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About Just out. (Portland, OR) 1983-2013 | View Entire Issue (Dec. 18, 1998)
Stettin iout p h o t o by L in d a K l ie w e r Atifií 1 Vol. 16 No. 4 D e c e m b e r 18, 1 9 9 8 ( [ Wt 7i'W \>0 Vx$ 1 V VM FEATURE 1 KEEPING THE FAITH: A varied selection of queer perspectives on spirituality 3 ,fA ftN C tt pp W-21 DEPARTMENTS LOCAL NEWS • Appellate court upholds landmark ruling in domestic partner benefits case; the scoop on gay-owned and gay-friendly businesses; youth leaders create second home at SMYRC; Portland-area radio professional’s victory over sexual repression PP 4 - 1 0 NATIONAL NEWS • The low down on queer- related policies of discount retail chains; analysis of incoming House leadership; Chicago's gay ghetto gets a makeover pp 1 1 - 1 4 WORLD NEWS • South African activist Simon Nkoli dies of AIDS complications; former Zimbabwean president convicted on sodomy and sexual assault charges p 15 ENTERTAINMENT Dec. 16 anti'impeachment rally at Pioneer Courthouse Square in Portland EDITORIAL ART • Northeast Alberta Street is where it’s at P2R by M arty D avis THEATER • Only for the brave: a look at the dark side of cabaret p CINEMA • Notes from the G ay Video News Awards; melodrama mars G ods and M onsters pp 3 0 - 3 1 Looking both ways Just Out's publisher reflects on the past year, and ponders the future his is Just O ut’s final issue for 1998. W hen you see us again, 1999 will be a week old. As with each year at this time, 1, like many of you, will take some time to reflect on the past and then turn toward the future. Looking back brings thoughts of people gone and people new, of mistakes made, feelings hurt and lessons learned. Looking forward brings questions, not the least of which is: Will anything be learned from the mistakes and lessons of the past year? T he closing out of 1998 seems to be moving fast, with many people already focusing on the arrival o f the Really Big New Year come the end of 1999. T he end of 1998 seems to be getting slighted in the excitement, confusion and questioning of what may or may not be happening a year from now. We, however, want to take a moment to glance back at 1998. It was a year we lost ground in terms of statewide political leadership. Openly gay state legislators George Eighmey, Cynthia Wooten and Chuck Carpenter won’t be returning to the Oregon Legislature this ses sion due to terms limits and political defeat. Elli Work, a Bend Democrat and out lesbian who ran for the Oregon House in November, lost her bid despite lots of cautious optimism she could pull off the win. Matthew Shepard’s murder brought to focus, albeit briefly, the need for tougher hate crime legislation nationwide. Massive media coverage of his youthful innocence brought a face to the many faceless victims who preceded Shepard and will undoubtedly follow him. O n the positive side, folks in Ashland and Medford took a leadership role with their visionary gay and lesbian community center, and the Lesbian Community Project in Portland seems to be flourishing under new organizational leadership. Oregon Citizens Alliance enthusiasts made little headway with their anti-gay, anti-choice measures. Still, voter turnout remains low and energy levels are sluggish across the board. Kaiser-Permanente joins the list of major companies offering domes tic partner benefits, and court rulings have fallen in our favor. Ellen is canceled, but queer roles become almost commonplace in mainstream television and movies. And what about 1999? W hat will this mysterious year bring to us? W ill we see the impeachment of our president? Will the Asian economies stabilize? W hat will happen to our own financial security? W ill there be a national queer march in 2000? Is it even necessary? W ill Y2K bring civilization to its knees or will it wind up being no more than one of those big winter storms that are so often predicted and so seldom appear? (If we do have to rebuild society, remember: It’s the lesbians who have all the power tools.) Looking back at 1998 is one thing— finding answers to the questions of 1999 is another. I have no answers for you now, no crystal ball, no pre dictions. Just the promise that Just Out will stay constant and strive hard to bring you the information, the news, the word about our community. W e’ll have to continue to work together on finding the answers to the many questions that will arise during the upcoming year. May 1999 bring the best to us all. FOUNKM • Jay Brown, Renée LaChance CALENDAR BNTBR • Debby Morgan CREATIVE DIRECTOR • E. Ann Hinds PUBLISHER • Marty Davis CRNTHHTTMI • Kristine Chatwood. Dark lady, Beren deMotier, Christopher McQuain, Rosemary Morrow, Bob Roehr, Suzanne Sigmund, Flora Sussely GRAPHIC DESIGN • Rupert Kinnard NEWS EDITOR • Inga Sorensen BfTBTOUNMBOT OHM • Will O ’Bryan OPT O IT «IS* Christopher D. Cuttone, Will O ’Bryan 1 F H IU U • Gip Plaster, Holly Pruett, Rex Wockner 2> M V B m S M R DIRECTOR • Meg Grace A ira m S M B R tm U N U IIV I • Patrick Collins PM M C TM N M RECTIR • Christopher D. Cuttone PHOTOGRAPHER • Linda Kliewer OFFICE MANAGER • Oriana Green OISTRIOIfTION • Amy Aycrigg, Kathy Bethel, Romaine Harris, Mary Hauer, Ron Hendrick, Lake Perrtguey, Teri Price, Marie Price, David Wardell MHSIC • RPM’s CD reviews supply clues for last-minute holiday shopping P 32 SHRVTS • Gear up for Portland Uniform Weekend VII; AIDS-related art installation in Ashland p 33 COLUMNS I RIB TOO NOT . Reviving seasonal spirituality and reinventing the Sabbath p 35 | M t M t is published on the first and third Friday of each month. CopyrightC 1998 by j N t N t No part of j M t M l may be reproduced without written permisión from the pub lisher. T h e submission of written and graphic materials is wel comed. Written material should he typed and double-spaced. J M t M t reserves the right to edit for grammar, punctuation, style, liability concerns and length. We will reject or edit ani eles or advenisements that are offensive, demeaning or may result in legal action. Letters to the editor should he limited to 500 words. A n nouncements regarding life transitions (hirths, deaths, unions, etc.) should be limited to 200 words; photos are welcome. Deadline for submissions to the editorial department and for the Calendar is the Thursday 15 days before the next publica tion date. Views expressed in letters to the editor, columns and features arc not necessanly those of the publisher. The display advertising deadline is the Monday 12 days before the next publication date. Classified ads must he received at the J m t M l office by 3 p.m. on the Monday 12 days before the next publication dare, along with payment. Ath may he accepted by telephone with V ISA or MasterCard payment. Ad policy. No sexually exploitative advertising will he accepted. Compensation for ertois in, tit cancellation of, advertising will fie made with credit toward future advertising. Subscriptions are $17.50 for 12 issues. Fitst Class (in an envelope) is$30flnr 12 issues. 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