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
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OUt No part of Ju st OUt may be reproduced without writ
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iwranSIl . la! ¿«IMS ■ B n H B U r a H H B
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3