Image provided by: University of Oregon Libraries; Eugene, OR
About Just out. (Portland, OR) 1983-2013 | View Entire Issue (Sept. 1, 1991)
• . jn «t Mrt ▼ September I N I V 3 letters Information put to good use To the Editor: I wrote a letter to the editor entitled “Per verted effort,” which appeared in the weekly Umpqua Free Press of Myrtle Creek on July 7, 1991, and a response to the editor which was printed on July 18. I relied heavily on factual data from a column entitled “Just one more lie,” by Inga Sorensen in the July issue of Just Out, without which I would not have been able to respond so knowledgeably. It was a most informative, well-written article and the very instrument which in its timely way gave me the courage and the wherewithal to speak out. However, in my fervor and in my need to seize the moment, I fear I may not have given due credit in my response. I am a merchant in Myrtle Creek and I have never spoken out in our local paper in the 10 years my partner and I have owned our business here. In fact, I have never spoken out in quite this way ever. So I am very proud of myself, but I wish to make my apologies to Inga and Just Out if I have violated in any way appropriate protocol in terms of naming my sources. In the meantime, thank you for keeping the torch alive and for the wealth of information forthcoming from your publication monthly. Daphne Hatfield Myrtle Creek Editor’s note: Thank you for your excellent use o f the information Just Out prints. It is our intention to inform the public-so gays, lesbians and our friends can inform and others can be informed. Your use o f the information was appropriate. Had you been printing an article, however, more direct credit would have been due. Pro-active not reactive To the Editor: Over the past few years our community has become more and more pro-active; responding to our needs and goals rather than reacting to those who are against us. We are using our resources and talents to encourage visibility and to promote our culture and self-pride. As individuals and as a community, we need this encouragement and inspiration. Recently, it seems that a lot of time, energy, and money is being spent on “defending” ourselves or responding to the OCA’s agenda. While I understand the anger and frustration groups like the OCA inspire, I’m concerned that they may succeed in their attempt to divert us from our own agenda. We have more to gain by promoting positive attitudes among ourselves and within the larger community, than through defending ourselves against the OCA’s negative attitudes. How about being for lesbian and gay rights, rather than against the OCA initiative? Or “Honor Diversity” rather than “No on Hate.” Rather than becoming diverted by the OCA’s agenda, let’s use our resources and talents to promote lesbian and gay culture and pride. Mitzi McMullen-Gray Portland Acceptable versus unacceptable To the Editor: I am encouraged by the activism of Portlan- xiers to protest the existence of the OCA. Not only is it a great way to exercise constitutional freedoms, it also counterbalances the evil behind what the OCA represents. Yet one must be careful not to render evil for evil. The example of gays (in your photo on page 7 of the August Just Out) putting masks over their mouths symbolizing “Speak no evil” at the OCA public relations event at PSU was a POSITIVE expression of protest. Calling names or flaunting one’s sexuality to oppose the straight community adds fuel to the fire. How can you expect straights to be tolerant of gays if gays shove their lifestyle down the throats of straights? This sets the cause of getting laws passed to protect gays in work and housing back to zero. Those in the media need to make judgement calls. To come down hard (in print) on those flaunting their sexuality in public. To rebuke them and tell them to consider the well-being of the community and not just think of them selves. We are as we behave. Responsible and considerate of others, we will be viewed as deserving of equal protection under (he law. James Rasur Clackamas Pedophilia To the Editor: At the July 17 Portland meeting of the anti- OCA initiative campaign, I heard, and was deeply disturbed by, at least five solid minutes of bigotry directed against pedophilia and pedophiles. If adults are romantically or sexually attracted to children, they are by definition, pedophiles. Should this make them subject to ridicule and ostracism? Why should it be socially acceptable to stereotype all pedophiles as molesters and abusers just because they have particular feelings? The spontaneous outpouring of anti pedophilia statements in the July 17 meeting occured during a discussion regarding the S/M and leather community. Most of the remarks presented stereotypes or opinions as facts. References were made to pedophiles, NAM- BLA, and sexual molesters without differentiat ing among them. All were collectively blamed as perpetrators of abuse suffered by the speakers or others. While I was alarmed by the hate-fest, I was outraged at the way it was so pleasantly accommodated-at a “No on Hate” meeting, no less! Individually and as a community, we are fearful and angry over the OCA’s attempt to use pedophilia as a weapon against gay rights. However, the urge to scapegoat feelings of pedophilia is an understandable, but unproduc tive, reaction. Condemning pedophilia and repeating established stereotypes about pedophiles may make us appear to be as righteous as the OCA thinks it is, but it won’t convince voters to oppose an initiative that condemns both pedophilia and homosexuality. Something more creative is needed to appeal to voters’ higher instincts. (We’ll lose if the battle is fought on the low road.) Of course, this does not mean endorsing pedophilia, but it does mean shifting our focus away from pedophiles’ feelings and towards the authoritarian nature of the OCA’s proposals and the manipulative and deceitful words and political tactics it employs. Everett Jaros Portland The real perversion To the Editor: About the OCA-Why are gay and lesbian High Level Performance In today's hot market, you need a Realtor who is ex perienced, efficient, and quick. Whether buying or selling — I promise to put on my tennis shoes for you. Scott Scott Bottaro ( 503 ) 234-1887 ■ ( 503 ) Bridgetown Realty 287-9370 Emily Simon Attorney At Law 620 SW Fifth Ave., Ste. 1204 Portland, Oregon 97214 (503)241-1553 . (503) 241-2587 FAX Emphasizing representation of the accused in all misdemeanor, felony, traffic and DUII actions in state, federal, juvenile courts and administrative actions oc OS tn UJ D CL < I- < t/i cc u O I O H ro < 1 U Û. WE MAKE IT EASIER! BBB a u t o m o t iv e ¿ / A U T O B O D Y & PAINT PRECISION COLLISION REPAIR UNIBODY SPECIALISTS FRAME STRAIGHTENING TOWING ARRANGED QUALITY WORK AT A FAIR PRICE 2454 E. Burnside 232-3600 Family owned and operated since 1952 SI » v ic e ASSOCIATION PM