Image provided by: University of Oregon Libraries; Eugene, OR
About Just out. (Portland, OR) 1983-2013 | View Entire Issue (March 21, 1997)
just out ▼ m arch 2 1 , 1997 ▼ 5 quandary. Senate Bill 577 is labeled, as you say, the Defense o f M arriage Act. But deep beneath the surface it reinforces the defense of a whole system. A system of inequality that rewards— through acceptance, discounts, resources and ben efits— a particular form o f behavior (i.e., hetero sexual unions and/or breeding). So imagine, if you can, a world o f total equal ity. Not just one form o f marriage or another, with or without children. But equality o f all people— all ages, genders, races, creeds, ethnic back grounds, sexual orientations and economic con ditions. D on’t you think there could be more time spent on, and more fulfillment in, helping each other, including children already bom , to deal with the problems o f this complex world? If you look at the big picture, maybe the whole system needs an overhaul. All too often I see people with attitudes like the editor’s, who are so concerned about coveting the rights, rewards and safety nets o f one group or another. Then the real thinking and reasoning about the rights themselves is lost in the shuffle. State Sen. Marylin Shannon may not have much choice: Heterosexual family values are capitalist values, however self-important, oppressive and unequal they seem. It is just a way of thinking— one that is more prone to conquering and taking than it is to equal sacrifice for the good o f all. Mark Rulon Fairbanks Portland Visibility is crucial To the Editor: Thank you for publishing the photo of our Gorilla Theater event for National Condom Day as the Steppin’ Out photo in the Feb. 21 issue. It is so important for our youth to see themselves accurately portrayed by the media. The youth involved in the Valentine’s Day condom (and dental dam) distribution event conceived the idea and worked on every part of the production them selves— creating their costumes, their backdrop, the greeting cards and taking the pictures. Dozens of street youth were involved in this safer-sex event. A much larger percentage o f the youth who participate in programs here at Outside In are lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and question ing than the numbers found in mainstream youth programs. It is a priority for us to provide safer- sex and HIV-prevention messages for our clients who find themselves at higher risk for STD infec tion due to homelessness, survival and addiction issues, insufficient access to hygiene, and other factors associated with street life. Despite the closure of our allopathic clinic, Outside In continues to offer naturopathic and chiropractic clinics as well as acupuncture treat ments for those who could not otherwise afford them. We have a drop-in center and offer case management, transitional housing and emergency services, employment education, and other services to support homeless youth. We have support ser vices and a housing program for HIV-positive young people, and we provide clean syringes in exchange for used ones to injection drug users 18 and older. We also provide two peer-education programs for HIV prevention and health awareness, and a support group for sexual minority youth. Visibility is a crucial part of providing these services— letting the kids and the community at large know we are available and we care. Thank you for helping make us more accessible. Zarod Rominski, Assistant Director Outside In Not dead yet To the Editor: “Reports o f my death,” Mark Twain once wrote, “are greatly exaggerated.” After reading Diana Courvant’s guest editorial [“I can’t hear you,” Just Out, March 7, 1997] accusing me of having fallen silent, I think I know how Twain must have felt. L et’s take a look at the record, shall we? The last week of January, I met with 13 Oregon senators and representatives to specifically dis cuss civil rights protection for transsexuals. So much for Courvant’s claim that I would prefer the Oregon Legislature to remain ignorant of the state of civil rights protection for transsexuals. On Feb. 20, Metropolitan Human Rights Com mission Chairman Lowen Berman assigned me the task of drafting a chapter of the M HRC’s amended fact-finding report on discrimination against transsexuals. On Feb. 25, the Olympia City Council, at my request, specifically added transsexuals, transvestites and transgenders to that city’s unfair housing practices ordinance. And on March 6 , 1 was one o f four transsexuals on a panel at Lewis & Clark C ollege’s 16th annual Gender Studies Symposium. If I am slowing down, as Courvant claims, God help the transphobic should the pace of my activ ism ever pick up. O f far more concern to me is C ourvant’s claim that Oregon transsexuals do not have civil rights protection in the areas of housing and public accommodations. I would hate to think a trans sexual misled by Courvant would fail to file a complaint with the Bureau o f Labor and Indus tries should he or she be discriminated against. The fact of the matter is that transsexuals are protected from discrimination in housing and pub lic accommodations, as well as employment. (If you believe yourself discriminated against for being transsexual, file a complaint with BOLI!) I also disagree with C ourvant’s assessment of the activism in Portland: transsexuals [here] are far more active today than at any time in the three and a half years I’ve called Portland home. If Courvant is concerned at the level of Port land activism in general, then a call to action— rather than a eulogy— would have been in order. Community organizing is best accomplished by engendering enthusiasm and a sense o f pride— not by whining about how no one seems to be doing anything. D on’t just sit there, Diana, do something! It might just bring you into contact with those activists whose demise you are prema turely lamenting. Margaret Deirdre O ’Hartigan Portland CORRECTION Due to an editing error, the subhead accompa nying our March 7 cover story on the Portland Power stated that the American Basketball League was the first national women’s basketball league. There have been four previous attempts in the United States at establishing a wom en’s profes sional basketball league. Just Out regrets the error. m Qualified by Experience In Downtown Seattle. Offering you the amenities, comfort and style you expect and deserve. Committed to Service S E A T T L E BY THE SPACE NEEDLE Buying or Selling Call me at 222-9701 200 Sixth Avenue North Seattle, Washington 98109 (206)441-7878 FAX (206)448-4825 1 800 578-7878 - S T A Y - S A T I S F I E D m David Anderson B’Zillion Dollar Club Wndermere Q < cU-ßied Cronin f t Copian Realty Group. Inc. (GAYPEE-À) 222-9701 • VM 497-5211 636 NW 21st Ave. Portland, OR 97209 íiiY For The Gay Man In Your Life WE WANT YOUR USED GAY BOOKS & MAGAZINES 2544 NE Broadway (at N E Broadway & 26th) 331-1125 ♦ I ♦ <c 3 a in POR' PRIDE P A R A D E & F E S T I V A L PORTLAND PRIDE '97 IMPORTANT DATES April 1 Early Booth Application Deadline (after April 1st add 10%) April 1 Performer Applications/Demos Due April 15 Ad Reservations and Payment Due May 1 Ad Copy Deadline May 15 Final Booth Application Deadline May 15 Parade Registration Deadline June 20 - 22 Portland ‘97 Pride Weekend For additional information call Pride Northwest, Inc. at 503/295-9788; or write: STEPHEN D. YEW, D.M.D. Pride Northwest, Inc. PO Box 6611 Portland, OR 97228 Portland 97 Pride sponsored by A GENTLE A P P R O A C H TO D E N T IST R Y Hours: Tuesday - Saturday 8 am-5 pm 700 N. Hayden Island Drive, Suite 330 Phone: 289-1215 ju st out iïO & iA 0