2 8 ▼ Jan u ary 8 , 1 9 0 5 ▼ ju s t o u t
5
30 HELENS
AGREE
We are everywhere.
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THE LESBIAN
COMMUNITY
PROJECT
U P C O M IN G EV EN TS
PHOTO BY ANTON
6 pm. Saturday. Jan. 7
SW W ASHINGTON LESB IA N S PO T U IC K
Call Tina C. for location, 2 0 6 -8 9 2 -3 7 6 6
GA
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7 -9 pm, Tuesday, Jan 17
LESBIA N FORUM
W estm inster Church. N E 16th & Hancock
Frann, 2 2 2 -7 1 6 0
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6:30 pm, Thursday, Jan. 19
A N TI-VIO LEN CE PROJECT
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2 -6 pm, Sunday. Jan 29
L E SB IA N S OF COLOR POTLUCK
Call Angela for location, 28 4 -3 4 2 5
ShH n
IS
THE PLACE TO WASH YOUR DOG
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288-5280 ♦ 3832 NE Sandy Blvd.
W ed-Frill-7 Sat-Sun9-5
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1975 Î I P F irst Avenue, Suite K
P ortland, Oregon 97201
(From left) Mike Mills, Peter Buck, Michael Stipe, and Bill Berry o f R.E.M.
R.E.M.: R eally
E mpty M inded ?
Yes, R.E.M.’s music is extraordinary. And
yes, the musical group has been at the cutting edge
of the artistic adventure. However, R.E.M.’s lead
singer— Michael Stipe— seems to be the epitome
of empty-mindedness on the subject of sexual
orientation (especially his own!). When asked
about his own sexual orientation, Stipe told an
MTV interviewer: “I just don’t think it’s anyone’s
business what I do with my dick, unless they’re
sitting in my lap.” During a CNN interview, Stipe
tian difference, Lifeline. With one toll-free phone
call, not only have you taken business away from
AT&T, but you are making a stand for morality in
America.... Lifeline is a major long distance
carrier like AT&T, MCI, Sprint, etc., except, like
you and me, Lifeline is committed to family
values and decency.”
Appropriate comments can be directed to any
or all o f the following: Lifeline 1-800-800-7550;
Donald E. Wildmon, American Family Associa
tion, PO Drawer 2440, Tupelo, MS 38803; or
AT& T Media Relations, 295 N Maple Ave., Bask
ing Ridge, NJ 07920, (908) 221-5017.
F amily V alues
again evaded questions about sexual orientation
saying only that he is “sexually ambiguous.”
Asking someone if he is gay is not the same as
asking him to provide a biographical history of his
penis. And if being gay is neither evil nor vile,
then why can’t we talk about it?
While Stipe’s decision to treat sexual orienta
tion as “unspeakable” is absolutely homophobic,
the very fact that he was asked about it also
reflects a unique media bias. Reporters often
presume that everyone is heterosexual, and sel
dom think to ask “Are you straight?” in order to
confirm the heterosexuality of their interviewees.
Comments may be directed to Michael Stipe,
R.E.M., PO Box 8032, Athens, GA 30603.
C alling A ll
H omosexuals
“If you are an AT&T customer, you are help
ing to promote homosexuality in America.” So
says a full-page ad produced for members of the
American Family Association.
“It’s true,” the ad continues, "The nation’s
largest telecommunications company is commit
ted to using their resources to convince America
that homosexuality is anormal alternative lifestyle.
AT&T has a history of promoting homosexual
ity.”
The AFA details that “history,” which in
cludes AT&T’s support for the Gay Games, an
event “designed to reshape America’s traditional
moral values”; an AT&T marketing campaign
aimed at lesbian and gay customers, “a mail
campaign which comes in a lavender envelope
[with] a letter from AT&T’s homosexual em
ployee group”; thecompany’ssponsorshipofthe
“homosexual musical” Falsettos; and AT&T’s
use of the Brian McNaught video On Being Gay,
which “indoctrinates their employees to accept
homosexuality.”
The ad concludes: “American Family Asso
ciation is offering its supporters the opportunity
to quit doing business with AT&T and switch to
a long distance carrier with a distinctively Chris
The Nov. 21 episode of Melrose Place fea
tured a holiday story line that struck a blow for
real family values. In that episode, gay character
Matt intends to bring boyfriend Jeffrey to Thanks
giving dinner at the home of Matt’s parents. The
parents— while pleading their false “understand
ing” and “acceptance”—tell Matt that they would
like him to keep the gay relationship in the closet
for the dinner’s duration (we wouldn’t want
grandpa choking on a turkey leg, would we?). To
his credit— and that of the Melrose writers— Matt
refuses. When his mother asks him what she
should say to the family when they wonder where
Matt is on Thanksgiving, he replies: ‘T ell them
I’m having dinner with my lover.”
Though Melrose Place has been faulted for
Matt’s relatively one-dimensional character, such
an effort still outpaces much of what mainstream
television has to offer on the subject of homo
sexuality.
Send comments to Aaron Spelling, Darren
Star, and E. Duke Vincent, executive producers,
Melrose Place, Spelling Enterprises, 5700 Wilshire
Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90036.
T ime O ut
The Oct. 10 issue of Time magazine featured
a cover story on openly gay dancer-choreogra
pher Bill T. Jones. The 10-page feature also
highlighted the phenomenal growth of African
American artistic and cultural movements.
The article on Jones explored his unique style,
his varied artistic influences, the ways in which
his sexual orientation and HIV-positive status
influence his art, and his relationship with long
time lover and collaborator Amie Zane, who died
of AIDS in 1988.
While Time has certainly let the lesbian, gay
and bisexual community down in the past, send
the magazine a supportive letter and ask that it
publish more articles concerning the diverse artis
tic and creative accomplishments of our commu
nity.
Write: Jason McManus, editor-in-chief, Time
magazine, Time-Life Building, Rockefeller Cen
ter, New York, NY 10020; or fa x your letters to
(212) 522-0601.