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About Just out. (Portland, OR) 1983-2013 | View Entire Issue (Oct. 4, 1996)
just out ▼ OCtotMT 4, 1' ▼ 15 •REdVir SEX 1... 1 ..........i ..........1.... 0.... j... j ... 1 ... i RTP re-dubbed The civil rights group will continue to fight the good fight — but under a new name by Inga Sorenen In fact, in recent years RTP has come under he year was 1981. Ronald Reagan was fire from critics who felt the group’s name some president. AIDS, more commonly how connoted a community cowering behind known as the “gay plague,” began to closed doors. register, albeit just barely, as a blip on “Many people of my generation have never the cultural and clinical radar screens. been private. We came out and immediately got Openly gay and lesbian politicians were virtually politically active,” he says. “I think we’re seeing nonexistent. a lot more of that in the gay and lesbian commu ‘Tim es were definitely different back then. nity.” We as a movement have come so far,” says Barry According to Pack, RTP’s board of directors Pack, executive director of what was formerly last seriously considered a name change in 1991. known as Right to Privacy, Oregon’s largest gay, Then came Ballot Measure 9. lesbian and bisexual political organization. “We put our time and energy into fighting In order to reflect just how far gay men and anti-gay ballot initiatives,” he says. “Everything lesbians have come, Right to Privacy has changed else really had to be placed on hold.” its name to Right to Pride and touts the new This year—the first in four—there is no state slogan: “Working for Full Equality in Oregon.” wide initiative specifically targeting gay men and “Same mission, new attitude. That’s the way we like to look at it,” says the twentysomething lesbians. Five openly gay, lesbian or bisexual Pack. lawmakers serve in the Oregon Legislature. Same- T In order to re flect just how fa r gay men and lesbians have come, Right to Privacy has changed its name to Right to Pride and touts the new slogan: “Working for Full Equality in Oregon. ” “Same mission, new attitude. That's the way we like to look at it, ” says the twentysomething Pack. A Dream Coiqe True m od uc + w S lo ver 1 oOiMillion people h a ve been waiting for! Tex In A BotW| con- ireen Oats, \\|ych le physical anwkexu- al sensations. 100% Natural intains No Dri [armful side Efl :rbal Aphrodisia pS A N D W O M I FO RM ULAS lew 60 —O ne M onth ’ s M en ’ s or W omen ’ s $ 3 9 .9 5 LUS $ 1 . 7 5 MAILING C H A R O f [M a il C h e c k to K nights and f.O. Box 147( ,, O R 9721 L<> 14 days *nd Instrui ore :] 478 ;ry [with RT Air from Los Angeles (Portland add on fare available) 3 nights Sydney, 4 nights Cairns Hotel transfers Sydney Harbor Cruise __________________ and More... Tra v e l Sept, l - N ov. 3 0 Do you live or work in Washington We’re here for you!! RTP Executive Director Barry Pack Right to Privacy Political Action Committee was established in 1981 -82 as an outgrowth of the Portland Town Council, a 1970’s group of gay and lesbian rights advocates. RTP PAC’s continuing goal has been to raise money and contribute to political candidates and campaigns that support full human and civil rights for lesbians, gay men and bisexuals. (In 1989 the organization launched RTP Inc., the educational and lobbying arm of Right to Privacy.) “In the early 1980s, the issue of gay and lesbian rights was typically argued as a constitu tional right to privacy,” explains Pack. “Given that, the founders called the group Right to Pri vacy. It made sense back then.” Pack says while lesbian and gay rights are still sometimes debated using the right to privacy argu ment, the exponential increase in community vis ibility contradicts the very premise of “privacy.” sex marriage is a concept that is seriously dis cussed. Queer television and movie characters keep popping up. “The time was simply right for this,” says Pack, adding he hopes Right to Pride will attract a diverse volunteer base, one spanning genera tions. That is critical, he says, given that RTP has had adjust to campaign finance reforms placing limits on how much money political action com mittees can hand out. RTP’s name change is the group’s second recent notable alteration. A few months ago, RTP announced it was dropping the name of its long time flagship fund-raiser, previously known as the Lucille Hart Dinner. Now the autumn event is known as the RTP Dinner. The switch came following criticisms from transsexual rights ad vocates. The Washington County Health Department offers daily HIV testing and counseling, by appointment and walk-in, in two convenient locations: 155 North 1st Hillsboro 12550 SW 2nd Beaverton Other services include STD exams and treatment and a Wellness Program for individuals who are HIV positive. Call 648-8851 for an appointm ent