Image provided by: University of Oregon Libraries; Eugene, OR
About Just out. (Portland, OR) 1983-2013 | View Entire Issue (Aug. 1, 1997)
j u s t o u t ▼ a u g u s t 1, 1 9 9 7 T 3 To P lan Y our letters What about Boykin? To the Editor: I was glad to see the Pride celebration covered in Just Out's July 3 issue However, I expected to see something about Keith Boykin, the grand marshal o f the parade and executive director o f the National Black Lesbian and Gay Leadership Forum. There was no coverage of his excellent talk, given Sunday, June 22, at the Interstate Firehouse Cultural Center. At the event he made observations about the oppression of blacks and that faced by gay people. Homophobia in the black community is generally perceived to be worse than is the reality. How ever, according to Boykin, racism in the gay community is far worse than most people think. Could a Just Out reporter interview Boykin? Possibly he has suggestions for changes the white lesbian and gay community could make so that life would be easier and less fragmented for black lesbian and gay community members. Just Out has been a place to discuss ways to develop a more inclusive community. Since the Oregon Citizens Alliance has backed o ff tempo rarily, now is the time to clean up some racist attitudes that weaken us. I look forward to a productive exchange. cloth were to be floored by an avalanche of protest. Let’s get with it, girls: The Rev. Tom Elliff, First Southern Baptist Church, PO Box 15039, Dell City, OK 73155; (405) 732-1300. Orwin E. Graham Portland Map gap To the Editor: I felt it necessary to write regarding [the nightspots map] I found in your June 20 issue. I was advertising with Just Out and have stopped due to lack o f reader response. Most of my customers have said they don’t read your publication because it is often the same from issue to issue or they are upset over errors. The map is a prime example o f why I am not advertising with you at this time: You left us out, and our doors had been open for two months at the time o f publica tion. I am not speaking for Kathy at The Fox and Hounds, but you left it out also. If you are publicizing nightspots in the Port land area you should at least do the research to report it accurately. F inancial F uture J ust C runch T hese N umbers : Safety and Security Solutions in an instable World " Auto Theft & Break-Ins, Assaults, Bias Crimes, Burglary, Vandalism, Intimidation. WE ARE HERE TO HELP. 503 . 516.6759 (503) 238-6036 For most people, the hardest part of financial planning is making the phone call. But once you do. you'll be very surprised to realize how easy it all can be As an experienced account representative. Floreid is committed to helping individuals, domestic partners, couples and families understand their financial options Whether the goal is bud geting. retirement planning, life insurance or saving for college. Floreid’s expertise will help you to make the right choices. Why put it off? Dial your future in today. ID WALKER William Huff, owner The Odyssey i 238-4036 l-800-i87-6626 (503) 291-7713 www.waddell.com Editor’s note: We appreciate you writing to us and have added the two bars to our nightspots map (see page 41). Waddell Ellen Greenlaw Sandy Baptists should go farther To the Editor: Having been reared in rural Alabama and baptized Southern Baptist, having taught Sunday School, sung in the choir, taught vacation Bible school, even preached a few sermons as a teen ager, I am somewhat disappointed that my “broth ers and sisters” didn’t take the notion o f the Disney boycott all the way. Disney is just the tip o f the iceberg that should draw the fire o f the Bible-beating Baptist.... Why not rip from the Broadman Hymnal every song that has been authored by a gay or lesbian com poser or lyricist. Throw out every gay or lesbian member o f the baptized body o f believers— in cluding choir directors, church musicians, dea cons, Sunday school teachers, and yes, the pastors of many Baptist congregations. Remove from church buildings the stained glass, pipe organs, pianos and other artistic elements that may have been designed and executed by gay and lesbian artisans. Why not rip from the pages of the Bible all references to same-sex love and respect. No more Ruth and Naomi, no more Jonathan and David, no more Jesus and “the disciple whom he loved.” But let’s leave in that passage which the “prac ticing Christians” seldom seem to recall when they are in their pulpits and on television, con demning those they don’t understand: “Judge not, that ye be not judged.” The ultimate boycott should be against the King James Version o f the Holy Bible. After all, it is the product o f the agenda o f a homosexual. King James. James O. Yeaman Chicago, III. Protest by post To the Editor: Reading the guest editorial by Kerry Lobel [“Promising vision,” Just Out, July 18, 1997] incensed me so much that I called a local Baptist Church to obtain the address o f Southern Baptist Convention President the Rev. Tom Elliff [whom Lobel quotes as calling gay men and lesbians “moral trash”]. The secretary was very helpful, putting me on hold while she called headquarters in Vancouver. She seemed very supportive, sug gesting that [the quote] must have been an error. It would be quite effective if this man of the f- Reed I love Lucy To the Editor: Having recently attended a reading at Powell’s City o f Books by my former student and graduate of Portland’s Wilson High School Lucy Jane Bledsoe, I was disappointed not to find her books included in the “Booking into Summer” feature [Just Out, July 18, 1997]. Her work has been praised on NPR’s All Things Considered, and author Carol Anshaw has called her “an intelli gent, deeply perceptive lesbian voice o f th e’90s.” Bledsoe’s first book, Sweat: Stories and a Novella, was a finalist for the Lambda Literary Award. Her latest book (her first novel), Working Parts, is a witty and wonderful little gem. I hope that Just Out will have opportunities in the future to recommend other books by this talented raised-and-educated-in-Portland author. ( Jioa> you 'llfee! ) Lyle M. Tucker Lake Oswego Editor’s note: A review o f Bledsoe’s book Work ing Parts ran in our July 3 issue. Not outrageous enough To the Editor: This is a response to Kevin W eiche’s letter [Just Out, July 18, 1997]. I don’t know what “explicit comments” Kevin is referri ng to or which speaker; I’m just glad someone managed to iden tify the Portland Pride Festival sexually at all. It’s too bad that the events on stage were not more subversive and outrageous. The commercialism on the festival grounds was the real embarrassment. Real estate? Air cleaners and ridiculous trinkets? It was like a cheesy county fair! I am for detracting from the idea that I am leading a life “very much like everyone else.” This year’s Pride Festival was probably much closer to being just like “everyone else” than you realize. Talk about shame and embarrassment. Thanks, Kevin, forgetting me fired up enough to respond. I’m glad you made some commentary on the festival. Perhaps it was more subversive and outrageous than I realized. Oregon HotSpring Spas 'Ifte one frie n d s recommend. /ieaivrton Mark Jennings via e-mail 643-5002 7l*nti 35 A - 0 9 05 7t>rllanrt 253-3551 'Sa/em 363-4000