4 ▼ jun * 1002 ▼ just out
letters
E m ily S im o n
Attorney At Law
Trust your instincts!
620 SW Fifth Ave. Ste. 1204
Portland, Oregon 97204
(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
M ARTY KATKANSKY,
g ri pc
Service since 1976
Westside Specialist
• Residential
• Investments
Personalized marketing plans
Complimentary consultations for both
buyers and sellers
Res. 641-8190
regon
Portland West Office
8552 SW Apple Way
Portland, OR 97225
297-2523
□
RE ALTO R*
realty co
Donating 10% of fees to anti-OCA pro-gay causes when you mention this ad.
Hey, have you heard?
20% o ff all hair care
products at Gary Luckey.
To the Editor:
I am writing to share with your readers some
thing that happened to me as a result of respond
ing to the following house-share ad in the April
16-22 Willamette Week:
“ Seeking Roommate, GM, SE duplex,
Hawthorne area. No smoke/drugs, responsible,
$275/month. 235-2146."
I went to the man’s place, Friday, April 24, to
look at the room for rent. Instead, on my way out,
the man grabbed me around the neck and forced
a kiss on my mouth. I pushed him away. He then
grabbed me again, “hugged” me and said he was
sorry, at which point I pushed him away again and
ran for the door, which he had locked. Fortunately
for me, he unlocked the door and I ran out.
I believe this man is potentially dangerous. I
hope that this will not happen to other unsuspect
ing gay men looking for a place to live. The man’s
name is Jonathan. He is roughly 35-40 years old,
5 ’l l ”-6’ tall, 170-180 lbs., with thinning light
brown hair, blue eyes, scruffy mustache and beard.
During the course of our conversation, in which I
unfortunately told him quite a bit about myself, he
mentioned he was unemployed, had worked with
computers, and had been raised in Newport, Ore.
I had had an uncomfortable feeling when I
talked with Jonathan on the phone a few days
before our “visit.” However, since I could not
place, at the time, what it was that made me
uncomfortable, and since I have been looking for
a new place to live for almost two months, I
thought, “Well, you really should check out all the
options.”
I would like to address the entire gay and
lesbian community, and particularly those who
are home-searching, when I say that I no w realize
the best thing I could have done for myself was to
allow myself to be aware of, and honor, what I
was initially feeling-before getting into a very
dangerous situation. I urge all of you to please be
careful answering ads such as these. Probably,
many are legit; obviously, some are not. I learned
the hard way, from experience-a very frightening
one I hope no one has to go through.
David Rutiezer
Portland
Just goodbye
To the Editor:
Oh, Linda, say it isn’t so.
I just read the May issue. I think I really will
suicide myself now. No more “Just Dish??” How
can this be? LINDA, HEAR ME SPEAK: fuck
’em if they can’t take a joke. Make trouble,
Girlfriend. Readers who complain about your
column are similar to lesbians who attend erotica
shows that offend them terribly but stay to see
every last performance. Don’t care for Linda’s
extremely sarcastic, irreverent wit? Then by
golly don’t read her wonderful column.
Linda Shirley is one of the most dynamic,
intelligent, political lesbians I know. She has
done and continues to do more for this community
than any one person I can think of at the moment.
I think it sucks when this community that yearns
so much for acceptance dumps on one of our own
for writing the kind of thought-provoking jour
nalism that can “stir up things” and “inspire you
to action.”
I love you Linda. I want the column to go on.
f
m
if-
But nobody can say it like you did. If you gotta
move on I certainly can’t blame ya. I know I’m
not the only reader who will feel the loss.
Susan Gregg
Portland
Editor’s note: It was LindaShir ley's choice to
discontinue the column.
Amnesty responds
To the Editor
In the “World news” section of the May issue
of Just Out, the lead article described how Am
nesty International canceled an invitation to Dr.
Monika Reinfelder to speak, on the grounds that
lesbian sexuality was too controversial a subject.
This article also noted that guidelines for
Amnesty’s new work on behalf of gays and lesbi
ans persecuted for their sexual orientation have
not been drawn up.
Although formal guidelines for Amnesty’s
work on behalf of lesbians and gays have not yet
been drawn up, Amnesty has already begun re
search and work on lesbian and gay cases. At the
April meeting of the Portland chapter of Amnesty
International, we discussed the case of Vladimir
Mironov, who was charged under Article 121 part
1 of the Russian Federation Criminal Code, which
forbids consenting sexual acts between adult
males. Local Amnesty members sent letters to
three different officials in Russia calling for fur
ther information about Mr. Mironov and urging
that legislative amendments be passed to ensure
that persons are not liable to imprisonment for
consensual homosexual activity between adults
in private. Vladimir Mironov was recently re
leased from prison.
Amnesty International is not a homogenous
organization, and decisions are sometimes made
at the international level which do not reflect the
views of the United States section. We regret that
Dr. Reinfelder’s invitation to speak was canceled.
Amnesty International Members for Lesbian and
Gay Concerns (AIMLGC, PO Box 8293, Santa
Cruz, CA 95061) is actively working to ensure
that human rights o f lesbian and gay people all
over the world will be respected.
Tena K. Hoke
Coordinator, Portland Chapter
Amnesty International USA
Holy dish
To the Editor:
First off, hurrah that Just Out carries a religion
column even if it is a compilation of news from
other sources.
Why not ask Reverend Nelson to compose
each month a thoughtful column dealing with gay
male and lesbian issues?
With so many social and political problems
and challenges surrounding us today, perhaps a
thoughtful column dealing with these issues from
a moral, ethical and theological position would be
helpful.
Sometimes the column as is gives the wider
audience a glimpse at church doings, but often
those interested have read the material in other
publications.
Art Buck, Pastor
Milwaukie
Gary Luckey, Portland’s first non-tipping salon.
If you bring in this ad you'll receive
an extra 10% off! Offer expires July 1, 1992.
2 8 1 -7 8 3 1
4016 N.E. Fremont
G/V7Y
LJUCXEY
REPORT HOMOPHOBIC VIOLENCE