2 ▼ Ja n u a ry 1 9 0 2 ▼ Juat o u t
ju s t out
since 1983
PUBUSHER
step pin’ out
contents
Rened LaChance
EDITOR
VOL. 9 N O . 3 JA N . 1992
Linda Kliewcr
CALENDAR EDITOR
Linda Shirley
FEATURE
STAFF REPORTER
Inga Sorensen
Voices within
speaking out
STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER
Catherine Stauffer
Ten lesbians and gay men
from various ethnic, cultural
and racial backgrounds share
their truths.
ADVERTISING
Linda Shirley
Amanda Colorado t
( P P - 12-18)
CREATIVE DIRECTOR
E. Ann Hinds
z
PROOFREADER
Inga Sorensen
R
I
TYPESETTER
Amanda Colorado
FORMATTER
Meg Grace
Mona Lisa as a dyke. Art Media window goddess Rhonda Wheeler, created this display showing
many women as Mona Lisa. The one in the middle, sports a "dyke11 tattoo and a pink triangle.
Profile
Soviet gay activist, Roman
Kalinin, comes to Portland to
promote the leJbian and gay
liberation movement in the
Soviet Union
(p. 4)
DISTRIBUTION
Coyote Distributing
Carol Steinel
Chloe Dc Scgonzac
CONTRIBUTORS
Lee Lynch
Dr. Tantalus
Malt Bailey
Susana Santos
cjgoldbcrg
Marilyn Davis
Rex Wockner
Ariel Waterwoman
Eileen Kaady
Anthony
Howie Bicrbaum
Roberto Reyes-Colón
Florcid Walker
Scot Nakagawa
Lynn Nakamoto
Bcs'Lcc Heron
Just Out it published on the first day of
each month. © 1992. No part of Just Out
may be reproduced without written
permission of the publisher.
T he subm ission of w ritten and
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concerns and length. We will reject or edit
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Associated Press Style Book and Libel
Manual on editorial decisions.
Letters to the editor should be limited
to 400 words. Graphic material should be
in black ink an while paper. Deadline for
subm issions is the 15th of the month
proceeding publication. Views expressed
in leuers to the editor, columns and
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DEPARTMENTS
editorial
SUBSCRIPTIONS
D iv e rse by nature
Letters
(p. 3)
World news
(p. 5)
National briefs
(p.6)
O
experts on their own life experiences, not to exclude them
ur community is diverse by nature. Sexual orien
because they are "too close" to a story, has been a wonderful
tation cuts across all lines of race, religion, eco
nomic standing, education, and nationality. We
change. I love this job, I also need a break. I miss working with
have a built-in bridge for coming together, if we
Philip Anderson, who died of AIDS -related causes in July. My
will only use i t We have an opportunity to learn
preference would always be to work with another editor with
from people and share with people who may be very complementary
different
skills and different life experiences.
from ourselves, or who we perceive as different. In at least one
In other news related to coverage of the Oregon Citizens
way we are alike. We are queer.
Alliance, I wish more reporters in the mainstream media,
Understanding and reaching out to people unlike ourselves,
particularly television, would look beyond what is spoon-fed
is an important step in healing this world. If we choose to isolate
them. In a recent news story about the OCA’s new “No on
ourselves and think we know what others are like then we are
Hate" initiative, which increases penalties for hate crimes,
doing exactly what the Oregon Citizens Alliance is doing, and
adds “political activities” to the list of protected catagories, and
we arc only hurting ourselves.
*
changes sexual orientation to “engaging in abnormal and
In this issue of Just Out, many gay men and lesbians from
unnatural sexual behavior," KGW-Channel 8 News reported
a variety of cultural backgrounds, not usually represented,
the story as if the OCA really cares about hate crimes. Pete
speak their own truths. They have all been brave enough to be
Shulberg even made note of the “special mention of homosexu
honest and open about their lives.
als,” as if it were positive. Don’t they read the fine print, or even
As editor, it has been an enriching experience to call on
the second page of a press release? Didn’t they see the deletion
people and ask them to participate in this issue, to tell others
of "sexual orientation," the addition of the words "abnormal
about their lives. As an European-American dyke it was a scary
behavior?" Doesn’t that sound familiar? Things are not always
experience to ask people of ethnic origins different than my
what they seem. I was taught that reporters need to examine
own to participate in this project knowing that many people of
material and question things, not swallow them whole.
color do not feel represented by this paper. My fears were met
This initiative is a way for the OCA to get the language,
by an overwhelmingly positive response from everyone I
“abnormal sexual behavior,” refering to homosexuality, on
contacted, even those who didn’t choose to contribute to this
the books in Oregon. This is a public relations move on the
issue. My thanks to each o f you.
OCA’s part to appear as if they care about a group they are
Many of the people who participated in this issue and many
trying to erase from the face of the planet. Through the added
of the young lesbians and gay men who wrote articles for the
classification of protection for political activities, they, them
September Youth Issuedon’t consider themselves writers. One
selves would be covered by a law intended to protect disenfran
needn't be a writer or a speaker to have something to say. It is
chised people. To top it off, using the name, “No on Hate,”
important for each of us to value our own truth and to value the
which has been used since July by a lesbian and gay political
truth of others.
action committee that is fighting the OCA, is meant at the very
This will be my last issue as editor of Just Out. My decision
least to confuse the public. If the OCA were serious about its
to leave has been a very difficult one and I still question it even
initiative, why would it change" sexual orientation" to “abnor
as I write this editorial, perhaps especially as I write this
mal sexual behavior,’’ language completely out of context with
editorial. The work of being the editor of a lesbian and gay
the rest of the wording? To be consistent, the rest of the law
newspaper has been a joy to me, especially working on editions
would refer to other protected classes in derogatory terms as
o f the paper like this one. After 14 years in mainstream
well. In my opinion that is totally inconsistent with a law that
television news, it is a wonderful experience to finally be
if intended to protect people from being assaulted because of
covering stories that reflect my life, and that are as important as
negative stereotypes.
any story on the 5 o ’clock news. To be able to include people
Ify o iih .v en ’t dor* i. tlrMdy. | cncourag, you come out
as writers because of their bias and what they have to offer as
now, while it is still legal to be and say "queer."
Linda Kliewer
Religion
(p-8)
OCA watch
(p. 9)
Local news
(p.10)
CO LUM NS
Amazon lYail
(P-31 )
Just Dish
(p. 30)
ARTS
Entertainment
Porno Afro Homo comes to
Portland and Eugene and
prom ises to be the best
show in town.
(p. 26)
*