2 ▼ a u g u d 5. 1904 ▼ ju «t out
just out
since 1983
PUBLISHER A N D EDITOR
steppin’ out
EDITOR-AT-LARGE
contents
Ariel W aterwom an
VOL. 11 NO. 19 AUGUST 5,1994
Renée LaChance
CALENDAR EDITOR
Jann G ilbert
FEATURES
PHOTOGRAPHER
Linda K liew er
Struggles in a
war-torn world
ADVERTISING DIRECTOR
The first ILGHRC Felipa de
Souza awards are presented
M eg G race
ADVERTISING REPS
(pp. 15-17)
Fred A llem ann
E. Ann Hinds
Jewel Robinson
DEPARTMENTS
CREATIVE DIRECTOR
E. Ann Hinds
World news
GRAPHIC DESIGN
Kelly M. Bryan
Mexican queers demand
reforms from their U.N.
delegates
FORMATTER
(P- 6)
Rupert Kinnard
COPY EDITOR
Fred A llem ann
National news
TYPESETTER
DISTRIBUTION
Kristine Gebbie resigns as
AIDS czar; Camp Sister Spirit
get congressional hearing
Up Front Distribution
(PP- 7-9)
Dee StarD ancer Fultz
OFFICE M ANAGER
Aaron Bong
Local news
CONTRIBUTORS
Closeted gay mystery man
leaves estate to HRCF,
Phoenix Rising
Fred A llem ann
M artha Allen
Howard N. Dana
Jann Gilbert
C hristopher Kamera
Risa Krivé
Lee Lynch
Bob Roehr
Todd Sim m ons
Daniel V aillancourt
Rex W ockner
guest editorial
Media casualties
Though important issues have been raised,
media coverage of the Simpson case needs to be taken to task
C O LU M N S
Commentary
It is time to challenge our
'ountry to live up to its ideals
(P- 3)
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(PP- 10-13)
by Rupert K in n ard
Queer thing
s an African American gay man, I have come to
would want to jum p on the image o f O.J. Simpson as a way to sell
resent the danger I seem to represent in our society,
copies, but one would’ve thought that they would at least use a
and in the media, merely because of my gender and
photo that featured both O.J. and Nicole. Is what happened to
skin color. But 1 have learned that the irritation I
O.J. the “American Tragedy” ? Thousands o f battered spouses
experience, feeling forced to cross the street and
around the country would not think so. Looking at what we know
remain visible from a distance, when walking behind a woman
about the Sim pson’s relationship, it is true that part o f the tragedy
who becomes obviously nervous with my presence is slight
lies in the way men are encouraged to view women in our society
compared to her fear of me . I understand that this fear is based on
and the world. It is more than unfortunate that O.J. has become
very real and frightening recurring abominations against women,
the symbol o f the tragedy that has claimed two lives, as if what
and my anger that women have to go through ______________
--------------------- . has happened to him is the tragedy.
this pain indicates the circle of casualties such
But is it surprising, considering the whole
crimes create. It is the attempt to understand
phenomenon o f what it now seems to mean to
the violence that women endure daily, as
be considered a hero in our society? I recently
surely as I appreciate the bigotry that I endure
wrote in this paper on what the late filmmaker
as a black gay man, that makes me do what I
| Marlon Riggs meant to me as a personal he{ 0 ,
can to make the streets feel safer for women.
| only to be shortly thereafter bombarded with
It is also as an African American man that
j w ordsof praise for the deceased form er Presi
1 am sickened by many aspects o f the Nicole
dent Richard Nixon as a hero. O.J. Sim pson’s
Brown Sim pson/Ronald Goldman murder
accomplishments as a sports figure, a fea
case. Though one might assume I would join
tured actor in a number o f comedies, and a
the legion o f folks upset about the menacing
spokesman for Hertz Rent A C ar were part o f
darkening o f O. J. Sim pson’s face on the cover
g why he has been seen as a hero in the past. I
o f Time — most shocking when seen in close
5 d on’t want to downplay the pow er o f his
proximity to the same photo, untouched, fea
| influence as a role model for African Ameri-
tured on the cover o f Newsweek— I was more j
_______________
i can youth, or the work he has done for
affected by the different headlines that ac-
„
n.
worthwhile organizations, but are our stan
corapanied Ihe .mages Newsweek used the N,CoU Brown S,mPson
dards for heroes now based on the idea “Once
sensational, all caps, "TRAIL O F BLOOD” headline, while the
a hero always a hero”? I don’t have the answer, for surely there
retouched Time photo was graced with the headline “An Ameri
are as many definitions of heroism as there are individuals who
can Tragedy.” I immediately thought that a photo o f Nicole
contem plate the question. But I think it is time we all evaluate
Brown Sim pson and Ronald Goldman would have been more
our need for heroes and what they should stand for. And I think
appropriate for the latter headline.
those who continue to cheer and support O.J. Sim pson as a hero
So much o f what happened to Nicole Brown Simpson has
need extensive therapy...lest they becom e a part o f yet another
b^en m arginalized in the press. I understand that both magazines
“American Tragedy.”
, ■, . ,
A
*
Square dancing is
transformed to suit
nontraditional dancers
(p. 27)
Amazon trail
Mishaps and pushy insects
dim this butch’s camping
enthusiasm
(p. 28)
ARTS
Theater
Ashland offers an array of
wonderful productions for
August
(p. 23)
Profile
MTV’s gay, HIV-positive
heartthrob, Pedro Zamora
(p. 25)
Media
A new AIDS magazine,
POZ, is bom
(p. 26)
’