just out ▼ august 1002 ▼ 3
letters
Sort of a love letter
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:
K a ren
M .D .
, Physician and-Surgeon
Obstetncs'airdxGynecology
I was given the sweet opportunity fo r fu ll expansion o f my
politics and friendships
▼
t the National Gay and Lesbian Task
But my time ran out, and I left with concerns
Force conference in November, Scot
about the kind o f isolation and alienation people
Nakagawa and Donna Red Wing
were feeling, reflective o f similar feelings of
showed me the OCA video, and I was
people around the country. I guess I want tp say
struck immediately by the escalation
to everyone clearly that these feelings can lead to
in the assault by the Christian Right against
people
our
destruction. The only hope we have for
of color, women, lesbians and gay men, indeed,
making change is through making authentic con
against the Bill of Rights and democracy itself.
nections. Consequently, I hope that everyone, in
When I offered to come to Oregon to work on the
whatever way possible, gets involved in the cam
campaign to counter this attack, Scot and Donna
paign to defeat the OCA initiative. This means
worked together through the Coalition for Human * knocking on the door of Campaign for a Hate Free
Dignity and the Lesbian Community Project to
Oregon, and if no one has had time to put out the
raise funds to pay my base salary for six months.
welcome mat that day, then just walk on in and get
Then they gave me the freedom to do whatever I
busy. CHFO belongs to our community; we must
saw necessary to create a climate of activism and
make it what we want it to be. Our freedom to
change.
have whole lives, our freedom to participate fully
Thus began six months of incredible joy to me.
in society is at risk; we have to get over ourselves
I want to thank Oregonians for receiving me
and eliminate the barriers to creating a victory for
with-literally-open arms, loving affection, toler justice for all of us.
ance for my Southern ways, hospitality, support
My life has been enriched by my time in
and respect. I was given the sweet opportunity for
Oregon. Here in Little Rock, I am filled with
full expansion of my politics and friendships. I
memories of beaches and mountains and of the
grew in ways that exceeded my imagination. That
beautiful faces o f the friends I made there. I wish
is no small g ift
I could call everyone by name in my thanksgiv
On July 4 I returned South to resume my
ing, but there are too many. However, I do want
responsibilities at home and at the W omen’s
especially to thank the Coalition for Human Dig
Project It was particularly difficult to leave at a
nity and the Lesbian Community Project for mak
time when biased violence was on the rise in
ing my work possible, and Holly Pruett and Holly
Portland, with break-ins, vandalism, death threats
Duncan for providing me a loving home. As for
and an intensifying climate of violence. Activists
the rest of you, I will thank you in person when I
always leave even the best work wishing they
return in September to work with you through
could have done more. As I drove through spec
election day and the following days of celebration
tacular scenery on the long trip South, I kept
of freedom.
thinking, “If only I had had just a few more weeks,
maybe I could have helped construct the bridges
Suzanne Pharr
necessary for people working together in unity.” Little Rock, Ark.
^ lin ic
Suite 520
I*òrtland/Ore$bn 97210
A
Shop around
To the Editor:
Last week I spoke with the local county clerk
and learned that I was able to see Oregon Citizens
Alliance petitions that were submitted to her for
signature verification. In the course of our con
versation I found that I could buy copies of the
petitions from the secretary o f state’s Elections
Division for 15 cents per page.
I am buying the copies of the petitions for this
county and will use them as a sort o f shopping
guide. I plan to share them with my friends. I
recommend that other people around the state
purchase copies for their local use.
Skip Cockerum
Tillamook
Sexy: Not!
To the Editor:
Someone out there thinks this is a turn-on; big
hunks with tattooed swastikas posing for porno
graphic consumption. If you’ve ever fancied
having a “No Comment” section, such as the one
in Ms., then this could certainly find a home there.
Am I missing the joke, or does this offend you
all as well?
Michael Ambrosino
Portland
Honest accountability
To the Editor:
Lesbian and Gay Pride 1992 would like to
thank the gay and lesbian community and our
supporters for making this year’s event such an
outstanding success. Not only were we the top
news story on all four local stations and on the
front page of The Oregonian(\), but we also made
national news on CNN Sunday morning. This
could not have happened without the over 9,000
people who attended the event. Special thanks
must also go to Janna MacAuslen and Kristin
Aspen of Alternative Sound, Howie B aggadonutz
and Carol Steinel, Jude Watson and our security
and volunteers for all o f their hard work.
We also feel it necessary to respond to a letter
printed in the July issue o f The Lavender Network
written by Jordana Sardo, Radical Women and six
co-signers, contesting the $45 fee for sales-booth
space. We agree with the letter writers that it is
“crucial” for all people to participate in the event
as fully as they are able. That is why our fees are
based as they are. Groups and individuals can be
involved for costs ranging from nothing to over
$500, depending on how they choose. This is a
way for us to make sure that everyone can join us
in one way or another. Those groups wishing to
have a booth but who lack the financial means
have always been welcome either to share space
with another organization or to work-share. Both
of these options were offered to Radical Women,
who informed us that they did not have the re
sources for either one. To date they are the only
vendor to disagree with the cost or to not have paid
their fee in full. If your organization found these
fees to be excessive, please contact us so that we
can take these things into consideration for 1993.
As you can see from the 1992 financial report,
this event is expensive to produce. We too are a
“small group on a shoestring budget.” Before
depositing the money brought in on the day of the
event (merchandisesales and donations), we were
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