ju st o u t T n o v sm b o r 2 1 , 1 9 9 7 ▼ 3
just out
since 1983
steppin’ out
PUBUSHER AND EDITOR
contents
Renée LaChance
VOL. 15 NO. 2 NOVEMBER 21, 1997
ASSISTANT EDITOR
Kelly M. Bryan
FEATURE
NEWS EDITOR
Inga Sorensen
Gray liberation!
REPORTERS
Elder gay men and lesbians
may face particular issues of
isolation and invisibility, but
they 've got some creative
solutions up their sleeves
Bob Roehr
Rex W ockner
EDITORIAL ASSOCIATES
Christopher D. Cuttone
Will O ’Bryan
(p. 19)
CALENDAR EDITOR
Kristine Chatwood
DEPARTMENTS
PHOTOGRAPHER
Linda Kliewer
World news
OFFICE MANAGER
Will O ’Bryan
The Netherlands prepares to
legalize traditional marriage
for same-sex couples
ADVERTISING DIRECTOR
(p- 4)
Meg Grace
National news
ADVERTISING REP
Marty Davis
CREATIVE DIRECTOR
E. Ann Hinds
Partners in life and work Ruth Gundle (left) and Judith Barrington accept the Stewart H. Holbrook Award at the Oregon
Book A wards ceremony held Nov. 6. The two collaborate on projects like Soapstone, Eighth Mountain Press and Flight of
the Mind; the Holbrook award is given for outstanding contribution to Oregon's literary life.
GRAPHIC DESIGN
Rupert Kinnard
PRODUCTION
Christopher D. Cuttone
DISTRIBUTION
Kathy Bethel
Marcia Cook
James Galluzzo
Clancy Johnston
Valerie Lutz
Retta Offinga
Jeminie Shell
CONTRIBUTORS
Patrick Collins
Beren deM otier
Gip Plaster
Suzanne Sigmund
Paul Varnell
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editorial
Forum or against 'em
Clinton attends HRC dinner,
cheerfully brushing off
ACT UP protesters;
U.S. Rep Barney Frank
proposes domestic partner
benefits for federal employees
(pp. 5-10)
Local news
Readers who came to Just Out’s forum and social on Nov. 10
were kind in general , but they did air a few concerns
▼
The Oregon Health Division
wants to extend names
reporting to people who
test HIV positive;
share in the commemoration
o f World AIDS Day at the
Portland Art Museum;
SPIRIT helps empower women
o f color and low-income
women o f all orientations
by Renée LaChance
(pp. 11-17)
t was a virgin experience for Just Out — a public forum
for readers to meet the staff, give feedback and share
concerns. Nearly 40 people turned out to dialogue and
share purple-and-pink anniversary cake with us.
Guadalupe Guajardo facilitated, and Juliette Gallucci
was on hand to do sign interpreting. After brief staff introduc
tions, forum participants were asked to let us know what they
appreciate about the paper.
Adrienne W eller of Radical W omen liked the increased
coverage o f free-speech issues. The newly crowned Imperial
Sovereign Rose Court Empress Tonya Rose valued that Just
Out lets her know what is going on and how we can help one
another. ISRC Emperor Barry Burns found Just Out's adver
tising especially helpful: He likes to support community busi
nesses and he looks to our classifieds first. Donna Luckett
expressed appreciation as a local musician for Just Out's
calendar, which provides free listings so readers can find out
who is perform ing w here and w hen. M argaret Deirdre
O ’Hartigan seconded that emotion, saying the calendar is an
excellent resource.
Four staff members made short statements. I relayed the
story of Just Out's conception, when Jay Brown and I decided
to begin a lesbian and gay paper o f our own. Creative Director
E. Ann Hinds talked about the struggles staff have faced around
death and dying and trying to get a newspaper out while
accommodating various stages of grief and care-taking. Graphic
Designer Rupert Kinnard spoke about the priority Just Out has
given to graphic integrity from the first issue and how unusual
that was when we began. Advertising Director Meg Grace
thanked the businesses that gambled on us in our very first year.
(Among those who still advertise with us today: Bridgetown
Realty, H obo’s, Escentiai Lotions and Oils, Sue Davis of
Bender Properties, Food Front Cooperative Grocery, Phoenix
Rising, Portland Gay M en’s Chorus, Cinema 21, Downey
Insurance, Renée Augrain, Circle Healthcare Clinic, KBOO
Community Radio, the M en’s Resource Center, Pat Chance,
and The See Vue.)
Guadalupe then asked the audience for com m ents and que
ries. H ere’s what was discussed, in distilled form:
• How are decisions made regarding what gets covered and
what doesn’t?
Just Out's policy is to prioritize events based on the follow
ing criteria in the following order: Did the information get to us
by deadline? Is it specifically oriented to sexual minorities o f all
colors? Is it specifically oriented to marginalized groups? Is it
produced by, written by, directed by or starring a sexual m inor
ity? Does it involve an advertiser? Is it of general interest to our
readers?
• How can Just Out improve sensitivity on reporting trans
sexual issues?
It was agreed that editorial staff would meet with members
of the transsexual community to hear their concerns.
• What can the wider community do to keep supporting./usf
Out ?
Don’t assume we know everything. If you hear o f something
you think would be o f interest to others in the community, call,
fax ore-m ail to let us know. We may not have heard about it, and
we hate to find out about things when it’s too late to get it in the
paper.
• Is it true there are problems with distribution? If so, what
can be done?
Distribution is our Achilles’ heel. We currently have a troop
of individuals who take on one or more of eight possible routes.
If someone doesn’t show up and our alternates are unavailable,
sometimes a route gets done later than we would wish. We can
always use reliable people who are willing to work consistently
and very part time.
Before we cut the cake, Donna Luckett made a final com
ment that participants applauded: She said sometimes what she
reads in Just Out makes her so angry she never wants to read the
paper again, and sometimes she is so moved it makes her cry.
She said she likes that we take her to those extremes, and that’s
what she wants in a community newspaper.
We hope that’s what you want too.
COLUMNS
I kid you not
I t’s easy to take what you've
got for granted
(p. 37)
ARTS
Comedy
Comic Georgia Ragsdale has
moved her riotous riffs
to Portland
(P- 31)
Cinema
Lilies brings beautiful imagery
and rare depth to the screen
(p. 33)
Books
One scholar promotes lesbian
visibility in ancient history;
a new workbook helps gay men
work through complex feelings
(pp. 34-35)
Entertainment
A World AIDS Day
art auction benefits
Our House o f Portland
(p. 36)