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About Just out. (Portland, OR) 1983-2013 | View Entire Issue (May 1, 1998)
BK THE BEST YOU CAN BE N ew A ward H onors Q ueer A ctivists ominations are being sought for a new award named in honor of two longtime queer activists who died in recent years. T he award is named in remembrance of Bob Ralphs and Millard Word, whose activism cen tered on many issues including queer politics and labor matters. N and bi men, as well as begin the trek toward lower HIV transmission rates. It's Raining Men, which was held at Hawthorne Rhapsody on Southeast Hawthorne Boulevard, was sponsored by a handful of busi nesses and community organizations. Rose says the event was run on a shoestring budget and relied heavily on volunteer support. “We would like to do this again, but it’s a lot of work. W e’re exploring other funding sources and could use volunteers,” he says. Those interested in volunteering are asked to call Rose at 223-5907, ext. 107. ÛM ■Al Women's D aily V itamin S ystem COMPLETE The perfect supplement for health conscious individuals living in today's fast-paced world. Fat Also Available Kick M eta bo lic R e g u la to r ■ M a x im u m E n e r g y BURNER START H ealth B a s ic s 503-771-0990 Please call Donna for complete details P ortland W omen ' s C risis L ine S eeks B oard M embers A WOMAN-OWNED Company lELtect T he Portland Women’s Crisis Line is seeking new members for its volunteer board of directors. Interested individuals would commit to one board meeting per month, plus work on two standing committees. PW CL is the largest and oldest domestic and sexual violence program in Oregon. It is a femi nist organization that works to provide social services to victims and survivors of domestic and sexual violence and their supportive families and friends. It is also a social change organiza tion that strives to end all forms of oppression. For an application packet, call 232-4176. Women of color are urged to apply. Activist Bob Ralphs, circa Measure 9 Ralphs was known for spearheading “bigot busters," in which he organized and dispatched dozens of queers to various shopping centers and stores to confront Oregon Citizens Alliance sup porters as they gathered signatures for Measure 9, a volatile 1992 anti-gay rights initiative. Word was instrumental in starting Quakers and Queers, a group formed to bridge the gap between those two groups. To honor their lives and keep their memory alive, a cash award of $500 will be given to a queer activist “whose activism is broad-based and whose work in the community reflects the values and the work of Bob and Millard.” The award will be issued annually during Portlands pride celebration. To receive more information and a nomina tion form, send a self-addressed, stamped enve lope to Award, 1916 S.E. Alder St., Portland, O R 97214. I t ' s R a in in q M en B illed as S uccess standing-room-only crowd of an estimated 300 people, mostly gay men, turned out for the first production sponsored by “a bunch of gay guys." The April 18 event, called It's Raining Men, was hosted by Rose City personalities Poison Waters and Stephen Michael Rondel. It fea tured a gay guy version of The Dating G am e, as well as a roving microphone which captured audience insights into “the perils and promises of meeting and dating gay men in Portland.” Snappy video clips of local queer guys answering dating-related questions were also shown. During the event, participants were asked to fill out surveys which in part asked them for their reactions to the gathering. “We got responses like ‘I never knew there were this many gay men in Portland,’ and ‘G et a bigger venue,’ ” explains Alan Rose, one of the organizers. "W e think this was a big success and we’d like to be able to do it again." According to Rose, the night was designed to generate a sense of community among gay A B enefits to K ick in S PSU O ut L esbian E lected S tudent V ice P resident hocka Guiden and Maryanne Cassera were elected student body president and vice president, respectively, during Portland State University elections held in April. Both are women of color, and Cassera is an out lesbian. “I could recall many questions concerning our politics based on who Chocka and I were on the outside,” says Cassera. “I challenge those individuals to look at our experience and what we have accomplished in student government and out in the community.” Guiden, the current student body vice presi dent, and Cassera, the student lobby representa tive, say they have helped save resident under graduate students $300 a year via a statewide tuition freeze signed by Gov. John Kitzhaber. They were instrumental in creating the first Oregon Students of Color Coalition and helped pass a referendum supporting an on-site child care drop-off center. Guiden and Cassera say they plan to contin ue their strong student activism by advocating for a quality, affordable and accessible educa tion. "This form of leadership at the university level demonstrates a commitment to diversity across the board,” says Cassera. ■ Compiled by I n g a SORENSEN M Arden County Com m issioner M u lt n o m a h C o u n ty , D is tr ic t 2 Experienced- Thoughtful - Effective A u t h o r iz e d a n d p a i d f o r b y t h e C o m m itte e to U e d P a m \ r d m 181 7 \ W im h e ll St P o rtla n d O R 9 7 2 1 7 SEE US FOR ALL YOUR COLLISION REPAIR NEEDS J une 1 ame-sex and opposite-sex domestic partners of Oregon’s 45,000 employees will be eligi ble for health benefits starting June 1. In a unanimous April 21 vote the Public Employees’ Benefit Board extended benefits to cohabiting couples. New York and Vermont have adopted simi lar policies, as have nearly 100 other govern ment entities, including the City of Portland and Multnomah County. O n May 1, meanwhile, the city of Vancouver, Wash., began extending employee benefits to domestic partners of its employees. That policy also covers same- and opposite-sex couples. C Pam 2454 E. BURNSIDE • PORTLAND, OR 97214 Family Owned & Operated Since 1952 1-0« G O LD CLASS PROFESSCDI\iAl_S