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About Just out. (Portland, OR) 1983-2013 | View Entire Issue (May 1, 1992)
letters I l i Another gay teen QUEENS I t 0 h e P A R T Y A F T E R O R T R E C O N L C O N V E N T T H E N A 1 O P A R A D E | N 1 ) C E N T E R J U N E 6TH SINGER PAUL LEK A K IS CABARET STAGE COUNTRY WESTERN DANCE HALL M.L. MARSH LICHT SHOW TICKETS $2« IN ADVANCE AT ALL FRED MEYER FASTIXX OUTLETS, CALL 224-TIXX PATRON PARTY AND DINNER TICKETS $75 (CALL 241-655») ADULT VIDEO th«sa^BU Domestic violence To the Editor: We wanted to thank you for your excellent article concerning domestic violence in the gay community. The silence and denial and confu sion around this issue has made it difficult for survivors to speak out and for the community to process and problem solve this issue. We espe cially appreciated that the article was not hidden way on the last page. There is a group in Eugene called Battered Lesbian Intervention Project. It is composed of volunteers from WOMENSPACE, a shelter for battered women and their children that serves all ofLancCounty. WOMENSPACE hasa24-hour crisis hotline (485-6513) and lesbian volunteers are available to return calls. An information packet about lesbian battering is available by mail and/or to pick up at Mother Kali’s Books at 2001 Franklin. Who’s paying the bills? PROCEEDS BENEFIT THECAMPAIGN FORA HATE-FREE OREGON S p o n s o re d B y : im r ^ Nick Jasper Kennewick, Wash. The Battered Lesbian Intervention Project WOMENSPACE Eugene S- '6oot& To the Editor: I am a 16-year old teenager who has come out to many of his peers. Even though I live in a conservative area of Washington, the teens in this area are more open-minded than the adults-they realize that just because I am gay doesn’t mean I can ’ t hold a leadership position. I was just elected Senior Class Secretary/Treasurer. There are three gays that have come out at my high school. We meet weekly with a counselor to discuss things that affect us as gay youth. I have also told my mother, who accepted me with love and under standing. I have also had very little resentment to deal with from my friends. In fact, many of my friendships have become deeper because of my coming out. I met my closest friend, a lesbian teen, when I came out to her. The part of coming out that has hurt me the most has been my religious principles. Before I came out, I was an active member in a Conserva tive Baptist church. When I told my youth pastor I was gay, he basically said gays and lesbians are condemned to Hell. Eventually, I realized that he was wrong, not me. I am Christian, and I am not going to Hell because I am gay. I have since moved to an E.L.C.A. Lutheran church, where I know the pastor’s son. He told me that his father believed that gays could be Christian, which means I am welcome at this new church. I am not worried anymore about what any pastor or church official has to say about my homosexuality. After all, I have the confidence of God to rely on! So, all you gay teens out there who are afraid of compromising your religious principles because of your sexuality, you don’t have to! Be confi dent of both your sexuality and your faith! .do. C ONTINENTAL CLUB BATHS To the Editor: Since April is tax time, my partner and I thought it would be interesting to calculate our Federal taxes as if we were a “married’’ couple. We are a couple and have been married for over seven years. Let s assume we both work and both claim “0” dedD UCl^ >36,000 r per UrW4f0rms- one of per us makes year and the Assuming other $ 18,000 year, out joint household income would be $54 000 peryear. Since our government considers us both lobe smgle ourcombined refunds would amount to only about $1,100 ($730 for the $36.000 per eyes of our government the refund is dramatically different. Instead of receiving $1,100 back we would receive over $2,400! A difference of over $1,300! We don’t know about you, but we find this infuriating! Ken Thomas Doug Larson Portland Amen! To the Editor: In these times when we in the lesbian, gay and bisexual community are threatened by Oregon Citizens Alliance efforts to undermine our rights, I have been heartened to know how many dispar ate groups have rallied together in spite of differ ences to work toward our common cause. Imagine my surprise, then, when I heard that during a KBOO broadcast on April 16, Linda Shirley and Donna Red Wing engaged in bi bashing while a member of Portland State University’s Gay, Lesbian, and Bisexual Union sat quietly by. Shirley sarcastically asked, “What do bisexuals want anyway?” Red Wing “joked” about whether bisexuals shopped at Bi-Mart and were all bilingual. Is this the coalition building that Red Wing speaks of so earnestly? Even if these remarks weren’t meant to be malicious, they still expose an attitude of intolerance and narrow mindedness. How can we expect people outside our community to treat us with respect when outspoken members of our own community can not show respect within our own ranks? As a bisexual woman who works actively for the lesbian, gay and bisexual community, I stand up for all of us. I feel hurt and angry that people who I respect do not feel it is important to recip rocate and stand up for me. If we as a community do not confront our own biases, then we are the enemy. Ruth Gibian Portland Donna Red Wing responds: I am compelled to respond to Ruth Gibian's letter concerning my remarks during a recent radio program. I am profoundly sorry for any thing I said that was, or was perceived to be, biphobic or racist. We all must continue to work on our preju dices and insensitivities. 1 am certainly no excep tion. Please accept my most sincere apology. Thank you. Donna Red Wing W ay to go! To the Editor: Kudos to you for putting out a thought-pro voking paper!!! It seems as though Just Out has become somewhat more controversial over the last few months, and I say, way to go!!! Warm thanks from me to your staff for putting out the paper that has made a positive difference! Greg LcBlanc Roselodge Waving goodbye To the Editor: We would like to let the community know the Enchanted Blue Wave Bed and Breakfast will be closing forever June 7,1992. We have been here for 10 years and due to an injury to Pax we are unable to continue. To all the thousands of “Wavers" from our hearts we say, thanks for the mammaries!! Pax Greenway Diane Hassell Assuming we were a “married’’ couple in the Seaview, Wash. year partner and $370 for the other).
