Image provided by: University of Oregon Libraries; Eugene, OR
About Just out. (Portland, OR) 1983-2013 | View Entire Issue (April 2, 1999)
rrifijín aprii 2.1999 - Ju s t o ut g n e w s SW EDISH M ASSAGE • PO LARITY • SPORTS MASSAGE M urdered ? A Professional School of Massage & Bodywork » SW EDISH M ASSAGE Sven Gomez is found dead in his Northwest Portland apartment; police characterize death as 'highly suspicious' by Inga Soren sen Training for Excellence Oregon's Only American Massage Therapy Association/COM TA- Approved Massage Curriculum • Massage Clinics Professional Therapists Available by Appointment • • Day or Night Classes • Convenient Financing • Bookstore and Cafe SPORTS MASSAGE .* 1 « Enrolling now for program s that begin April 5 & Ju ly 5 ,1 9 9 9 503-231-1500* 1-800-635-9141 503-232-4087 fax • www.ewcha.com DEEP TISSUE M A SSA G E • ANATOM Y AND PH YSIO LO G Y ombard - LOWE R S Proudly Serving The Greater Portland Metro Area 503 / 286-1330 all 3 Located in Historic St. Johns 8 3 0 2 N. LOMBARD • PORTLAND, OREGON 9 7 2 0 3 W estover H eights L I N I 2330 NW Flanders, Suite 207 226-6678 It’s a big d e c is io n ... Offering general internal medicine and excelling in sexual health care S erv in g lb e com m u n ity fo r 1 7 yen ro S t a r t w ith th e r ig h t s a l e s G a s s o c ia t e : It’s the expert management of all the small details that make for any successful real estate transaction. Begin with a professional who’s qualified to negotiate those details and who takes the time to understand your personal needs. 286-5826 VoiC6 mail:291-7703 __ 8040 North Lombard Street PO LARITY 4 5 3 1 SE Belmont Street • Portland, Oregon 9 7 2 1 5 -1 6 3 5 k PATHOLOGY ven Gomez’s smile was captivating; ple, farmworkers and others in Bogotá. The the thick accent of his native Colom march was named Sí á la vida, or “Yes to Life,” bia made common phrases flow like and made its way to the Plaza Bolivar, where the poetry. Presidential Palace is located. On March 25, the 42-year-old gay According to Gomez, a month later threat man was found dead in his Northwest Portland ening calls began to pour into the home he apartment, a scant but cozy nest he had shared with his sister and parents in Bogota. described as his “flat.” “The first call came in the afternoon," he According to police, Gomez died of asphyx explained. “I answered the phone and heard sounds and then someone said, ‘Ah, you are the ia. Detective Derek Anderson tells Just Out the death is “being investigated as though it were a head of those faggots that go to the streets ask ing for rights. We are going to show you what homicide,” however, as of press time it had not been officially classified as such. Nonetheless, rights you have.’ ” Anderson says the death is “highly suspicious,” Another caller purportedly warned: “Hey and investigators believe faggot. You better watch Gomez may have been your ass.” with another person at the He said later calls time of his death. They threatened death. want to speak with anyone Despite the threats, who had contact with Gomez remained out and Gomez after March 12. active. In March 1987, he said, he became the first In June 1997, we openly gay person in shared Gomez’s story in our pages. Columbia to get tested for HIV— on national televi “I came to the United sion no less. He did it, he States to save my life,” he told Just Out. “I fear what said, to encourage others to get tested. could happen to me if I Gomez spent most of went hack to Colombia." his time in 1989 at his For the past decade, mother’s farm in Gua Gomez, who described teque, Boyacá, outside himself as an “outspoken Bogota, due to continuing gay writer and activist for human rights for gays,” threats. That spring, during a lived in the United States. Sven Gomez in 1997 visit to Bogota, Gomez When we spoke with him, said he was detained by the National Security he had not returned to Colombia— a place where his parents and sister reside— since mov Police and had his identity papers confiscated. Gomez said police often conducted roundups ing here. in the gay areas, “physically and verbally abusing Gomez said that he believed his “membership the drag queens, kicking their clothing and wigs, in the social group of gays,” as well as his public and making everyone flee the area without look criticism of “the Colombian government’s viola ing back.” tion of human rights against gays, transvestites, On another visit to Bogotá in early 1990, [and] the homeless,” would have placed him in Gomez said, “[I] noticed four or five armed men jeopardy if he returned to Colombia. sitting in a dark-colored Jeep watching my bed His fears, human rights activists say, were room window. 1 fled my home by the back door clearly warranted. and cut through a neighbor’s home to avoid According to a 1995 joint report of the detection by these men.” Colombian Human Rights Committee, Interna With little money, Gomez left for Los Ange tional Gay and Lesbian Human Rights Com les. That was June 1990. He gradually made his mission, and Project Dignity for Human Rights way north to San Francisco, where he lived for in Columbia, “it is not uncommon for gay bars a time before eventually landing in Portland. to be closed, and patrons are continually “When I came to Portland I had two small harassed by the police and army. Police raids are boxes of books, a suitcase and I guess about $ 17 not unusual.... There have even been mass in my pocket," he recounted. killings, such as a massacre in a town called Gomez supported himself through various Envigado on the outskirts of Medellin on June 6, means, from interpreting to housecleaning to 1992. Five gay men were taken from a gay bar, bussing tables. He most recently bussed at II For- El Carriel, and killed by a group of men firing 9- naio, a trendy bistro a few blocks from his home. millimeter Uzi submachine guns.” “Sven was terrific. He had many friends in our II Fomaio fold and lots of our regulars really omez traced his involvement in gay rights liked him," says Richard Southwick, an assistant back to 1980 when he was part of a small manager at the eatery. “He was lighthearted and group of gay men who gathered socially. had a great sense of humor.... He will be “However, when gays started being mur missed.” dered, eight of us organized ourselves better and Gomez also enjoyed assisting those living founded the Gay Liberation Movement,” he with HIV/AIDS, and had volunteered for vari said. ous causes. Gomez handled public relations for the “I am trying to enjoy my life, and I know all fledgling group, one of whose activities was to my life I’ve had good luck,” he said in 1997. “I contact Spartacus, an international European have to be optimistic.” gay magazine, asking that letters be sent to the Colombian president protesting the murder of ■ Anyone who had contact with G om ez after gay people. March 12 is asked to contact the Portland Police In late 1986, group memhe, led a march of Bureau at 823-0400. 50,000 unionists, sex workers indigem js peo- SHIATSU East-West College of the Healing Arts