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.
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Editor’s note: We appreciate you writing to us
and have added the two bars to our nightspots
map (see page 41).
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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
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35 A - 0 9 05
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