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RIGHTS OF PASSAGE
M
aribeth and Brandy are girlfriends. They go to Centennial High School in
Gresham together every day. Both swim on the varsity team, and Maribeth
plays trumpet in the band. They sound like your average college-bound teens,
but they are a couple— and out lesbians— in a conservative Oregon town.
T ext by
E . A n n H in d s
P h o to s b y
E in d a K lie w e r
On the evening of Saturday, May 20, Centennial High School juniors
and seniors will experience a rite of passage—the high school prom.
Along with the other couples attending, lesbians Brandy Higgins and
Maribeth Seeber will dance the night away. Not many queer teens are
lucky enough to find each other, to date, to dance, to go to the prom. We
asked Maribeth and Brandy what would make their date a memory to
treasure. On their wish list: matching white tuxes with tails, a limo to and
from, a romantic dinner in a fancy restaurant, gorgeous corsages, and
prom tickets and pictures. Mom (Carol Root-Seeber, pictured with the
happy couple) is very supportive and hopes the girls realize their dream
date. You can help them have the high school prom you may never have
had and perhaps always wanted. If you would like to make a contribu
tion, please send your check or gift certificate to Just Out, PO Box
14400, Portland, OR 97214, ATTN: PROM.
In the June 2 issue Maribeth and Brandy will let us know how the
evening went. If there are other young gay and lesbian couples attending
proms this spring, please let us know! We’d love to publish your prom
pictures so ftiture queer couples will be encouraged to make this rite of
passage a right of passage.