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About Just out. (Portland, OR) 1983-2013 | View Entire Issue (April 19, 1996)
ju st o u t ▼ aprii 19, 1 9 9 6 ▼ 19 PRIMARY PRIMER ju s t out takes an intimate look at the gay and lesbian candidates facing opponents in the May 21 election STORY BY INGA SORENSEN • PHOTOS BY LINDA KLIEWER from the east. It’s 2 pm, and all one has to do to The day Just Out met with Dixon, hundreds of know how hot it is, is peek at the panting Venus— lawn signs were piled on his ground-floor porch. Dixon’s 5-year-old “pick of the litter” boxer, a I’m told that a slew of "lesbians with drills” put goofy but immensely sweet dog. the signs together a few days before. “I was sitting on this porch last August with Lesbians with drills and a mission. And it [longtime lesbian and gay rights advocates and wouldn’t take long for those signs to begin crop politicos] Don Powell, Fred Ross and Charlotte ping up throughout the district, along with numer Comito. They said I should run,” explains Dixon, ous pro-Dixon bus benches. when asked about his decision to enter the race. Being a former military man— from a military “They were all pretty intense,” he continues. family, no less— Dixon stands straight-backed “I took several weeks to think about it and talked tall. It’s a little ironic that he refers to his mother, it over with Dan [Volkmer, Dixon’s partner of 14 who is now 80 and living in Minnesota, as Mother. years]. Two factors really prompted me to get “Mother doesn’t like to talk about it,” says involved. First, I felt that I could indeed provide Dixon, referring to his sexual orientation. leadership in the Senate, and do a good job repre Nonetheless, Mother Dixon played the good senting the people of this district. 1 also believe sport when her son and his partner took her to see that the Republicans are pushing an extreme Pink Martini a few months back. agenda, and I felt uncomfortable not doing any “I don’t think she had a martini— when we thing about that.” were there, at least,” he laughs. Dixon can be described as a progressive and Dixon has been endorsed by many individuals pragmatic Democrat who supports healthy schools and organizations, including RTP PAC, the Gay and neighborhoods, nondiscrimination legisla and Lesbian Victory Fund, the Sierra Club, Or tion, community policing, affordable health care, egon AFL-CIO and the Portland Rainbow Coali and women’s reproductive freedoms. tion. He graduated from the University of Notre For a break after the primary, Dixon plans to Dame in 1973. A year later he graduated from the delve into a stack of books awaiting his attention, Infantry School at Fort Benning, Ga., after being including Greg Louganis’ Breaking the Surface, commissioned as a second lieutenant. After serv an honest-yet-cheesy autobiography; Garrison ing two years of active duty, Dixon entered the Keillor’s Book o f Guys', Mario Cuomo’s slim Northwestern Law School at Lewis & Clark Col governmental fix-it guide. Reason to Believe', and lege, graduating in 1979. He retired as an Army David James Duncan’s The Brothers K. To fur Reserve major in 1995 and earned two Army ther relax, Dixon is content to work out at the gym. Commendation Medals. A Soloflex machine sits in the bedroom with clothes draped all over it. Dixon is a former president of the Northwest “That’s Dan’s,” says Dixon, who lifts weights District Association and chair of Neighbors West/ at Multnomah Athletic Club. “I just started a year Northwest. He has served on both the Portland ago. 1 » Police C h iefs Forum and the Portland Police “Going to get buff?” I ask. Internal Investigations Auditing Committee. Ad “I hope so,” he laughs. “But there are other ditionally, he has been a Democratic precinct things to do right now.” person and treasurer of the Oregon Lesbian and Gay Democratic Club, as well as director of Veterans for Human Rights, a war veterans group formed in 1992 to work to lift the ban on openly gay and lesbian people in the military. If elected, Dixon would become Oregon’s first openly gay state senator. “[Coming out] was a pretty torturous route until I was 28 or 29,” Dixon answers, when asked about the more personal aspects of his life. “Up ob Duehmig’s makeshift campaign office until then I was very unclear and unsettled about is fun to look at. who I was. But around 1979 or 1980, I sought Tucked in the basement of his John’s resolve. I moved to Northwest Portland [he had Landing bungalow just a couple of blocks off been residing in other sections of the city and was bustling Southwest Macadam Avenue, the office living “more of a bisexual lifestyle” prior to that is cluttered with a huge American flag and a point]. I decided to just do it.” poster that instructs us to “Stand Up for Working And that’s the way it’s been ever since. He met Families.” Volkmer and the two have created a life together. A sprawling Oregon Political Primary Calen “During our first years we were like a lot of dar, which lists relevant political info—“It’s amaz couples— anxious and new to each other,” says ing the stuff they send you when you file for Dixon. “The relationship has changed— and I office,” says Duehmig—and an Oregon School think gotten fuller and better—over the years. District map cover the walls. There’s also a photo Dan is one of my most active supporters.” of a then-bearded Duehmig shaking hands with When asked whether he has felt scared or Oregon Gov. John Kitzhaber, whom Duehmig vigorously campaigned for. insecure during this campaign, Dixon candidly replies: “All the time. If you really think about A small television sits in a comer staring at a everything, it’s easy to feel scared. I envy Kate futon. A washing machine thumps and whirs in the background. Brown [who is running unopposed], but you just have to take things one day at a time.” “I have to do something about that,” says He adds: “1 think what really surprised me Duehmig. “Maybe put up a wall or something.” about this campaign is how all-consuming it is. We make our way back upstairs to a cozy little living room, where the croonings of k.d. lang and There is a lot of sacrifice. I have a newfound the mellow sounds of Natalie Merchant linger. insight and respect for any candidate and politi cian because of this experience.” Continued on page 21 Bob Duehmig Frank Dixon Frank Dixon make a personal plug for Dixon, who is running for the Oregon Senate seat being vacated by Dick Springer (D-Portland). “Frank really believes in protecting the human rights of all people,” says Roni, a 60-plus-year- old former U.S. Air Force service member and retired Tektronix employee who lives openly and o you want to know why I’m here?” Roni comfortably as a woman “80 to 90 percent of the Lang asks me rhetorically as I close up an time.” interview with Frank Dixon, an openly gay consumer attorney, neighborhood activist, and “[Dixon] has said he’ll lead the way on the transgendered and transsexual issue at the state U.S. Army veteran. Legislature, and I believe him. That’s why I’m If you haven’t heard of her by now, the here today,” she says. transgendered Lang (who prefers the single name In his quest for the Senate, Dixon is facing Roni) is engaged with a potpourri of community three opponents: Kent Snyder, Ginny Burdick groups and causes including the Northwest Gen and former state Rep. Tom Mason, a candidate der Alliance, Portland Community Bowling As with strong name recognition—and a selection sociation, Sexual Minority Roundtable, Coalition that Right To Privacy views as a poor choice, due for Community Communication, and Veterans to his stands on gay rights and women ’ s reproduc- for Human Rights, just to name a few. You can tive freedom issues. now attach “spirited ‘Frank Dixon for Oregon “I was actually looking forward to doing some Senate’ volunteer” to the list. nonfiction writing,” says Dixon, 45, a professo The cherry blossoms are in full sprout on this rial-appearing man who sounds a smidgen like uncharacteristically warm afternoon in early April, Prairie Home Companion's Garrison Keillor. and Roni, who has been quietly perched before a We’re sitting on the second-story deck that computer screen in Dixon’s spacious Northwest rests off the bedroom. Mount Hood is popping up Portland home, takes a break to say hello and Democratic candidate for Oregon Senate District 6 D Democratic candidate for Oregon House District 12