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About Just out. (Portland, OR) 1983-2013 | View Entire Issue (April 7, 2000)
aprii 7 . 2000 * J u s t o u t COMMENTARY by M a r t y D av is The IN publication for the OUT population F ounded 1983 • J ay B rown Voi . 1 7 No. and R enée L a C hance Of reasons and rights 1 I A p r i l 7, 2 0 0 0 FEA TU RE BUNDLES OF JOY: Newborn twins, a curious 8-year-old, a rebellious teen, an adult child visiting on the weekends with a baby of her own— being a parent changes everything pp 23-27 N EW S NORTHWEST • Assault victim gets long-awaited cash from OCA member; introducing BRO’s new executive director; momentous media across the nation and closer to home; anti-gay protester sues queer movie patron; nominate now for Spirit of Pride awards; Lesbian Avengers tearing at the bit pp 6 - 1 5 NATIONAL • Gay -related policies of national clothing chains; Stonewall Inn named national historic landmark pp 1 7 - 1 9 WORLD • HIV diagnoses skyrocket in Russia; London mayoral candidates denounce police harassment of cruisers pp 20 -2 1 E N T E R T A IN M E N T & CU LTU RE COM EDY* Suzanne Westenhoefer comes to Portland (and Eugene) to kick one special ass p 35 MUSIC • PGMC gets Naked and serious p 37 The publisher shares her thoughts on an upcoming gay rights march I am going to the April 30 Millennium March in Washington, D.C. Until a few days ago, my primary reasons for going were to attend a national gay and lesbian press summit, held during the few days prior to the march, and to spend rare getaway time with my girl friend. Attendance at the actual march was secondary at best. I had no sign to carry, no banner to unfurl, there was no fervor, no burning issue, no weight of oppression motivating my attendance. In fact, I have more than once questioned the very need for this march. What is the goal? What is to be achieved? In looking back at the scant few years that have passed since Stonewall, the civil rights movement of the 196Gs and women’s rights bat tles of the ’70s and ’80s, I see great achievement in the contemporary movement for gay equality. By no means do I believe the work is done. But at the same time, I feel that keeping a slower, steadier pace is not an illogical strategy. As such, I have had concerns over the rapidly explosive issue of same-sex marriage. I will admit that I have questioned the pace— are we moving too fast, try ing to force same-sex marriage upon a nation that is simply neither edu cated, nor receptive, nor prepared to accept the concept? Is there a possi bility that we stand to do more damage than good by an acceleration of our demands? Recent events are causing me to rethink my position and look more deeply at the reasons gay men and lesbians would be desirous of marriage rights. First, I am now aware of the need to look beyond the symbolic and spiritual and cultural aspects of marriage. We must look beyond the pati na of shame and scars of damage that those privileged with marriage rights have brought to the very institution they are so reluctant to share with others. I seriously believe that those leading the fight for same-sex marriage are not doing it with the notion that they’ll be the first gay couple to be married while skydiving or swimming with dolphins at Sea World or dressed as giant condoms. I do not believe that our leadership is battling for the television rights to Who Wants to Marry a Queer Multi-Millionaire ? No, what we as gay men and lesbians need are the legal and civil rights that come with marriage— the rights to pay our taxes as couples, the legal protections, health benefits and the protections of personal property afforded by marriage. If you have not had the opportunity to watch the recent HBO show If These Walls Qould Talk 2 , 1 absolutely beg you to avail yourself of a video and watch the first sequence of this show. Forget the hype about Ellen DeGeneres and Sharon Stone. (Don’t even bother with the second and third segments of the show.) The first part of this trilogy, however, will knock the very breath out of you. Even though it’s set in 1961 (and, yes, it’s different now), you will be absolute ly wrenched by this performance— and you must know that it can still happen today. Gay men will be impacted just as strongly as lesbians. Don’t be put off by the marketing of this film as a lesbian show. It is about you and your life also— and you must watch it and then you’ll know why I’m now going to Washington to march for the right to same-sex marriage. Fighting for our rights extends beyond marches in our nation’s capital. For most of us, the main tool and weapon of choice will be our right to vote and our emerging status as a viable voting bloc of gay men and les bians. On May 16, Oregonians will have their primary election. Gore and Bush will apparently be the presidential candidates without input from our state; however, that does not even begin to negate the value of our votes. We’ll be electing mayors and legislators and making decisions that impact the cores of our communities and our state. You must register and you must vote. The April 21 issue of Just Out will carry our endorsements for the May primary election. If you have strong opinions about a candidate or an issue, let us hear from you now. Hi Contact Just Out at (503) 236-1252; P.O. Box 14400, Portland, OR 97293-0400; justout@justout.com; or www.justout.com. TELEVISION - Out, gay and Blue p 39 CULTURE - Snickers goes to Hollywood REFLECTIONS Httliitflpj p 40 ' ;:i , . ' . •- -, : GROUPS . Help is out there for queer parents p 41 ART • Stephen O’Donnell contemplates himself p43 DR. LAURA w rites A U T T E R OF APOLOGy DIVERSIONS- Plain Jane does art; a centenarian lesbian speaks p45 Ju st mat it published on the first and third Friday of each month. Copyright © 2000 by Ju st OUt No part of Ju st OUt may be reproduced without writ ten permission from the publisher. The subm ission of w ritten and graphic m aterial* ia welcomed. Written material should be typed and double-spaced. Ju st OUt 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. Letter* to the editor should be limited to 500 words. Announcements regarding life transitions (births, deaths, unions, etc.) should be limited to 200 words; photos are wel come Deadline for subm ission* to the editorial department and for the Calendar 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 display advertising deadline is the Monday 12 days before the next publication date. Classified ads must be received at the Ju st out office by 4 p.m. on the Thursday eight days before the next publi cation date, along with payment. Ads may be placed by tele phone or via the Internet with Visa or MasteiCard payment. Ad policy: Ju st out 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 request. Subscriptions are $17.50 for 12 issues. First Class (in an envelope) is $30 for 12 issues. Contact ju st out at P.O. Rox 14400. Portland, OR 9729) 0400; (50)) 2)6-1252, advertising 2)6-125), fax 2)6-1257; e-mail justout@justout.com. Visit our Internet site at www.justout.com. i - f c 04 s". V UHI vi-, ¿£3 ¿ à ' S ? V " « '" î 'ï X iwranSIl . la! ¿«IMS ■ B n H B U r a H H B ADVBm SING DIRECTOR • Meg Grace PRORUCTION ASSISTANTS • Tftomas Christian, NEW S EDITOR • Inga Sorensen ADVERTISING REPRESENTATIVE • Larry Lewis Katy Davidson ENTER1AINM ENT EDITOR • Oriana Green NATIONAL ADVERTISING REPRESENTATIVE • Rivendei! OFFICE MANAGER • Katy Davidson COPY EDITOR • Christopher D. Cuttone Marketing Company Inc. (212) 242-6863 PRODUCTION DIRECTOR • Christopher D. Cuttone DISTRIRUTION «Jerilyn Adams, Michael EDITOR • Marty Davis CONTRIBUTORS • Marc Acito, Kristine Chatwood, Katy Davidson, Jonathan Kipp, Snickers LaBarr, Andy Mangels, Gip Plaster, Rex Wockner, Pat Young ART DIRECTOR • Rupert Kinnard PRODUCTION • Oriana Green Albright, Kathy Bethel, Curtis Henderson, Danahy Sharon Rose, Mendith Schwartz, Bill Syverson, Ruth Traut, David Wardell, Larry Williams 3
