L
Oregon Arts
Commission
funded lesbian's
work
To the Editor,
In the May 1990 issue of Just Out you
printed Carolyn Gage’s article on the Oregon
Arts Commission’s lack of support for gay
and lesbian work. She wrote: “I know lesbian
women with grants from the OAC, but not for
work about lesbians. This would be as
oppressive as black or native American artists
having to write proposals for projects that did
not touch on their experiences in their own
cultures.” Carolyn went on to imply that male
panelists were likely to turn down work by
and about lesbians for funding.
In 1985, the OAC awarded me an
Individual’s Artist’s Fellowship to complete
The Riverhouse Stories, a work that is quite
obviously about two women in love, and a
portion of which I submitted as part of the
proposal. The panel consisted of three men. I
believe Carolyn and the person she spoke with
on the Commission who could not name
projects by lesbians funded by the OAC are
not fully informed.
When discrimination occurs, I get angry
too, but I don’t generally expect it from
people who serve on panels for the arts. I am
writing this letter to encourage other women
to step forward with other work and not
expect it either. Lesbian or not, it seems to me
they have a chance at funding through the
OAC.
«
Andrea Carlisle
Portland
E
R
Appreciation
and pride
To the Editor,
By now we hope that you are aware that
the 1990 Starlight Parade Queen’s Award
went to the Lesbians and Gays of Oregon
Float. We would like to thank the many
individuals, organizations and businesses that
made this a reality.
The individuals who made financial
contributions were many and to protect their
right to privacy, we will not publish their
names. The organizations which contributed
either financially or through other means
include the Equity Foundation, Lesbian
Community Project, Metropolitan Community
Church, Parents and Friends of Lesbians and
Gays and Portland Gay Men’s Chorus.
We received financial or in-kind support
from the following businesses: Studio
Concepts, Café Mocha, the Embers, the Fish
Grotto, Old Wive’s Tales, Kopy Kats
Printing, Spinster Textiles, Starkey’s, Just
Out, the Lavender Network, and Frank Adams
Wholesale Florist. We thank each of you for
all of your contributions.
A special thank you is given to the
Portland Rose Festival Association and its
many supportive employees.
We also must remember that the success of
the 1990 entry would not have been possible
without the historic and groundbreaking float
of the 1989 Starlight Parade. We thank those
of you involved in 1989 for your courage and
leadership.
The Lesbian and Gay
Starlight Float Committee
Seventh Annual
Women in the Woods
Enjoy a 3-day retreat at Breitenbush Hot Springs
August 3-5, 1990
Sliding Fee $110-165 (set your own fee)
$25 deposit refundable until June 15th
Register early - spaces go fast!
Workshops • Play • Music • Ovolactic Meals • Sauna
Hiking • Therapeutic Hot Springs • Pools
PHOENIX RISING
Minor or "minor"
To the Editor,
I would like to express my concern about
an article you printed in the June edition of
Just Out. Dell Richards wrote an article in
your Just News section that spoke of several
people being charged with the intentional
spreading of AIDS.
While homosexual angles to hard news
stories are rarely seen in the media, I took
strong offense to one of Richards sentiments.
Halfway through the story, Richards called a
15-year-old contractée of the AIDS virus a
“minor.” Please pay particular attention to my
punctuation.
Richards placed the word “minor” in
quotations, alluding that it is her belief, or Just
Out's, that a 15-year-old is not a minor. I
would like to remind Richards that regardless
of the state, the gender, or the sexual
orientation, if you are under 18 years of age in
America, you are a minor.
If this was a typographical error, I
certainly understand. However, if Richards
and Just Out feel that a 15-year-old should be
considered an adult, you should rethink the
maturity level of your own publication.
John Stacey
Portland
Dell Richards replies: The question of sex
with minors is a touchy one in the gay
community—one we haven't begun to deal
with yet.
Although I understand, appreciate and
agree with Stacey's point, I also see that
juvenile boys who want to experiment
sexually—as all teenagers do—have almost
no outlets for sex in our society. Telling their
friends would be tantamount to suicide, so
S
they turn to older boys—and men.
While I do not approve o f the exploitation
of street kids in the sex industry—and feel
strongly that gays need to be speaking out on
this issue and not using underage
prostitutes—/ do feel that there is a grey area
of gay teen sexuality that we have not yet
begun to address.
Despite the laws, this area is neither black
and white nor easily solvable, particularly
given the reprehensible stereotype of
homosexuals as child molesters that
heterosexuals project onto us.
Broad-based
coalition is way
to go in Portland
To the Editor,
It is clear to myself and others in Portland,
that it is time for a change. It is time for open
lines of communication, solidarity and
alliance with all groups and all individuals
that are interested in fighting for and
protecting civil, human and political rights, no
matter what our agendas are or what our
differences may be.
ACT UP’s efforts along with Coalition for
Human Dignity, Lesbian Community Project,
SHARP (Skin Heads Against Racial
Prejudice), Anti Racist Action (ARA) and
other community-based Portland groups have
taken a stand on just that and have formed a
coalition to address these and other issues
with which Portland and its surrounding areas
are faced.
The strong message that should be heard
from this is: We are here in numbers, we are
here to stay. Portland is ready for a new kind
Life Before
PAUL AND GARY!
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