ib« r 1. 1909 ▼ 9
SER IO U S I N J U R Y ^ DEATH
letters
C LA IM S resulting from:
Auto accidents
Medical Malpractice
■ Unsafe Products
■
■
Praying for you
Hopes were smashed
To the Editor:
I just wanted to send you a note of thanks. Even
though we (again) are on two opposite sides of the
journey, it’s good to see our story [“Don’t Take
That First Step,” Just Out, Aug. 4, 1995] in your
paper. I’mhoping that your readers will at least see
that there are people who are making the “journey
out.”
I’m sorry to have read several misconceptions
and deceptions from [my conversation with Inga
Sorensen]. I knew through our talk, your kindness
was needed to get the story. But I truly wish that
you could have been honest with me with your
thoughts. I would have still given you what you
wanted to know.
To clarify your comment about my alleged
“deception,” I meant what l said. My quote was: “a
support group directed toward youth which offers
a safe place for those who are confused about their
sexual orientation.” And yes, our mission is to help
youth “walk free from homosexuality.” We stand
on a central truth, but we are willing to work with
anyone who struggles with their “sexual identity.”
I do not feel these missions are mutually exclusive,
but I knew Just Out would not run an ad which
claimed “freedom from homosexuality.”
I’m also sorry that you saw a “lack of authority
and certainty” in my personal character, I was
simply being friendly. I guess you tossed that in to
solidify your negative view of First Step.
I krtow Christians have a bad name: hypocrites,
bigots, dogmatic and annoying. B ut I believe Chris
tians need to be something different than all that. I
hope (even though you disagree with me) you see
that I’ve treated you with love and respect. If I’ve
stepped on you in any way, I ask that you forgive
me. I will be praying for you—not praying you
“change,” but that you will seek the face of your
creator, who loves you so deeply.
To the Editor:
[After] receiving my Aug. 4, 1995, edition of
Just Out and reading the letter from Gregory
Franklyn, I must both applaud him and agree with
him. Franklyn voiced an opinion l both agree with
and have considered voicing myself. Being a firm
believer that it takes more than one person to make
a difference, I am choosing to voice my opinion
and stand beside Franklyn and our mutual beliefs.
I thank Franklyn forgiving me that final nudge...
I am currently incarcerated within the Depart
ment of Corrections. I wrote Just Out requesting a
subscription. Just Out has been gracious enough
not to charge me the usual fee for postage. For that,
I am thankful.
In requesting Just Out, I had hopes and was
looking forward to being kept up to date on local
and community happenings. I must say, I have had
my hopes smashed.
Granted, we should all be and keep informed of
events across the country and even across the
world, though my personal belief is that none of
this is as important as what is happening in our own
community.
There are hundreds of local people, events,
clubs and such, right here in Oregon, that are
breaking their backs at making our communities
better for us, the locals. As far as I am concerned,
it is insulting that Just Out gives them so very little
recognition, applause and support. There seems to
be no problem in accepting local advertisers.
You as the editor of a community paper should
be singing praise to these local people, events and
clubs. Let’s give credit where credit is due.
I truly hope you take Franklyn’s (whom I had
no knowledge of having any cable access show
prior to reading his letter, one case in point) and my
input, also that of anyone else, and put it to good
use, becoming the community paper you should
be.
Jason Thompson
First Step
Portland
Mark Smith
Pendleton
TRANSITION
A true Scorpio
Robert Lee Brown, better known as Bob Brown,
was bom on Nov. 14,1952, in Columbus, Ohio. He
joined the Army in 1973 and served for three years.
Sometime after leaving the military and a brief
marriage, Bob moved to San Francisco to explore
his gay identity. He moved from there to Portland
in the early ’80s for the quieter atmosphere of
Oregon. While in Portland, Bob left his job at Intel
for the less financially rewarding but more person
ally satisfying work as a certified nurse’s assistant
at the Robison Jewish Home. Bob was active in the
Portland gay community, volunteering his ser
vices at Cascade AIDS Project, the Ryan White
Board and Phoenix Rising.
Bob was a true Scorpio, very intense in his
emotions. He was very delightful, gleeful, exuber
ant and loving, as well as being able to sting when
he was not so pleased. He loved all the arts,
especially music, movies, performance art and
video. He was active in community video produc
tion, with a strong interest in educating the black
community about AIDS.
Bob died on Aug. 7,1995, of renal failure due
to AIDS. He is survived by his close friends Rich
ard Francis, Nancy Birch, Jim Briones, Michael
Thurman, Jeff Richard and others.
A memorial service for him is being held Sept.
3,1995, at 2 pm at the St. Christopher House, 4 7 13
NE 44th St., Vancouver, Wash.
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