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About Just out. (Portland, OR) 1983-2013 | View Entire Issue (Oct. 15, 1999)
Jewelle Gomez writer • Federico Garcia Lorca writer • John Cage composer • P.l. Tchaikovsky composer • Robert Rauschenberg artist • Allen Ginsberg writer • John Waters director K Montgomery Clift actor • Fannie Flatfg writer • Gregg Araki director • Halston designer • Olga Broumas writer • Rupert Everett actor • Herman Melville writer • Hart Crane writer • Ned Rorem composer BEHIND THE SCENES Continued from page 21 progress against the civil rights movement. It’s taken a long time for a black artist to be accepted—say, in an on-screen romance,” he says. “We’re seeing that in gay characters now, though I hated the character in As Good as It Gets — we were the comedy relief—I hated what happened to him.” Eric Lane Barnes composer Barnes agrees about the importance of claiming our heritage. “It’s about getting to the point where we’re not shoving our history under the carpet. People think we don’t And what of queer responsi bility? “I didn’t do this on pur pose, but the last script I wrote is about a young person who realizes he’s gay and decides to kill himself,” she says. Her agent is not happy. Evidently, that sort of queer angle isn’t selling at the moment. Queemess can also be a tough sell for artists in academic settings. Portland poet ty to be effective in our work.” Then, with real concern, she adds: “How do we balance that? There are dynamics that make that exceptionally difficult.” She also talks about the dearth of gay studies courses. At Pennsylvania State Uni versity, however, where Broido used to teach, they are adding gay courses. “Yes, they are in the psychology department, but they are not "I've never colled myself a gay artist. I don't think it's a f j_|_ • _____ R 16638634 ____ ____ | _ _• Every artist is completely different." Jon Kretzu artistic director Mimi Wheatwind agrees that being out is still surprisingly uncomfortable in some insti tutions. “I’m totally out for the first time in my life, because I’m finally somewhere where it doesn’t mat ter,” she says. “My partner [poet Janice Gould) and I were recently on the faculty of the University of Colorado. We went there not expect ing to closet, but the climate of the stu dent body and the community was not accepting." Portland State University Queers &. Allies advisor Ellen Broido shares her take on visi bility. “There is a realistic fear of conse quences,” she assesses. “We have a responsi bility to be out but also an equal responsibili pathologizing homosexuality,” she maintains, adding that they’re more exploratory, about how to live as a sex ual minority. Portland Community College sociology professor Rowan Wolfe concurs. “A few years ago there were classes at every university on gay studies,” she says. “Now, you usually find them only in psych courses—The Lesbian Relationship, for instance. Continued on Page 25 LUNCH 11:30-2:00 Tues. - Sat. & Cafe DINNER 5:00-9:00 Tues. - Thurs. 5:00-10:00 I I Fri. & Sat. CLOSED Sun & Mon. ** Seasonal menu includes authentic recipes & exotic flavors from tropical islands & cultures around the world An Eclectic M e n u R an g in g fro m Italian to T h ai D i n n e r 5:30 to 10 p m M - S a t . Experience T h e Flavors o f New M exico I | 2000 NE 40th 1634 S.E. Bybee Blvd. 235-9114 460-2682 (2 bictu. North o f Sandy) Priv ate partiet A c a t e r in g available ^ Perfect space for private parties & festive events, including New Years Eve 2000 Hours: Tues, Wed, Thurs & Sun 5-10 pm; Fri & Sat 5 pin-midnight 2340 N.W. Westover, Portland, OR 97210 ‘Ü’ one block off N.W. 23rd Ave & Burnside Phone: 503-223-6565 Fax: 503-224-0064 % _______ J Quentin Crisp writer» Ian McKellen actor• Stephen Sondheim composer • Lisa Alther writer • Glenn Gould pianist • Jane Rule writer • Georgia O’Keefe artist • Samuel Barber composer |§ H QUEER exist,” he says— then he adds unequivocally: “Anyone in the closet does untold damage.” Barnes shares this story that had a great impact on him. “The late composer Brian Lasser was one of the most amazing people I’ve ever met,” he recalls. “The day he told his father he was gay, his dad said, ‘You are joining a wonderful fraternity.’ And then he named all the great homosexual men he knew about historically. Brian credited that as the reason why he had never suf fered from a slur or homophobic incident in his life.” Imagine a society so enlightened that every young person could have such an inspiring coming out experience. Surely, when we stand in our strength, we feel less victimized. But, sadly, few parents and schools supply the blessing of historical precedents. “We’re still the comic relief,” echoes Katherine Fugate, a former studio executive for 20th Century Fox and Columbia Pictures, and now a staff writer for Warner Bros. “Script after script, that’s what you see. I don’t understand homophobia, but I do know that I am hated by people who don’t know me. The pain of that and the confu sion comes out in every charac ter I write.” But Fugate agrees that the problem begins within the queer artistic commu nity. “There are many, many gay people in Holly wood who will not associate with any gay issue or play a gay role," she points out. Which could explain why the two most visible gay roles on televi sion right now—Will and Jack on Will & Grace —are played by straight men. So, does she think hiding is easy? “Not if I were a black person,” says Fugate. “I don’t see how you can separate [your life] like that.” m Sir Francis Bacon writer • Linda Hunt actor • Alice Walker writer • Edna St. Vincent Millay writer • Dorothy Allison writer • Aaron Copland composer • Lillian Faderman writer • Andy Warhol artist