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About Just out. (Portland, OR) 1983-2013 | View Entire Issue (Oct. 1, 1992)
just out T o cto b o r 1002 ▼ 5 letters Civil rights under fire To the Editor: I just read Pat tie Ladd's “guest editorial” in the September issue [of Just Out). In between the first and last paragraphs she made some very good points about inclusiveness and diversity, but the overall tone of this editorial is derisive and not particularly valid in terms of assisting our com munity in fighting to retain our civil rights. We are a diverse community, and are greatly enriched by that diversity. However, what is publicly appropriate behavior and what is pri vately appropriate behavior are two different is sues. They are and will always be defined by cultural mores in any community or society. Fur thermore, most of the gay persons I know don’t feel that it is necessary to abandon a sense of social decency to feel politically correct, nor is a lack of fondness for being offensive indicative of “internalizedhomophobia” as Ms. Ladd suggests. Believe me, if all those members of our commu nity who believe in the civil rights of every individual but who are outraged at being told that they have to publicly condone nudity and displays of sexual behavior on city streets stayed home and kept their money, it would be Ms. Ladd and about 200 others who would be left alone to raise a million or so dollars and fight the OCA. Diane Flanders Portland Rebuttal? To the Editor: September’s guest editorial by Pattie Ladd is a perfect example of ridiculous hypocrisy and the very intolerance she decries. She clearly believes that she, and only she, can decide what is accept able behavior and what is not. Anyone who disagrees is full of internalized homophobia and is as bad as the enemy. For paragraph after paragraph she vigorously defends behavior many others find offensive- from gay men “waving penises” to “bare-breasted dykes” and more. She claims the other viewers of the OCA video were drawing distinctions, want ing others to conform and wanting to deny others their rights. Then smack in the middle she point edly does the same: sticks in a paragraph to emphatically state that she is not including Na tional Association of Man Boy Love Activists members in her let’s-accept-everybody tirade. This is because child-fuckers are criminals, whereas the rest are just examples of, apparently, cultural diversity, to be accepted and honored. Come on, Pattie. Are you such a solid citizen and supporter of the establishment that you define right and wrong by whether something is legal or not? You yourself state the majority of people viewing the video objected to the behavior it depicts. Isn’t that how we develop our laws and customs? On what the majority believes to be acceptable or unacceptable? What if the majority of the viewers had cheered when the NAMBLA section came on? How would your editorial have read then? Remember-the OCA did not invent a single frame of this footage. They merely spliced to gether what they felt to be the worst, most outra geous and condemnable behaviors filmed. The NAMBLA folks did march with everybody else, and they can be seen as “criminals,” as you see them, or as mere “marginals,” as you see all the others. There are those who would happily in clude them under the umbrella of "all queers,” as you wish to include every single other group and individual who marched, regardless of behavior. In one sentence you say we must avoid stereo typing, and in the next you refer to “the logger in Roseburg” whose vote we need! You can't have it both ways! Furthermore, you must also realize that our “logger” friends are likely to react in much the same way as the majority of those who viewed the video with you. Perhaps you ought to practice what you preach and learn to tolerate views that are different from yours. SUAL Pattie Ladd responds: Yes, my own tolerance falls short o f accepting child sexual assault. No, I would hardly define right and wrong by what's legal in a system that offers me and other minorities scant legal protec tion. I really don't find anything appealing or amusing about penises being waved about-but the social contract to which both writers refer is the same one that says I can’t lean over and kiss my girlfriend in public. We’re talking about parade nudity, not flashing. Flashing is an as sault, potentially very dangerous. These are complex questions. I mean, just as I'm sick o f men taking their shirts o ff on a hot day when I can't, T m equally sick o f being told by peop le in my own underclass to clean up my act to please the people (the majority) with undue power over my life. In times like these, I'm afraid that words like "con done” make me very nervous. When outrageous public acts are used to condemn us all, I believe we should resist our own narrow standards; by such intolerance are we divided and conquered. And isn't it puritanism that's responsible for this creeping morass o f moralizing about family val ues? Maybe if we didn’t have to keep fighting the same battles, we would have the time and psychic energy to debate these fascinating questions as well as many that are more important. Pattie Ladd Paul Ray Province, 32, died at home from complications of AIDS on Aug. 22, leaving his beloved companion, Rick Loyal Brooks. Also Commitment ceremony ' On the afternoon of Aug. 28, Dr. Mary Ann left behind were Paul’s family, Michael Hatleny, Humphrey, co-host of the award-winning weekly Tammy, Melissa and Aaron Michael of Cottage Grove, and his large family of choice including television program Nightscene and author of the Fred Kirste, Lynda Miles, Kay Stiles, Christopher recent book about gays and lesbians in the mili Nepper, Sandy Johnson, Linda Tody and Eric tary, My Country, My Right to Serve, and her partner of nearly eight years, Debra Sue Keever, Brown. Paul was bom in Cottage Grove, March 1, exchanged vows in a commitment ceremony held 1960. He moved to Portland in 1980. Paul gave at their home in Port! and. Ore. Nearly 100 of their freely of his time, talents and energy and was friends and family attended the catered, festive quite active in the music ministry of Crown of summer occasion. The ceremony was officiated by a minister Praise and Living Communion Church. He led home Bible study for gays and lesbians. He also from a local United Church of Christ congrega tion. Their nine-year-old son Parke was the ring- hosted cable outreach with song and gospel. Those who wish to express sympathy may bearer. V WtAit »• • 4M HW / v tlllt LE G A N C E L u s h g a r d e n s e t t in g s STYLISHLY DECORATED SUITES P o o l s id e B r e a k f a s t ft L u n c h e o n Kristine L. Falco, Psy.D. 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