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About Just out. (Portland, OR) 1983-2013 | View Entire Issue (Feb. 21, 1997)
ju st out ▼ fe b ru a ry 2 1 . 1997 ▼ 3 just out sin ce 1 9 83 steppin* out PUBLISHER AND EDITOR contents VOL 14 NO. 8 FEBRUARY 21,1997 Renée LaChance COPY EDITOR FEATURE Kelly M. Bryan REPORTERS Sentenced to life Inga Sorensen Bob Roehr Rex Wockner Protease inhibitors hold the promise o f a way out o f the AIDS nightmare, but they also represent a puzzle with all-new pieces CALENDAR EDITOR Kristine Chatwood PHOTOGRAPHER Linda Kliewer (p. 17) OFFICE MANAGER DEPARTMENTS Cory Murphy World news ADVERTISING DIRECTOR Costa Rica's national health care won 7 pay for anti-HIV drugs Meg Grace ADVERTISING REPS (P 6 ) C. Jay Wilson Jr. Marty Davis National news CREATIVE DIRECTOR E. Ann Hinds GRAPHIC DESIGN Rupert Kinnard FORMATTER Christopher D. Cuttone TYPESETTER Christopher D. Cuttone DISTRIBUTION Kathy Bethel Rachel Ebora Darla Moyer-Sims Donald Rogers Megan Weber CONTRIBUTORS The Boston AIDS Writers Group Christopher D. Cuttone Michael Thomas Ford William J. Mann Richard Shumate C. Jay Wilson Jr. ju s t o ut published on the first and third Friday o f each m onth. Copyright © 1997 by ju s t out No pan ol ju s t out may be reproduced without written permission from the publisher. The submission of written and graphic m aterials is welcom ed. W ritten material should he typed and double-spaced, ju st out reserves the right to edit for gramm ar, punctuation, style, liability concerns and length. We will reject or edit articles or advertisements that are offensive, demeaning or may result in legal action. Just out consults the Associated Press Stylebook and Lihel Manual on editorial decisions. Letters to the editor should be limited to $00 words. Deadline for submissions to the editorial department and for the Calendar is the Thursday before the first and third Friday for the next issue. Views expressed in letters to the editor, columns and features are not necessarily those of the publisher The display advertising deadline is the Monday after the first and third Friday for the next issue. Classified ads must be received at the Just out office by 3 pm the Monday after the first and third Friday for the next issue, along with payment. Ads will not be taken over the telephone Ad policy. No sexually exploitative advertising will be accepted Compensation for errors in, or cancellation of, advertising will be made with credit toward future advertising. Subscriptions to Just out are available for $17.50 for 12 issues. First Class (in an envelope) is $30 for 12 issues. A copy of Ju st out is available for $2. Advertising rates are available on request. The m ailing address and telephone numbers for ju s t SUt are PO Box 14400, Portland. OR 97293-0400; (503) 236-1252. The phone number for the advertising department is 236-1253. Our fax number is 236-1257. Our e- mail address is JustOut2@aol.com. Sara Duffus, as Dental Dame, and Dustin Simpson, as Condom Caper, both members o f Outside In ’s Gorilla Theatre, were part o f a Valentine’s Day event at Pioneer Courthouse Square held to raise funds fo r the troupe. Claudia Webster (center), HIV education manager fo r the Oregon Health Division, was one o f those paying a small fee to have her picture taken with the dynamic duo. Purchasers received their instant photos in condom-decorated Valentines made by troupe members. The young woman wielding the Polaroid camera is Korey James. ditorial Wed alert Sen. Marylin Shannon has introduced legislation that would ban same-sex marriages in Oregon by Renée LaChance s we went to press, Oregon state Sen. Marylin Shannon, a Salem Republican, introduced Senate Bill 577, which would prohibit equal marriage rights for same-gender couples. Like its federal predecessor, the measure, intro duced Feb. 18, is dubbed the Defense of Marriage Act, and defines marriage as the union between a man and woman. It also says same-sex marriages performed elsewhere would not be recognized in Oregon. Sen. Shannon is chief sponsor of the bill; its cosponsors are Sen. Bob Kintigh (R-Springfield) and Reps. Charles Starr (R- Hillsboro) and Ron Sunseri (R-Gresham). Given the composition of the Senate—Republicans domi nate 20 to 10—it can be expected SB 577 will sale through that chamber with little difficulty. Republicans also control the House, albeit by a much tighter margin, 31 to 29. There is a solid chance the measure will gain that chamber’s approval as well. Oregon Gov. John Kitzhaber’s chief spokesman. Bob Applegate, says the governor has not seen the bill nor has he taken a position on the issue. Applegate says he does not know whether Kitzhaber supports extending equal marriage rights to same-sex couples. Kitzhaber’s col league to the north, Washington Democratic Gov. Gary Locke, meanwhile, has vowed to veto a similar bill passed by the state Legislature there a few days prior to Shannon’s action. (See story on page 12.) Thirty-seven states have considered similar legislation: It has passed in 17. Applying the same strategy used by Washington lawmak ers, Shannon, sources say, has a second anti-same-sex marriage bill waiting in the wings which resembles SB 577 except that it includes a referendum clause, meaning that if passed it circumvents a gubernatorial veto and goes directly to the people for a vote. Sen. Shannon’s bill is divisive legislation that is a waste of time and energy since it serves no real purpose. Lesbians and gay men are already denied the right to marry in every state in the nation. Although recent court decisions have moved Hawaii closer to allowing same-sex marriages, its Legislature is work ing to change state law to keep that from happening. It doesn’t matter whether you support or oppose getting married. It doesn’t matter whether you would take advantage of the right to marry if it were offered you. This fight isn’t about marriage. Lesbian and gay couples marry now, by honoring their relationships and their commitments to one another with ceremonies attended by friends and family. This fight is for the nearly 700 civil rights that are immediately available to a man and woman who enter into a state-sanctioned marriage. Some of these rights pertain to inheritance, hospital visitation, domestic violence protections, bereavement leave, burial determination, child custody, insurance discounts, joint adoption and foster care, joint parenting, sick leave to care for a spouse, tax benefits, and survivor benefits. It is plain discrimina tion that lesbians and gay men who choose to marry and make a public commitment to one another are denied these rights. That’s what we are fighting for. This is the message we need to send loud and clear to Oregon’s senators, representati ves and governor. Act now. Call your senator and representative and urge them to vote against this legislation and ask them to do everything in their power to keep it from getting out of committee. (At press time SB 577 had not received a committee assignment.) Call Gov. Kitzhaber and urge him to veto the bill should it cross his desk. The Oregon Legislative Hot line number is 1-800-332-2313. The number fo r Gov. Kitzhaber’s office is (503) 378-3111. If you want to get involved with an organization working to fight this legislation, contact the Oregon Freedom to Marry Coalition at 228-3892 or Right to Pride at 228-5825. ACT UP celebrates its 10th anniversary with a protest; San Francisco’s domestic partners benefits ordinance meets with resistance from employers (PP 7-9) Local news Portland Public Schools forms a committee to make schools safer and more inclusive fo r queer families; Chuck Carpenter is going to the mat fo r Oregon ENDA (PP- 10-13) COLUMNS Reasons for hope O f trials and refrigeration: HIV/AIDS news you can use (p- 15) My queer life As you climb the Amex ladder you may develop a fear o f high prices (P- 33) ARTS Music John Corigliano is a hot item on the classical charts; Cris and Tret spread the love around with a second duet CD (PP- 28-29) Theater At triangle productions! the monologue stands alone and proud (p. 30) Entertainment Debra Beers paintings o f Portland-area homeless youth are powerful and disturbing ’ (p 31) Books Author Kenny Fries digs beneath the skin to remember his life in a body (p- 32)