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About Just out. (Portland, OR) 1983-2013 | View Entire Issue (Jan. 7, 2000)
; an li ary 7,2000 ' J u s t a n t COMMENTARY The IN publication for the by M arty D a \ is OUT population F ounded 1983 • J ay B rown and R enée L a C hance Voi. 17 N o . 5 January 7, 2 0 0 0 FEATURE WORLDS APART: A gay man’s journey from Kenya to the United States, from prejudice and fear to acceptance and pride pp 2 3 - 2 7 NEWS NORTHWEST • Decade-old mystery solved by discovery of body in Southeast Portland; controversial former club owner Lanny Swerdlow ponders his alleged infamy; new organization focuses on youths affected by HIV; gay couple lays foundation for the future; monthly column the Queer Profit pp 7 - 1 3 NATIONAL • First state to ban slavery takes biggest leap yet toward gay marriage; Millennium March plows ahead despite criticism; Virginia court to consider constitutionality of sodomy law pp 1 5 - 1 9 WORLD • Ireland bans employment discrimination based on sexual orientation; Latvian queers picket EU conference PP 2 0 -2 1 ENTERTAINMENT GROUPS. Three Radical Faeries talk about their spiritual paths p 35 ROOKS* Reviews of new fiction; interview with Portland author Jody Seay pp 3 7 -3 9 Some initiative and desire can spark and inspire nless you celebrated the end of 1999 in far too hearty a manner, you are by now aware that the world indeed did not end with the arrival of Jan. 1, 2000. I suspect that for some this news was met with minor disappointment. After all, it does mean that we’re left to face the daunting and dismal task of yet another round of resolutions for the new year. O ut of the other closet come the perennial old favorites: lose weight (yada, yada, yada); exercise more (at least once this year); be nicer to so-and-so; start this, stop th a t... A nd, of course, let’s not forget to promptly get around to that little ol’ time management situation that one or two of us have got going on. For my part, I do solemnly swear to return all phone calls and e-mails in a prompt, professional and courteous manner...eventually. O ne serious goal that 1 am setting for myself, regardless of the time of year, is to remember to acknowledge the achievements, large and small, of friends, co-workers and members of my community. 1 can think of no better place to start than to applaud the efforts of the organizers of Millennium Magic, the Lesbian Dance of the Century. Known as the Mischief Makers, Sparky Lindsay, Erika Silver, Cindy Zrinyi and Pam M onette saw a need for a lesbian dance venue on New Year’s Eve and set about making something happen. A nd happen it did. For those not in attendance, the dance can only be described as an over whelming success. A ttendance was estimated at close to 400 women, and the organizers believe there will be sufficient money available to donate funds to Bradley-Angle House, the Portland Lesbian Choir and Love Makes a Family. W hile the evening itself was festive, safe and delightfully fun, the real success lies in the way that the event was organized and planned. REFLECTIONS 15 This dance came about as the result of collaboration between commu nity members who saw a need and an opportunity; between sponsors who agreed to provide financial assistance; and, finally, among community members who came out in force to show that gay men and lesbians can and will support community events. Erika, Sparky, Cindy and Pam are not professional organizers. They had no group or organization providing financial backing. They personal ly took responsibility for the event. Cost coverage was assured through obtaining sponsors who ultimately picked up many of the expenses for the evening. The support of the sponsors assured the financial success of the event; the financial success of the sponsors depends on the support of the community. This is one of the ways in which gay men, lesbians and our partners in business ensure economic viability. We all work together. T he driving force is people like the Mischief Makers who step forward and become our community leaders— they lead by example. Sponsors gamer good will, gain exposure and increase their business base. Event attendees have a great time, increase pride and awareness of community, and learn who they need to support with their lavender dol lars. So here’s what we all need to consider as part of our goals for the new year: Step up and volunteer for projects. If you see a void where something should be happening, then work to make it happen. Be a supportive and contributing member of our community. We need activities and events through which we can come together and talk, laugh, dance and cele brate. It doesn’t seem to happen enough anymore, and we shouldn’t have to wait for the next millennium for an outstanding social event. Dust off the exerciser, skip the candy bar for lunch, walk the dog in the rain and donate some of your time back to your community. O h, yeah, and have a happy new year! years ago in F IL M S . Missed it in the theater? Spend the wet winter catching up with these video rentals pp 4 0 - 4 2 DIVERSIONS. Get Bruce Vilanch’s latest project; a show of support for Esther’s Pantry p 43 COLUMNS M Y QUEER L IF E * Who wants to be a homosexual? P 45 AMAZON TRAIL • Confessions of a cat collector p 40 Just o u t it p u b lish ed on the first an d third Friday o f each m onth. Copyright © 1999 by Just O Ut. No part ot Ju st O U t may be reproduced without writ ten permission from the publisher. The su b m ission o f w ritten and graphic m aterials is w elcom ed. Written material should he typed and double-spaced Ju st O U t reserves the right to edit for grammar, punctuation, style, liability concerns and length. We will reject or edit articles or advertisements that are offensive, demeaning or may result in legal action. Letters to th e ed itor -.hould he limited to 500 words. Announcements regarding life transitions (births, deaths, unions, etc.) should he limited to 200 words; photos are wel come. D eadline for su b m ission s to the editorial department and for the C alendar is the Thursday 15 days before the next publication date. Views expressed in letters to the editor, columns and features are not necessarily those of the publisher. The d isp lay ad vertisin g d ead lin e is the Monday 12 days before the next publication date. C lassified ads must be received at the Ju st O U t office by 5 p.m. on the Thursday eight days before the next publication date, along with payment. Ads may be placed by telephone or via the Internet with Visa or MasterCard pay ment. Ad policy: Ju st o u t reserves the right to reject or edit any advertisement. Compensation for errors in, or cancella- tion of, advertising will be made with credit toward future advertising. Advertising rates are available upon icquest. Subscriptions are $17.50 for 12 issues. First Class (in an envelope) is $30 for 12 issues. Contact JU U t O U t at P.O. Box 14400, Portland, OR 97293-0400; (503) 236-1252, advertising 236-1253, fax 236-1257; e-mail )ustout®justout.com. Visit our Internet site at www.justout.com. noun A M MANAGING ami • Marty Davis NEWS EM ID I • Inga Sorensen B in n U N M D V T tmm • Oriana Green Catherine Sameh, Kahunya Wario, Rex Wockner, Pat Young A M EH ttM G M KC TH I • Meg Grace COPY EM IR I • Christopher D. C uttone AM HTM M G IEPM 1EN1AIIVE * Larry Lewis C M V IM H IM B • Kronda Adair, Christopher D. Cuttone, Katy Davidson, Michael Thomas Ford, Lee Lynch, T.K. Mantese, Christopher McQuain, Gip Plaster, Bob Roehr, P M N K IM N N K C 1M I * C hristopher D. C uttone A IT N H C IN I • Rupert Kinnard P M N K IM N • O riana G reen PM HKTW M ASSISTANTS • Thomas Christian, Katy Davidson W HCE MANAGER • Katy Davidson MSIWNfflM • jerilyn Adams, Kathy Bethel, Curtis Henderson, David Higbee, Lark Jarvis, Marie Price, M eridith Schwartz, Ruth Traut, David Wardell, Larry Williams 3
