just out ▼ aprii 2 1 . 1 W 5 ▼ 3
SERIOUS INJURY^ DEATH
CLAIMS resulting from:
letters
Auto oreidents
Medico! M alpractice
■ l nsafe Products
■
Coverage lacks relevance
To the Editor:
On Sunday, March 12, the Portland Gay Men* s
Chorus presented a solid evening of silly and
sobering song to a wildly enthusiastic, sold-out
audience in the Intermediate Theatre. In The
Oregonian's review of the concert, Bill Crane
wrote: “The good news is that the chorus is back
stronger in numbers and voice than it has been in
recent memory. The members undertook a pro
gram of extraordinarily wide emotional range and
sang it as smoothly as a pickup line at Darcelle’s
on Saturday night.”
Regarding the difficult second half—Roger
Bourland and John Hall’s Hidden Legacies— Mr.
Crane remarked: “Performing such a demanding
work that serves an exquisite mix of emotion and
strength requires a suppleness of spirit on top of
honed skill. The Portland Gay Men’s Chorus
delivered.”
As a long-term member of the all-volunteer
chorus, which rehearses every Monday night for
three hours, I can tell you that such notices are
especially gratifying. They remind us, even as the
applause fades from memory, that our labor of
love counts for something after all. Which brings
me to my real point: In recent years, as our
audience is slowly rebuilding, the chorus has been
increasingly ignored by the staff of Just Out. Most
of your readers are probably unaware that we
have had a “new” conductor, Bob Mensel, for
over two years. He has brought a new vision and
a warm, engaging presence to our rehearsals and
shows. The chorus experience, for members and
audience alike, has been more vibrant, challeng
ing and fun as a result. And so I’m puzzled—why
couldn’t Just Out care less? Where is the voice of
the gay and lesbian community on concert night?
I find myself tempted to join another growing
chorus, the one composed of disappointed Just
Out readers who find your coverage of the gay and
lesbian community sadly lacking in relevance.
Although I don’t suggest a return to the ignorant
carping of your former music reviewer, Dr.
Tantalus (aka Jim Van Dyke), it was somehow
more satisfying than your current stony silence.
Dana Busch
Portland
Editor’s note: A series o f internal mishaps
kept us from reviewing the Portland Gay M en’s
Chorus’s March 12 performance, though it was
our intention to do so. Our excuses would only
satisfy us and not the dedicated chorus members
and their fans, so we won 7 add insult to injury by
mentioning them here.
However, we must point out that in the Oct. 1
and 15,1993, issues o f Just Out we did report on
Bob M ensel’s having joined the chorus as con
ductor.
Thank you for fine reporting
To the Editor:
Again and again and yet again you prove what
stuff you’re made of. I am so very proud of the
work Just Out has done in our community. Through
■
the years you have repeatedly shown us the very
real connections between the various forms of
oppression of minorities that our society seems to
specialize in. You have consistently stood for
working together among all minorities, since we
are all in it together.
We, as members of these minorities, cannot
possibly trium ph over racism , sexism ,
homophobia, ageism and different-ableism in our
society (plus the bigotry and mean-spiritedness
they en g en
der) by divid
ing
our
strength and
sq u an d erin g
our power in
disagreements
am ong o u r
selves. We
can, however,
see an end to
these various
forms of mad
ness by com
bining our
strengths for
the elim ina
tion o f all
forms of oppression. Just Out has repeatedly
shown how we must demonstrate solidarity with
the efforts toward freedom of every oppressed
group.
In each issue I find articles and editorials
representing the broad spectrum of the gay/les-
bian community itself. Through the years you
have printed features by, for and about the many
segments of our own community, including Afri
can American, Asian American, Hispanic/Latino/
a, American Indian and other people of color;
deaf/hearing-impaired, blind/sight-impaired and
disabled/differently abled people; various reli
gious groups; and young/adolescent as well as
older and elderly gay/lesbian people. You have
attempted to include HIV updates and develop
ments, as well as objective and unbiased news of
interest to the leather and S/M community and
drag/cross-dressing/transsexual readers. This can
not have been easy, and for those readers who
have been dissatisfied or frustrated at the kind or
quantity of coverage their particular segment of
the community has received, they might possibly
consider getting involved and writing articles
themselves.
I never got around to telling you long ago how
I felt about the beautiful, moving cover story on
one of our national treasures, Audre Lorde. This
great poet, thinker and leader of conscience will
be remembered by all those whose lives she
touched with her words of courage and integrity.
Now, I want once more to thank Just Out for
its excellent hard work during the seemingly
endless and daunting No on 9 and No on 13
campaigns. Just Our certainly provided one of the
most important rallying points and consistent
uplifts during those long dark nights of Oregon’s
soul.
Thank you for your dedication to fine reporting.
Free Consultation
No Attorney Fee Unless You Recover
295-1940
I Lila (¿ores
(>‘21 S\V Morrison. #1218
Attorney at I .aw
I AM COMMITTED TO MAXIMIZING YOUR RECOVERY
^ T ravel A gents
H I nternational
917 SW Washington
(503)223-1100
Portland, OR 97205
(800) 357-3194
R S V P CRUISES
Now On Sale!
Save Up to $200*
on
1996 Sailings
Jim Anctil
Vancouver, Wash.
•Available for European, Caribbean and French
Canada Sailings. Not Applicable to Alaska Sailings.
Booking Deadlines Apply to receive this discount
OFFICIAL NATIONAL AGENCY
DIGNITY ‘9 5
lx» Angeles
WHEEL ALIGNMENTS & TIRES
P O R T L AMP A R M ,V .'.
"Serving Our Community...
... by Meeting Your Needs ’
(5 0 3 ) 2 3 2 -3 6 0 0
2454 E. B U R N S ID E
'
I
• P O R T L A N D , O R 97214
Family O ivned & Operated Since 1952
I
nny\