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About Just out. (Portland, OR) 1983-2013 | View Entire Issue (Feb. 17, 1995)
ju s t o u t ▼ fo b ru a ry 1 7 . 1 0 9 3 ▼ 11 local news Sowing the seeds of tolerance in central Oregon W e b e lie v e in g iv in g b a c k ... Our House • Right to Privacy PAC • National Organization fo r Women Project Downpayment • and many others. Red Lion Lloyd Center 1000 NE Multnomah Portland, OR 97232 Bolton Plaza 21570 Willamette Drive West Linn, OR 97068 503/287-9370 503/655-8015 by Inga Sorensen I • Love Makes a Family • Choosing an agent from Bridgetown Realty supports a company that promotes tolerance and celebrates diversity. ▼ a nursing student. One of the group’s most visible projects thus far has been its “Illuminating Intolerance” speak ers’ forum, which brought to central Oregon many well-known gay and lesbian rights activists including openly gay Christian author Mel White, former HRCF executive director Tim McFeeley, and civil rights activists Kathleen Saadat and Suzanne Pharr. Amsbary estimates that l ,000 people turned out for the series, which ran last fall and included screenings of Ballot Measure 9, an award-win ning documentary highlighting the 1992 cam paign over Measure 9, and the traveling photog raphy exhibit “Families, Friends and Neighbors,” which depicts sexual minorities living their everyday lives. Most recently, Be yond the Closet spon sored a three-part com m unity forum titled “Getting to Know You.” The forum, which be gan last month, encour aged sexual minorities and their supporters liv ing in central Oregon to share their concerns and visions about how to build a stronger com munity in that region. A m sbary estim ates about 15 people showed up for the event. Unfazed, he says, p “It’s a start. These things take time.” Amsbary hopes to create strong alliances with other facets of the progressive community. “It’s true that environmentalists and gay rights activists haven’t traditionally worked together on their issues, but I think this can change,” he says, pointing to the ironic fact that in rural Oregon environmentalists may be more unpopu lar than gay men and lesbians. “I’ve heard people say, ‘Listen, you may not want to be associated with environmentalists because it could hurt you and your cause,’ ” he says, adding he views this reality as an opportu nity. “I would love for us to connect with the entire progressive community—young people, environmentalists, gays and lesbians, peace ac tivists— there is so much oppression against mi norities and low-income people, against women and gays and lesbians, against the species which are not human. The powers that be want us to fight among each other rather than us banding together.” Amsbary envisions a five-year plan which sees the spawning of a progressive newspaper and perhaps even a gay and lesbian community center. For now, though, the group will work on creating its infrastructure and establishing tax- exempt status. (Ecumenical Ministries of Or egon, which represents 2,000 congregations and 17 denominations statewide, is the group’s fiscal agent.) For more information about Beyond the Closet, call (503) 317-8966. No on 13 At Bridgetown Realty, good business goes beyond traditional professionalism and consistently excellent service. Portions of both the time and earnings of our entire staff are allocated to organizations that reflect our philosophy as a company. Beyond the Closet encourages progressives to work together t is a metaphor that even Bruce Amsbary admits is a touch cliché. Nonetheless, the 39-year-old Bend resident says it aptly sums up the work he is involved with in central Oregon. “The goal of Beyond the Closet is to, in essence, plant the seeds of understanding and work the soil so one day society can reap a bounty that is grown from trust and respect,” he says. It’s not surprising that Amsbary, who last summer launched Beyond the Closet, Inc., a Bend-based gay and lesbian group that strives to support sexual minorities and create bridges of understanding, would look to Mother Earth for inspiration. After all, the self-described “tree hugger” worked for many years as a U.S. Forest Service fire lookout protecting the Pacific N orthw est’s ancient rain forest; cur rently he raises funds for the Central Oregon Environmental Center, home to several envi ronmental organiza tions. “Beyond the Closet is looking to create a long-term strategy when it comes to gay and lesbian rights,” says Amsbary. “We d o n ’t w ant to ju st handle the brush fires of campaigns that pop up here and there.” In stead of simply stamp ing out those brush fires, which are typi- ^ ruce Amsbary cally sparked by the anti-gay and -lesbian Oregon Citizens Alliance, Amsbary came up with the idea of Beyond the Closet. “There’s a lot of internal homophobia here in central Oregon. People generally haven’t been very out. It’s only really been since Ballot Mea sure 9 that people have started getting active,” explains Amsbary, who is also the state coordina tor for the Human Rights Campaign Fund’s Fed eral Advocacy Network, a grass-roots campaign designed to influence gay, lesbian and HIV pub lic policy matters at a federal level. “It seemed like central Oregon was lacking a visible and accessible gay and lesbian rights group, and it seemed to me that it was time to change that.” Launching such a project may not seem daunt ing to citizens living in large metropolitan areas, oftentimes in such areas there is a support net work of individuals and organizations already in place. The same cannot be said of many small town and rural communities. Bend, until very recently, was a sleepy little city. During the past few years its population has begun to blossom as new residents, many fleeing California, flock to the central Oregon enclave known for its winter skiing and comfortable summer climate. “Like Beyond the Closet, Bend is a small but growing entity. We view this as a tremendous opportunity to grow with the entire community and become an important part of it,” says Amsbary, who lives with his partner, Michael McLaughlin, • SEE US FOR ALL YQLIR COLLISION REPAIR NEE Understanding Viatical Settlements I f A PICTURE IS WORTH A THOUSAND WORDS, itti "W f % ! I m a g in e TH E VALUE OF AN EIGHT MINUTE VIDEO. If you’re living with a terminal illness, this is the one videotape that can help you understand the advantages and financial opportunities of viatical settlements. Life Benefactors’ professional staff has the experience and knowledge to help you understand the steps necessary for cashing in your life insurance policy. No application fees. Quick turnaround. Fully confidential. 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