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Another gay teen
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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).