just out ▼ octobor 20, 1005 ▼ 3
letters
Not afraid of a little rain
To the Editor:
In the wake of the disappointment that was
National Coming Out Day, I believe that Pride
Northwest should take some time to reconsider
just how much power individual board members
should have in making decisions for their organi
zation. One would have expected at least a major
ity vote by the board of directors in order to cancel
an event and not just [the veto of] two hydropho
bic individuals. This is October in Oregon. It does
rain here, and this should have been properly
planned for.
Even when it rained during the last [Lesbian
and Gay] Pride Parade, people didn’t turn around
and go home. It should not have been so easy to
pull the plug on this event.
As a community-based group, we rely on
events like National Coming Out Day and the
Pride march in order to make contact with a larger
segment of the public that we might not otherwise
reach through our own efforts. Pride Northwest
has a large responsibility in bringing our commu
nities together through these events. Cancella
tions like this only negatively impact the morale
of the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgendered
communities as a whole and make us look inept
and disorganized.
did 1.1 finally looked into the mirror, literally, and
forced myself to admit that I was gay, I liked
women, and always had.
When I was 10, my mom came out to me after
her divorce, and it was very scary to me. I had
grown comfortable around the gay scene in the
following years, but still, something was scary
about it to me. Not until I admitted I was gay in my
senior year did I realize I was only scared because
I knew that it might be me.
O f course it didn’t take long for me to tell my
mom, and soon after I was telling my friends at
school. I then found out my friends were true, and
they stuck by me.
Although I did have good friends, I still ran
into a few problems. “Dyke” was shouted every
now and then as I walked down the hall or into a
classroom. And once in awhile someone would
confront me and try to start something. But when
people speak out of ignorance, I don’t believe
they’re worth listening to. That’s how I made it
through each day.
Now that I’ve graduated, I feel very fortunate
to have made it this far. I know that many gay
youth have a terrible time in high school and just
can’t make it. Just remember that other people’s
ignorance shouldn’t hurt your pride!
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The word is unity
To the Editor:
I somehow missed the survey issue and, like
many a tardy soul, would like to offer my six cents
belatedly. I love your rag and wish to respond to
a couple of criticisms.
No, it is not too lesbian-centered. I read it
cover to cover and don’t get that sense and,
besides, who’s counting? An issue or event of
importance to one half of the “family” should be
important to the other half, even if it doesn’t
directly impact them. Forgive my naiveté, but I
believe the word is Unity, people.
No, ii is not too “politically correct.” PCness
does go to silly extremes at times, but I don’t
recall any instances of that in the pages of Just
Out. Too many people these days use the icono
clastic mantle of “un-PC” to excuse language and
behavior that range from oppressive to merely
disgusting. For the true spirit of political correct
ness, I refer your readers to the final sentence of
the “Flotsam and jetsam” editorial in the Oct. 6
issue.
Finally, regarding the sex ads in the back of the
paper. All things being equal, I’d say get rid of
them. They tend to foster the stereotype of all gay
men being sluts. On the other hand, phone sex is
at least safe, and phone personals are filling up the
straight papers, too, so you may as well enjoy the
ad revenue. However, the ads for Tim’s Hide
away and Hart’s Video Arcade are inexcusable.
Cruising is not safe, and you should not provide
ad space for companies that encourage and profit
from this aspect of gay male sexuality.
Thanks for a great paper.
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▼ OUT on Broadway
Brian Burhans
Corvallis
Lauren (left) and Terri Gevurtz
Ignorance shouldn’t
hurt pride
To the Editor:
When I first got to high school, I had no idea
that I was gay. But I did know that I was different
and always had been. This was definitely some
thing that bothered me and had to be figured out.
All through high school I had gone through
different stages and personalities, trying to figure
out who I really was. It was a very hard time for
me. But by the time senior year came around, so
Wedded bliss
Lauren A. Usher and Theresa A. (Terri) Loubey
wish to announce that they were married on Sept.
16,1995. The couple were joined by 120 of their
friends, family and colleagues for a candlelight
service on the Portland Spirit. In recognition of
their marriage, they have legally changed their
last names to Gevurtz. Lauren and Terri Gevurtz
will be speaking at a forum sponsored by Love
Makes a Family on Dec. 3. Call 228-3892 for
details.
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