’m trying to say is that I’d like to
see more personal esteem over what we do in
the community and less focus on what doesn’t
happen. The gay and lesbian community in
Portland has come a long way in the last
decade. Let’s celebrate that fact and keep the
momentum.
Mickey E. Lee
Portland
Mother's day gift
to P/FLAG
To the Editor,
Unless you are an ingrate of a child (like
me) who habitually forgets to honor the
woman who raised you, you are beginning to
contemplate Mother’s Day with that sense of
vague indecision. What’s the dutiful gay son
or daughter to send?
For some of you. May 13 will be a
melancholy day to remember a woman who
lives on in the warmth of your love. For others
E
R
S
it will be a bitter time to recall the parents
who rejected them for being gay. For most of
us, the eternal debate over whether to send the
tasteful card or overpriced bouquet will rage
once again.
To all you tormented souls in the throes of
Mother’s Day madness: Why not give a
donation in your mother’s name to P-FLAG,
Parents and Friends of Lesbians and Gays.
While P-Flag counsels and supports the
families who are still struggling to come to
terms with their child’s orientation, it also
serves as a rallying point for mothers and
fathers who actively work in our behalf.
P-Flag parents are there for us 365 days a
year. This May 13, let’s show our love and
affection for our mothers by supporting this
brave and loyal army of parents in the battle
for gay and lesbian civil rights.
And let your Mom know that you did; it’ll
make her proud.
Drew Siegal
Sacramento, CA
State has gay
foster parents
To the Editor:
The April issue of Just Out carried an
article with the heading “State OKs foster
parent status for lesbian couple.” Since many
readers might think this was the first time
Oregon Children’s Service Division (CSD) has
certified lesbians as foster parents, I think Just
Out readers need to know that in fact there are
many lesbian and gay male foster parents in
Oregon and there have been for years. CSD
would not be able to say how many because
they don’t keep any separate statistics.
Just Out readers who are interested in
contributing to children’s welfare by becoming
foster parents should therefore apply to the
Children’s Services Division confident that
they will be treated with respect. Women with
Women and Children has at least a dozen
households with foster children of all ages.
Holly Hart
Portland
C IR C L E H E A L T H C A R E C L I N I C
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A R T S .
ACUPUNCTURE • CHIROPRACTIC • MASSAGE • COUNSELING • NATUROPATHIC MEDICINE
jAN C O RW IN , D.C.
C HIRO PRACTIC PHYSICIAN
BRO O KE W IN TE R , L.Ac.
LIC ENSED A C U P U N C TU R IS T
KIP M. H A RD , D.C.
C HIRO PRA C TIC PHYSICIAN
VALERIE M. LYON, M .S., L.M .T.
MASSAGE & BO D Y C EN TER ED TH ER A PY
SU ZA N N E SCOPES, N .D .
N A TURO PA TH IC PHYSICIAN
KA THY PETERS, L.M .T.
‘LIC EN SED MASSAGE TECHNIC IAN
lS)ur House Is
W)rth A Million.
I have just passed
the magic million-
dollars-in-sales mark.
To me it means I’ve
passed a milestone, a
point of professional
growth.
To you it means that
when you hire me to
sell your home, you
will have a million
dollars worth of expe
rience and knowledge
working for you. By
working together, we
can realize the full
potential of your
investment.
So when you’re
ready to sell your
house, call me. After •
all, who couldn’t use
an extra million.
Cathy Siemens
Bridgetown Realty
(503) 287-9370
316 N.E. 28TH ST., PORTLAND, OR 97232
(503)230-0812
(503)238-0135(home)
just oui
T 3 ▼ May 1990