just out ▼ J a n u a r y 5, 1996 ▼ 3
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Conservatism does
not mean extremism
To the Editor:
As I was reading about the Postal Primary in
your Nov. 17 issue, I was pleased with your endorse
ment o f Norma Paulus on the GOP side, whom l cast
my vote for. However, I have a problem with the
way Just Out continues to vilify and stereotype
conservative Republicans as extremists, especially
when your columnists make such statements as
“She [Paulus] is a moderate and fair-minded Repub
lican.” It is as if you are saying that the only good
Republicans are those who are in the liberal-to-
moderate wing o f the GOP and that conservatives
are a bunch of closed-minded, right-wing extrem
ists. These kinds of misconceptions are unjust and
uncalled-for— plus, these underlying swipes at con
servatives are offensive, demeaning and biased.
It is obvious this publication has a very leftist
slant, which has obviously been put ahead of objec
tivity. Historically, we know the politics o f the gay
community is rooted in liberalism, with its loyalty
entrusted to the Democratic Party. According to
your recent readers survey I am definitely in the
minority, being bisexual, male and a registered
Republican. But one thing I will not tolerate is being
vilified and stereotyped as an extremist because my
political philosophy happens to be conservative. I
am not a Jesse Helms, Pat Buchanan or Bob Doman,
nor am I a fan o f these individuals or anyone like
them, and furthermore I am not fond of such orga
nizations as the Christian Coalition and the Oregon
Citizens Alliance.
Your writers seem to always depict the majority
o f Republicans as being extremists. Remember,
both political parties— Democrat and Republican
alike— have their share o f extremists. The point that
I am try ing to make is conservative is not a bad word,
and conservatism does not mean extremism. The
gay community should stop treating it as such.
To truly embrace diversity we must as a commu
nity be willing and open to all points of view
regardless o f whether we agree or disagree. We
cannot afford this constant and relentless bickering
and divisiveness to permeate the gay community.
Let’s truly be tolerant, fair-minded and objective—
whether you are liberal, moderate or, like myself, a
conservative. There should be room for us all to co
exist, regardless of our political beliefs.
M.A. Williams
Portland
Proud of Chuck Carpenter
To the Editor:
I am tired of being part of the “gay community.”
By the standards of the likes of Bob Doyle, I, too,
might be considered homosexual rather than gay
[“Letters,” Just Out, Dec. 1, 1995]. And, if it means
that I must follow his definition of what it means to
be gay, then I also must admit that I have a prefer
ence for being considered homosexual as well.
One of the human beings that I know well who
I can truly say I’m proud of is Chuck Carpenter;
although I appreciate the contributions and open
ness o f many o f those who represent me on the
Democratic side, I don’t think that there has been
one individual who has done so much forgetting so
many people to rethink their ideas about people such
as yourself. You might be surprised if you took the
time to talk to the man about the stands he has taken
and the things that he has accomplished.
Because of Chuck, special interest groups were
not able to get the big bucks they wanted to “pro
mote” Oregon internationally— in other words, $30
million was taken out of a bloated economic devel
opment budget which actually served relatively few
Oregonians. Because of Chuck, the legislature ap
proved the north-south light rail. And because of
Chuck, there happen to be many more Republicans
in the House who are not only talking about but seem
to have a better understanding of gay and lesbian
issues.
>' •
I guess I am also “stupid enough to think that
being able to walk into Gordon Smith’s office has
some significance to the gay and lesbian community
in this day and age.” And let me tell you why: It’s
because Gordon Smith is Mormon, which is “not
quite” Christian and looked down upon by many
people; as a result, Smith has experienced a fair
amount o f ridicule and discrimination in his day.
Although politicians have many agendas, I believe
that [Chuck] has gotten Gordon to look at least a bit
more closely and to empathize with what it might be
like to be gay or lesbian in our society. Chuck has not
minced words with him on this. I also realize that
people are neither good nor bad, that the world is not
black or white, and that it will take many more
Chucks— especially those who are the closeted
mainstreamers— to get people to not only tolerate
but to really appreciate those of us who happen to be
attracted to those of the same gender.
Although communities are often defined by
similarities that people have in common, I would
much rather choose my community by the character
of individuals— the interests that they have or the
ways in which they live and work in our environ
ment— than by the gender that they happen to find
erotic or make relationships with.
By the way, there really is something that you
should know about Chuck. Now that the dust has
settled and many are realizing how important his
place is in the scheme of things in the House, some
are rethinking their outright rejection of his support
of Gordon Smith, such as the Human Rights Cam
paign, which has turned 180 degrees in asking him
to again serve on its board.
There is one more thing that I would like you to
know— the last thing that I would claim to be is
Republican, but when a person comes along with the
integrity of a Chuck Carpenter, I learn to look deeper
than a political party.
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Way to go
To the Editor:
It really is too bad that After 8 felt they had to
move their road sign in order to still help the
community. Maybe they could have kept their place
in Monroe along Highway 99 long enough to find
out whether the locals would have left them alone
after awhile.
Besides that, I think it is great to see homo
sexual-bisexual organizations participating in pro
grams other than the stereotyped “homosexual”
programs, while still keeping their pink triangles
fastened firmly to their lapels. Way to go, guys!
But Blanche,
it's not half as
scary as your
Reineke M. Jerome
Beaverton
With hope for the future
To the Editor:
Metropolitan Human Rights Commission is
outraged and shocked at the murders of two lesbian
women in Medford. We offerour condolences to the
family and community and reaffirm our commit
ment to work even harder to ensure that the rights of
all people are respected. The hostile climate in
Oregon that makes such violence possible puts all of
us in danger.
We would like to repeat the words spoken at the
service for Roxanna Kay Ellis and Michelle Abdill
on Dec. lOin Portland: “With all our differences, we
are one people. Together, we are stronger than fear
or despair. Together, we are builders of the commu
nity. Together, we shall overcome.”
With hope for the future, the Metropolitan
Human Rights Commission pledges to continue to
foster mutual understanding and respect, to elim i
nate bigotry, and to embrace and celebrate diver
sity.
Metropolitan Human Rights Commission
Nadia Kahl, chair
Every Tuesday
•
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at CAP, 620 SW 5th, 3rd Floor
For info: call 223-5907 ext. 132
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For info contact Alan at 223-5907, ext. 107 or Dave at ext. 132.