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About Just out. (Portland, OR) 1983-2013 | View Entire Issue (Dec. 1, 1991)
2 D *c trn b a r 1991 ▼ ]«*•« o u t Ju st out s in c e 1 9 8 3 ste p p in ’ out PUBUSHER Rened LaChance EDITOR Linda Kliewer contents VOL. 9 NO. 2 DEC. 1991 CALENDAR EDITOR Linda Shirley FEATURE STAFF REPORTERS Ann dee Hochman Inga Sorensen Local lesbians make a film in Oregon where girl gets girl STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER Catherine StaufTcr (p. 26) ADVERTISING Profile Linda Shirley Amanda Colorado Corvallis has a lesbian city commissioner who does more than tow cars and deal with utilities CREATIVE DIRECTOR E. Ann Hinds PROOFREADERS lp.15) Matt Bailey Inga Sorensen Commentary TYPESETTER Amanda Colorado FORMATTER The anniversary of Columbus' invasion of the "New World" should be a wake not a party DISTRIBUTION (p. 6) Meg Grace Coyote Distributing SUBSCRIPTIONS Parents and Friends off Lesbians and Gays are out there fighting the bigotry and lies spread by the OCA. Carol Steinel Chloe De Segonzac DEPARTMENTS e d ito ria l CONTRIBUTORS Lee Lynch Dr. Tantalus Sandra de Helen Susana Santos Ellen Hansen Marilyn Davis Rex Wockncr Mica Smith Robert Friedman Just Out if published on the Tint day of each month. £> 1991. No pan of Just Out may be reproduced without written permission of the publisher. The submission of written and graphic materials is welcomed. Written material should be typed and double-spaced. Just Out reserves the right to edit for grammar, punctuation, style, liability concerns and length. We will reject or edit articles or advertisements that are offensive, demeaning or may result in legal action. Just Out consults the Associated Press Style Book and Libel Manual on editorial decisions. Letters to the editor should be limited to 400 words. Graphic material should be m black ink an while paper. Deadline for submissions is the 15th of the month proceeding publication. Views expressed in letters to the editor, columns and features are not necessarily those of the publisher. Di*q>lajr advertising will be accepted up to the 17th of each month. Classified ads must be received at the office of Just Out by the 17th of each month, along with payment. Ads will not be taken over the telephone Subscriptions to Just Out are available for $17.50 for 12 issues. First Class (in an envelope) is $30 for 12 issues. A free copy of Just Out and/or advertising rates are available on request The mailing address and telephone number for Just Out we: PO Box 15117, Portland, OR 97215; (503)236-1252 Letters (p. 4) National briefs World news (P- 8 ) The hate mongers are killing us every day We must come out to beat the OCA r ermit Nies did not take his own life— Kermit was killed. Day by day, hour by hour from a very early age. He was killed by all of the hatred and rigidity and closed mindedness around him. He was killed by fear and hatred. Kermit was killed by the same fear and hatred that created the OCA video. The same fear and hatred that almost elected David Duke in Louisana. The same fear and hatred that puts a star basketball player who is now HIV positive up on a pedestal and other HIV positive people somewhere else. The same fear and hatred that kills too many young lesbians and gay men every year. Parents buy into it, teachers, coaches, next-door neighbors, the store clerk down the street. Call it homophobia, call it heterosexism. It’s hatred and it's fear and it’s killing us. Kermit fought back. He tried to make his world a better place. He volunteered, he came out. He was a caring, gentle, giving person and he’s gone. If the Oregon Citizens Alliance made a video about Kermit Nies — its initiative would never pass. The truth of our lives as lesbians and gay men is more powerful than any video the OCA could make. The truth about our lives can only be told by us. Don’t wait for someone else to do the work for you, it won’t get done. Do it yourself— COME OUT! I’ve said it before along with many others, and the truth is, COMING OUT IS THE ONLY WAY TO BEAT HATRED AND FEAR. COMING OUT IS THE ONLY WAY TO BEAT THE OCA. And if you listen to many of the people who came out in the October issue of Just Out, it can be a very positive, uplifting, even heartwarm ing experience. Thousands of people arc going to see the OCA video. Thousands of very scared people are going to believe this propaganda about you and me. They will believe it because K they “don’t know any queers.” We know better. If you don’t stand up for yourself, who is going to stand up for you? The OCA initiative could severely limit our rights as lesbi ans and gay men. No more concerts in public spaces, no more meetings in public places. Think about it — maybe we take a lot for granted. WE HAVE A LOT TO LOSE! Even if you think it won’t effect you, it will. Don’t wait to find out how much. I have often wished that on any given Thursday all the gay men, lesbians and yes, all the bisexuals would just turn green. Then the choice would not seem so easy. Invisibility would not be so easy. Standing up for ourselves would not be so hard. Once and for all, the world would see just who we are. Prejudice would still exist, and fear and hatred, but it would be a lot harder to identify queers in such a limiting manner. Until that day, for the guy or gal down the street to see that we arc not so scary, it’s up to us. We’ve got to talk to them, tell them who we are. Telling our own truth could be the most important political action of our lifetime. Note: Police have ruled Kermit Nies' death a suicide. If you or someone you love needs support, here is a list of resources. All of these groups are gay, lesbian and bisexual positive. Metro Crisis Line, 223-6161, Portland, (24 hrs.) 1-800-626-8137, statewide, (24 hrs.) Portland Women’s Crisis Line, 235-5333. (24 hrs.) Gay and Lesbian Helpline, 683-2428, Eugene. 4-1 lpm, Mon-Fri. White Bird Clinic, 342-8255, Eugene 1-800-422-7558, statewide . Linda Kliewer (p. 7) Local briefs (p- 12) COLUMNS Amazon TVail (p.30 ) Just Dish (p. 29) ARTS Books Lee Lynch and Robert Friedman pick their favorite books of the year (p.27) Theater Sandra de Helen reviews Lust and Pity (p. 24) • Music Dr. Tantalus gives us his picks to get us through the holidays (p. 28)