require us to organize and categorize ourselves
and others. So, as you debate where I belong,
please accept these simple guidelines based on
my response to Luckett’s letter:
To the E ditor :
I refuse to “represent” anything for you. I do
I think it is long overdue that all citizens
not
expect you to make me feel like I belong—
have equal rights, whether they are gay or het­
either I belong or I don’t. If you decide I am
erosexual. I think a domestic partnership reg­
unwelcome, that is fine. If you do it based on
istry is a stepping stone in the right direction of
assumptions about me, what is in my panties
giving gay committed couples equal rights and
and what that means, without knowing me, that
full benefits (“Will You Register with Me?” Jan.
is your right and I support it. T he last thing I
21]. I also think the registry should be for all
want is to be in the woods with a group of
committed couples, heterosexuals as well as
women who hate me, or to feel as if I have to
gays. 1 don’t believe that the registry should be
meet some special criteria. I spent my childhood
just for American citizens, as my partner has
alone
in the woods, and I can do it again.
applied for citizenship (several years ago), but it
But I do ask that you stand by that decision.
just hasn’t come through yet, even though we
Do
not pretend you are facing a difficult dilem­
know it will with his profession.
ma of whether or not to “redefine yourself’—
My partner and I have been living together
you
are really trying to define me. Just say, “You
almost three and a half years, have bought a
are not one of us. I don’t want you or your type
house together, and own everything in the
house together. We have a joint checking . around.” Say it loud. Say it with pride. And
finally, don’t think you are deciding who I am.
account, joint credit cards and are responsible
You are deciding who you are.
fully for each other’s basic needs, just as any het­
erosexual couple. We should be afforded the
R achael P arker
right to marriage, but in the minimum, lets start
Forest G rove
with a domestic partnership agreement that has
some teeth in it in case one of us ends up in the
hospital and needs to make decisions that only
we can make for each other.
To the E ditor :
Thank you for the article "Murder Mystery”
R oger S teffani
in your Jan. 7 edition. I was a friend of Todd
Beaverton
Asay in high school and was very saddened to
hear of his death. I’m so very sorry for the loss of
this charming, talented person.
To the E ditor :
Please continue your coverage of this case. I
In her letter to the editor in your Jan. 7 issue,
would very much like to see some measure of
Donna Luckett calls for the Lesbian Communi­
justice brought against the killer. Here in
ty Project’s name to “reflect who they are,” and
Eugene, unfortunately, there has been essential­
I applaud her call for this blunt honesty. 1 too
ly no coverage, in spite of the fact that Todd
have been troubled by the semantics in the
grew up here. Thank you again for your article,
debate over “trans inclusion.”
as well as the notice of the memorial service.
I have listened to the debates over whether
or not I am welcome at certain events or in cer­
M aria B lum
tain facilities. I have heard discussions as to
Eugene
whether or not my help is desired in a commu­
nity project or action committee. I have read
concerns over whether or not I am a legitimate
candidate for a support group or shelter. And
most importantly, I’ve heard people speculate as To the E ditor :
to the nature of my identity. This fascinates me,
I found your article “Dollars & Sense” in the
because, unless I’m mistaken, not one of these
Jan. 21 issue very informative. I believe it is
people has ever met me. To me this is not an
important when same-sex couples purchase a
issue of inclusion, it is one of exclusion. It is as
home together that they have a contract drawn
simple as someone who has never met me saying
up by an attorney. Often one partner can make
that I am not welcome. So, I agree wholeheart­
a larger down payment and therefore has a
edly that we should call it like it is. Call it prej­
greater equity share in the home. Should the
udice.
relationship end, a written contract will estab­
In so many ways, the walls are coming down.
lish the percentage of ownership without expen­
They are coming down so fast that we are at risk
sive litigation.
of forgetting why they were put up in the first
I was disappointed that your article didn’t
place. Were they to keep people out or to keep
mention the location or artist who created the
people in? What would happen if everyone
“stacked coins" sculpture used as the illustration
wanted into the LCP, or the gay men’s chorus, or
for the story. T he sculpture, sited on the plaza
the NW GA, or PFLAG? What if gays, lesbians,
fronting Nordstrom (Lloyd Center), is by Larry
bisexuals, heterosexuals, transgenders, intersex-
Kirkland, whose public commissions can be
uals, tops, bottoms, cat people, dog people,
found in public spaces nationally and interna­
Democrats and Republicans all wanted in?
tionally. His most impressive works in Portland
What on earth would we do? Or could it be, that
are the interior staircase and lobby chandelier in
was the whole point to begin with? To decon­
the downtown public library, and a large exteri­
struct the world, clean off the hate, and reassem­
or sculpture on the campus of Oregon Health
ble it?
Sciences University.
In the same issue, Jody Anderson from
Bradley-Angle House writes a letter in which
M ike E. W alsh
she cites a policy that a person needs only to
Eugene
identify as a woman to be eligible for the
agency’s services. This is nothing short of com­
passion, yet I wonder if there will come a time
when it will only be “a person.” And then 1
think, Wait a minute, will there be a time
To the E ditor :
when we don’t need Bradley-Angle House at
As a contributing, taxpaying member of this
all?" Isn’t that the real wall?
society, I highly object to Paramount’s climbing
But until such a time, and perhaps even long
into bed with Dr. Laura Schlessinger and grant­
after, we will always have differences that
ing her a syndicated talk show come fall.
Encompassing registry
a good start
HUMAN
RIGHTS
C A M P A I G N
Portland Gala Dinner
February 11,2000
Appreciate the coverage
Don't define me
With Special Guests
The Honorable Congressman Barney Frank
The Honorable Congresswoman Darlene Hooley
The Honorable Governor Barbara Roberts
The Honorable Seattle Gty Councilwoman Tina Podlowdowski
Honorary Cochairs
Gwyneth Gamble Booth & Brian Booth
Kelly & Tom Bruggere
W hite Bird presents a special performance by
Thomas Lauderdale and Pink Martini
Friday, February 11,2 000,6 PM
Portland Hilton Hotel
6 2 1 SW Sixth Street, Portland Oregon
Silent Auction, Dinner and Dancing
Child Care Available
Tickets $150
To order tickets, call Box Office Tickets at
800/494 -TIXS (8497)
Sponsored by:
LIJ3WEST
Credit where credit
is due
Dissin’ Dr. Laura
and her big-time backer