Image provided by: University of Oregon Libraries; Eugene, OR
About Just out. (Portland, OR) 1983-2013 | View Entire Issue (June 1, 1993)
▼ J ««« t. Il letters TLN turns its back on diversity To the Editor: It’s time to talk about the discrimination, ha rassment, and outright meanness that The Laven der Network editor Frank Aviles has suffered from TLN board and staff. At the March meeting, when people sought to address this, the board tried to shut out community comments entirely. When I informed them of their legal obligation to hear us, they reluctantly (and briefly) did, though some literally kept their backs turned. Frank’s been treated differently than past edi tors, all of whom were white. The harassment is daily; they intercept his business mail and open his personal letters; speak to him abusively; “re- edit” (that is, censor) the magazine after it’s completed; continually redefine “editorial policy’ in response to anything he writes or prints that they’re uncomfortable with; and alternately os tracize and criticize him. When Frank attempts to address these problems, he is retaliated against. Here’s a sensitive, talented employee, doing a terrific job while making a salary much lower than most board members would ever consider for themselves. Plus, his vision for TLN has connected the diverse groups within the commu nity. So, what does the TLN board do? They run him out of town. When the straight world says to queers, “Why are you so angry; labels are divisive,” we know they don’t get it. Yet the board uses these exact words to attack Frank’s work. W hat’s wrong with this picture? Racism. It seems the folks on the board would rather their magazine not be “dark ened” with opinions and pictures of people of color. That is their decision, which Frank can take or leave. But where does that leave us, the read ers? Frank, you have fans out here. We appreciate you, your insights, your gentleness, and your anger. Yep, we love your anger too. Rya Philips Eugene Editor’s note: Frank Aviles has since fle d to the relative peace o f California. That Frank stayed on as long as he did is a testament to his deep commitment to implementing diversity where none existed, and the personal courage and strength that he had to do it. What Frank experienced was an institutionalized racism, reinforced by threats o f violence. As a community that is composed o f queers o f every color, religion, national origin, able-bodiedness and language, we have an obli gation to overcome our own prejudices. How can we continue to point a collective queer finger at homophobes, insisting that they get over their hatred and fear o f us, while simultaneously run ning a gay Chicano out o f the statefor implement ing diversity in The Lavender Network? Every one o f us is responsible fo r the failure o /T L N ’s board to adequately face its racism. It has cer tainly been no secret that members o f the board were constantly in Frank’s face about “under- representing” white, middle-class gays. This has been a painfully revealing example o f how things "work out” when people don't involve them selves. Every gay, lesbian or bisexual o f anglo!Euro pean descent has a responsibility to step in front o f racist attacks directed at people o f color. I will never forget the heat that Just O ut's publisher, Renée LaChance, took from the community as a result o f hiring me as editor— and she’s still hearing about it. We expect homophobes to just "get over it.” Can we, as a community, just "get over” racism? The things that seem to stop us are essentially the same as the things that stop straight people from truly becoming our allies: it’s scary, it hurts, it’s too hard, it's overwhelming; there is no racismJ homophobia; if there were no queers/ people o f color it wouldn't be an issue; queersI people o f color are addicted to being victimized; (and the all-time best), "I'mnot racist/homophobic so / don’t have to take any action about ending racism/ homophobia." We work hard to create heterosexual allies. One reason is that allies are essential to our struggle fo r equal rights. People o f color need white allies, within and without the gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgendered communities. None o f us currently living created racism or homophobia, yet it will take every one o f us to turn the tide on both these oppressions. I believe we can end racism within our community. We are essentially good people and we certainly have the kind o f courage that it takes to fight fo r human dignity. TLN needs to hear from some white gay, lesbian and bisexual allies to people o f color. Take that step. Get a feel fo r what we're asking our straight allies to do fo r us. GWM To the Editor: Thank you for your even-tempered, healing answer to Kyle Martin’s “fed up” rantings about “political correctness" (May 1). You see the sources of oppression in our society, and I feel lucky that you share that vision in the pages oUust Out. Like Mr. Martin, I am white, gay, and male, but when it comes to political correctness games, I don’t share Martin’s passive acceptance of the rules as defined by conservatives. I prefer not to play at their table at all. The very idea of politi cally correct intimidation by the left is a lie. Even the expression “politically correct”—once used facetiously by progressives to gently ridicule each other’s narrow thinking— has been stolen and used in the media as proof of a “conspiracy.” I was fortunate to play a small part in advocating Stanford University’s multicultural curriculum reform, one of the hottest “PC” debates of the late ’80s. Since then I have read and heard countless lies about what happened there, chiefly from cultural warrior and former Secretary of Educa tion, William Bennett. I have heard all about the imaginary conspiracies in which left-wing jour nalists and professors intimidate free thinkers and dissenters while pampering minorities, and I tire of the whole big whine. Talk about bad sports! The patriarchy loses a few arguments about history and culture in a tiny comer of society and it has to shout that the whole game— its own game—is rigged! Ethnic minorities and despised classes arc in no position to rig the game. Not here for the last 501 years, nor elsewhere for thousands. All we ‘correct” folk want is for the truth to be taught in schools, for the suppressed books to be read, and (in our dreams) for the conquest to stop. One more thing—on the issue of offending those whom Martin labels “our religious allies.” As Christian as I may feel, I don’t edit my opin ions to avoid offending would-be church allies who “accept me but not my behavior.” They are not allies of mine. And those who really do accept homosexuality will surely not be offended by your editorial candor in Just Out. I don’t see a problem here. For some reason, Mr. Martin seems to think that to disagree is to take offense and censor. He underestimates us all. Dave Ream Corvallis Some things you might want to know about 47 year old Vancouver Furniture 1. We Give You A 12 Month Written Lowest Price Guarantee Even though some chain stores buy by the carload and truckload, just as we do, the savings don't always get passed on to customers. We don't believe in that way of doing business. At Vancouver Furniture you get a written lowest price guarantee. If the identical item is offered for less in the next 12 months somewhere else or even at our own store, we refund the difference or credit it to your account. 2. You Get Free Delivery, Portland to Longview If you purchase anything at $499 or more, wc'l I deliver it to your home free of charge. Vancouver Furniture has six large delivery trucks and a service van on the road every week. 3. We Are The Only Union Furniture Store Of Any Size From Seattle to Medford Vancouver Furniture has employed union sales people and ware- house/drivers for over 45 years. We are proud of our professional, dedicated staff. 4. Vancouver Furniture Is Community Active Our company has always believed in community service. Some time ago we decided to focus more on problems of hunger and poverty. In the past few years we have given over 3,000 new and used mattresses to needy families. Our annual Peanut Butter & Johnny Limbo street dance has generated over 32,000 cans of food the last five concerts. This past year we donated 28 new twin mattress sets to the YWCA Safe Choice shelter for women and children who are victims of domestic violence. 5. We Keep Our Promises Expect courtesy, respect and service from us. We participate in the Portland Better Business Bureau Care Program. 6. Brands You Can Depend On Bob f « Expect to find Simmons, Simmons Beautyrcst, Sealy and Posturcpedic mattresses, every size, luxury level and firmness. Wc also carry Lane, La-Z-Boy, Douglas, Stratolounger, Kincaid, GuildCraft, Pulaski, Hippopotamus, Amana, Maytag, Frigidaire, Toshiba, Mitsubishi, Magic Chef and more. t Jake i\ vpf v mi 7. What About Oregon? People from more than 85 differ ent communities in Oregon cross the river to buy from us...from Cascade Locks to Astoria. Reason? G(xxl taste need not be expensive. At Vancouver Furniture we simply sell for less. "Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere Martin lulhtr King, Jr. Not actors. The Mortensen brothers are really drivers. > DOWNTOWN 9 to 9 Vancouver Furniture A Lot Of Portland Stores Sell Great Furniture ¡¡ij * ven W e S imply S ell F or L ess ! Downtown Vancouver • Eleventh St. & Broadway & C St. ( 206 ) 695-3391 ( 503 ) 230-1400 ▼ 3
