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About Just out. (Portland, OR) 1983-2013 | View Entire Issue (March 5, 1999)
fT !T *^ n e x u s JUST OUT Of THIS WORLD D o in g I t FOR T HEM SELVES C ontinued from the ew er Y OU« ( 503 ) 232-3600 2454 E. BURNSIDE PORTLAND. OR 97214 Conference organizers (from left) Zarah Walker, Evil-T, Nenssa Ldiza (at computer) and Mr. T chow on chips and dip as they make big plans for Oregon’s first statewide queer vouth gathering m w j P H O T O B V LI <2«*2J2-5944 T ' ' rum a march against hate violence in I* ‘ Georgia to the vouth-led conference in i Oregon, thousands of youth activists across the country are taking the lead in orga nizing tor Equality Begins at Home, which takes place March 21 through 27. Equality Begins at Home is being coordinat ed b\ the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force and organized by the Federation of Lesbian, Ga\, Bisexual and Transgender Statew ide Polit ical Organizations Organizers are hailing it as the first coordinated political campaign of queer rights actions in all 50 states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico. .And queer youth are in the thick of things. offer tips to others in rural spots about how they can cope with discrimination, deal with stress and stand up for themselves. Some youths are bringing a parent, Mr. T included. “My mom almost cned when I asked her to come,” says Mr. T, who will conduct a trans workshop along with his mother and cirltnend. As soon as he possibly can, Mr. T wants to make the physical transition from female to male. He says transphobia is an occasional hur dle to clear, but notes the toughest part of his day-to-day existence is living m a body that doesn’t mesh with who he is. “T h a t’s really hard," says Mr. T. W alker got involved w ith the conference as a way to get over an ex-signiticant other. “I was feeling sorry for myself,” says Walker, who had never before embarked upon such a project. “A nd I’m loving it." She demonstrates her exuberance by volunteering tor no less than 50 million tasks. Her foray into the world of political activism Bend are getting involved and meeting regular ly to help make the youth conference a reality. ( And she acknowledges that BRO, a statewide group leading the charge against a slew of anti gay measures, is stnving to build a base of youth leaders”) Bv conierence guidelines, Edna is character ised as an adult: youth are those 21 and younger. However, over-the-mark supporters are consid ered allies whose assistance is welcomed. For her part, Edna is trying to nail down transportation for youth, arranging meal plans, * Family Owned & (JJjerated Since li)52 M a g ic a l Gi f t s tor the G oddess W i t h i n Open 10 am -7pm Tuesday Sunday 3125 L Burnside VVl50i) 2 35 UOOt, “Adult activists are quickly learning that youth can do more than stuff envelopes. These yfxjng activists aren’t the leaders of our movement tomorrow, they have already been leading the movement,” says Rea Carey, executive direc tor o f the National Youth Advocacy Coalition, which is supporting the effort. "Young people often bear the brunt o f hom ophobia in our country. While they are more exposed to violence and harassm ent in their schools, in their homes and in the streets, they are also the least protected." National Gay and Lesbian Task Force Executive Director Kerry Lobel K*n> Lobel, NGLTFs executive director. add,. Young people often bear the brunt of homophobia in our country. While they ate more exposed to violence and harassment in An Equality Beg.ru at Home rally will also be held on the steps of the state Capitol At night, participants will crash on a YWCA gym floor w „h the,, sleeping hags O ne area is th T a r e also "the leal: p r o t e c t . ” In Oregon, queer youth could he greatly impacted if a proposed ballot initiative success- fully makes us way onto next year's general elec- turn b a ll« and gams v,get approval The mea- sure filed h> the ever-tenaci.xis O re g n Cm - tens A lliance-seeks lo block public schools in ■he state from duciasmg homosexuality and bisexuality ,n a manner which enaxitages. pm- motes or sanctions such behaviors. n T ^ m v sl’I ^ " * 7 Cr° “’d ' ^ 0th" ^ * * Riclt Miller, 19. grew up in Klamath Falls and now altends school at Western O tM on State Gillege in Monmouth. Polk G iunty It is a place where some have hassled' him because of his sexual orientation. It is a setting where his daily life is “kind of lonely" Still he stays because he feeL, it's important gay people follow iheir heart^-w h.ch may no, h to the hig city " atn G iven thal. EJua, BRO's volunteer ax x d i- nator, says she s encouraged that young people in places like Portland, Eugene. C oo. Bay and “If all gays moved to San Francisco there wouldn’t be any diversity ’’ he «vs Miller plans to lead'a workshop that will fut Trl has been nothing less than “very cool. W alker’s next milestone.7 O n May 18, she turns 18. “I’ll be a voter!” she says, relishing the thought. ■ The CONFERENCE is open to all youth, youth-ser vice providers and their allies. The morn goal of t gathering is to find and maintain support for (jueer youth, youth activists and allies. The conference will he free, including meals ai os’emight housing. Transportation, ASL and Span' ish language interpreters, and child care will be aval able, all provided by Basic Rights Oregon To register, contact Nenssa Ediza at 222-61. or via e-mail at bronenssdQaol com A RALLY will be held March 21 from I to 4 p m. on the steps o f the state Capitol m Salem.