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About Just out. (Portland, OR) 1983-2013 | View Entire Issue (June 1, 1990)
Oregonian: not fulfilling Its function To the Editor, The Portland community is under fire from the right wing and law enforcement agencies, but the Oregonian is not reporting this dangerously increasing harassment. The right wing and law enforcement agencies accuse their targets of being violent and criminal. But who is really causing violence and crime? The police closed down the music club Satryricon and falsely accused their patrons of rioting; the gay youth club Night Scene is raided by police, using the phoney excuse of drug sales. Black youth are routinely terrorized by police. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms invades the homes of environmental and political activists, the state Department of Justice seizes the records of the Oregon Chiropractic Physicians Association. Neo-nazis beat up and terrorize Blacks, lesbians and gays. Native Americans, and anti-racists. Anti-abortionists insist it is their holy duty and right to insult, assault and abuse women seeking to enter clinics for abortions. The Oregonian has a responsibility as journalists and as the only daily in the state to accurately report these occurrences and to inform the community of these dangers. Instead these incidents were not reported or the interpretations of events was from the point of view of the police or the right. There is no investigation of the bigoted and reactionary agenda of right wing groups and of their plan to restrict the rights of most groups in the state. Whatever happened to the honorable role of investigative journalism, and to the duty of the press to challenge powerful official agencies who endanger the community? The Oregonian’s pages present anti abortionists who attack women as if they were civil rights martyrs instead of those who seek to limit, not extend freedoms for women and men. The police harassment of the anti-racist SHARP group, and their lack of targeting the real danger of the neo-nazis was reported as if the police were protecting the public with their focus on SHARP. I have never seen a Metro/Northwest front page article on the failure of neo-nazi youth to keep an appoint ment with the police. The police attitude towards the racist groups is tolerant and apologetic, and consists of lip-service, minus action. They save their smear tactics and hostility for those committed to fighting racism. The police attitude can be summed up by the quote ‘They (SHARP members) may not be anti-racist, but so what.” To most of the community it is THE important point that they are anti-racist. SHARP was very visible in the Coalition for Human Dignity protest against White Aryan Resistance leader Tom Metzger when he was in Portland. They demonstrated against Coke because of Coke’s business in South Africa. They have also been active in joining ACT UP in defending the rights of lesbians and gays and are in support of a woman’s right to choose abortion. The black community, women, gays and lesbians can’t be so cavalier toward whether a youth group is committed to fighting neo-nazis or aping them. The police and law enforcement agencies must stop their attacks on our civil rights and on the groups that seek to uphold the rights of women, gays and people of color. Community and activist organizations seek to stop vio lence by opposing bigoted groups who have no respect for the civil and human rights of others. The Oregonian should start fulfilling it’s function to inform the community as to who is really causing violence and who is seeking to stop it. Adrienne Weller Portland Radical Women An open letter to gays and lesbians To the Editor: Since November 1989, Nightscene, a gay TV talk and entertainment show, has been airing on public access channels throughout Oregon and Southwest Washington. I did not realize at the time the tremendous need in our community for gay entertainment and dialogue. The only criticism received has been directed at the language and choice of words I have used to express my feelings. Some viewers must feel that since we have thrust ourselves into the most powerful medium of communication, the use of such language could be projected as a bad reflection upon our community. Since this is the only show in town, the least I could do is refrain from language that tends to wade in the gutter. In these days of AIDS and gay bashing, we as a community have enough to deal with without my stoking the fire. May I offer my sincerest apology to those of you who found my language offensive and to those who probably plugged their ears whenever they saw my lips move. I has always and will continue to be our goal to provide information, discussion and entertainment for our community and the enlightened heterosexual viewers. M The "Notorious" Rosey Waters Portland Violence ignored To the Editor, _ When I come nose to nose with the handiwork of irrational, homophobic people it shakes my personhood to the core. The recent threats to a sister choir member sent me back on a painful journey through my own sexual and physical abuse. Driving by Laurelhurst Park I shudder and hold me breath the way I used to as a child when strange noises and phantoms loomed in the bushes after dark. My gay brothers are being attacked in that park right now, here in Portland in 1990. Gretchen Kaufory lawn signs are STEPHEN D. YEW, disappearing — twice from my own yard. I’m reminded once again of the passage of Measure 8. How is it that such violence and hatred can be minimized and even ignored by our judicial system? What avenues of protest do I have in a society which panders to the perpetrator and prosecutes and persecutes the innocent victim? All I know to do is be who I am, to the best of my ability, in all situations. I am a woman, a lesbian, a survivor, a mom, a partner, a citizen. I sing in a choir, I pay my taxes, vote, and obey the laws of the land. I plant flowers and I plant seeds of tolerance, love and respect wherever and whenever I can — and I dream. I dream of a society where we can all be who we are. I encourage you to visualize the same dream and be who you are — heterosexual, bisexual, lesbian or gay. There is no turning back. Marge Coalman Portland Road service not available to gays and lesbians To the Editor: In your May issue there was a notice about signing up a “partner as family” for Chase Advantage Road Service. This service is not available to lesbian and gay couples. I called their 800 number for details and learned that they only cover a member and “legally married spouse.” The service representative said they do not include a partner living together in a committed relationship. I was told that if the partner of a member called for road service, such as towing, they would be refused coverage. While AAA of Massachusetts does offer “associate memberships” to household residents, regardless of marital status, AAAs in other parts of the country do not. Three years ago I brought charges of discrimination based on marital status against the AAA of Washington and received a favorable ruling from the Seattle Human Rights Department The case is about to be brought to court by the city attorney’s office. This kind of discrimination appears to be widespread, judging from the results of our publication's recent national survey of lesbian and gay couples. Twenty percent of the women and 11 percent of the men said they experienced membership-related discrimination as a couple. We offer a free summary of this survey upon receipt of a self-addressed, stamped • business-sized envelope. An extensive survey analysis is available for $3.95 in the May/June issue of our newsletter. For either item, write: Partners Newsletter for Gay and Lesbian Couples, Box 9685, Seattle, WA 98109, or call (206) 784-1519. Demian, Ed.D. Co-Editor! Publisher Partners Newsletter for Gay and Lesbian Couples Lodging where mountain meets sea - D.M.D. A GENTLE APPROACH TO DENTISTRY Hours: Tuesday - Saturday 8 am-5 pm 1220 N. Jantzen Ave. Suile 480, Second Floor Phone: 289-1215 ju st out ▼ 4 ▼ June 1990 95590 Highway 101 6.2 miles south of Yachats, Oregon 97498 Lesbians needed for book on Lesbian Families To the Editor: I am a white lesbian living in Eugene and Ashland working on a book on co-parenting in lesbian families. The book will be an in- depth ethnography of five families. It will also include the stories of other lesbian co parents. The book will begin as a dissertation (University of Iowa, Women’s Studies program), then be published so that it is accessible to lesbians and our children. I feel that any research should be primarily for the benefit of the people who participate. Lesbian families and particularly lesbians of color are invisible and silenced by a racist homophobic society. Therefore, the goal of this project is to let lesbians and their children tell their own stories in their own voices. We all benefit from shared knowledge of our experience and giving voice to our lives. I need: two African-American families (one working class, one middle class), one family that is Hispanic, Native American, Asian, Jewish or other racial or ethnic group other than anglo (any class); one inter-racial family (any class), and individual lesbians of all racial or ethnic and class backgrounds who are or have been co-parents (non-biological mothers) in lesbian families at some time in their lives. I need families who have been together for a minimum of two years, who have at least one child age six or older living at home, and who are more or less out to their children. I’d like all participants to be living in Oregon. I envision a series of interviews with all family members individually over about a six- month period, starting as soon as possible. In addition, I’d like to participate in selected family activities (e.g. meals, outing, visits with friends and relatives). Absolute confidentiality and strict ethical standards will be assured at all times. Please write or give me a call for more information: Kay Aldrich, 167 N Mountain, Ashland, OR 97250, (503) 482-3642. Kay Aldrich Ashland I N M E M O R I A M Bill Priest, Jr. April 17, at 6:45, Bill Priest, Jr., aka Bunny Bee, passed through deaths gates from complications of AIDS. He was a friend to the Portland gay and lesbian community and we will miss him, his love, his vitality and endearing love of life. See Vue ( 503 ) 547-3227 Reservations Recommended
