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About Just out. (Portland, OR) 1983-2013 | View Entire Issue (April 21, 2000)
aprii 2U2Û0Û» COMMENTARY The V o i . 17 N o . and R enée L a C hance Here's the story 12 A p r i l 2 1, 2 0 0 0 FiA T U R IS The publisher offers insights into why certain decisions come down the way they do TOUGH QUESTIONS, FRANK ANSWERS: A somewhat adversarial interview with notorious lesbian feminist and women’s music avant-gardist Alix Dobkin hen I acquired Just O ut last year, the paper was neither in the best of financial shape, nor was it in the worst. T he previous publisher had skillfully managed to keep the paper viable for 15 years— an accomplishment of herculean proportion, considering the times and cir cumstances. It now falls upon me no t only to continue to do the same, hut also to manage and grow to the next levels of journalistic and financial success. In the first year and a half of my ownership, thanks to an invaluable and dedicated staff, Just Out has achieved a much stronger financial foot ing than it had previously enjoyed. W hile I’m not planning on purchasing a new SUV anytime soon, I am proud to he able to pay a full-time staff of nine, plus a cadre of delivery dri vers, free-lance writers and contributors. My full-time employees have access to group health insurance, a 401 (k ) program and frequent inspira- * tion-inducing chocolate cakes and pastries. Interestingly enough, though, this new and improved financial q strength and solidity o f Just O ut indicates to some readers that I have “sold 4 out” and am now operating this publication solely on a “bottom-line" | mentality, while at the same time ignoring the very principles upon which the paper was founded. *1 My initial response to this questioning was deemed unprintable, yet the concerns raised do merit serious consideration. The readership of Just O ut is emotionally vested in the overall essence and well-being of the paper, and it is im portant that I take your concerns to heart— and respond and take appropriate action— while taking all factors into consideration. These questions and comments have come in response to the recent decision to stop publishing “T he Amazon Trail.” The decision to stop using this column was based largely on statistics and comments from our readers’ survey of last summer. Demographics of our current readership played somewhat of a role, as did occasional editorial and administrative needs. O n occasion, when “T he Amazon Trail” did not run in its regular slot, we didn’t hear an outcry from readers. We notice these things and act accordingly. W hile still wedded to the concept of honoring the past, it is equally P 24 OUTT RUDDIES: Gay Life Health Network gathers men who have sex with men and gives them the lowdown on gettin’ down, down there 26 NIW8 NORTHWEST . Trans Portland police officer continues battle for claims coverage; Reform Judaism bolsters same-sex unions; community building project in rural southwest Washington; Bradley-Angle House celebrates quarter-century of service; lawyer Lynn Nakamoto advances the cause; monthly column the Queer Profit PP 7-16 NATIONAL • Friction over Internet filtering; candidate Bush meets with gay Republicans, Buchanan frets for party’s future PP M a rty D a m s IN publication for the OUT population F ounded 1983 • J ay B rown p by 19-20 W ORLD* Jorg Haider outed by European newspapers; Polish president nixes pom ban p 22 INTLRTA1NMENT & CULTURE THEATER • Peek inside Tim Miller’s Glory Box p 35 CULTURE. On the road with Dear Nora p 37 RADIO- Not your usual mother-daughter act R E E E E (r T 10 l\l S p 38 important to acknowledge the present and plan for future growth and suc cess. I am a definite believer in the notion that planning for the future is hands-down the best method of assuring that there actually will be one. So, while thanking Lee Lynch for the contributions that she has made to the history of Just Out, I also must act to ensure that the next publisher acquires a strong, healthy paper capable of continuing to serve the needs of the many, many, many diverse segments of the community. N ot all decisions are popular. N ot all decisions are easy. Yet they all must be made. O ne reader asked if it “was a cost issue" that precipitated pulling the column. The answer to that is yes and no. No, it wasn’t because Just Out couldn’t afford to pay the writer. Yes, it’s a cost issue because Just O ut can’t afford to devote editorial space to copy that is seemingly not read by a great many of our readers. I am certainly under no delusion that every page of every issue is avid ly read and appreciated by each and every reader; but I cannot afford the luxury of columns dedicated to a very, very small percentage of the read ership. A nd on a further economic note, neither can I justify to advertis ers placing their ads on pages where we have reason to believe the edito rial content receives little attention. So, is it a cost issue? Yes and no. A nother factor in decision making revolves around the demographics of our readership. W hile Just O ut will not be jumping headfirst into the fracas involving the much-desired disposable income of the 18-to-2 5-year- old market, we also realize that this is an age group that has historically been underserved by our publication. We don’t view this so much as an opportunity to sell snowboard ads; instead, it’s a realization that this younger generation of gay men and les bians also needs to see itself reflected tn the pages o f Just Out. Ideally, this will not be done at the expense of one or more other segments of the read ership. It becomes quite a balancing act, trying to serve the older, the mid dle, the younger, the men, the women, the urbans, suburbans, rurals and just-exactly-where-is-that readers. So on we go. Change is constant. Just Out must continue to keep pace with the changing faces of our readership. It’s kinda like the weather: If you don’t like what you see today, stick around— tomorrow it will be something different...and you just might like it! years ago tn M U SIC - Rebecca Riots says folk you! p 41 A pril 1985 V ol . 2 N o . 6 F IL M S . Get thee to the circus • Cascade AIDS Project and Phoenix Rising Foundation sponsored the second in a series of “Safesex Workshops for the Gay Men o f Portland.” p 42 DIVERSIONS. Good causes galore; get potted and go dancing p 43 4 COLUMNS OUTWORD • Country roads take me home P ■ 45 p i j g ii U jj |L • Harrison Pierce, well-known theater person and producer of gay plays, left Portland to take a job with the San Francisco Opera. • Genevieve Productions presented a very special evening with musician Ronnie Gilbert (of the Weavers), accom panied by John Bucchino. T he show was opened by the group Motherlode. M Y QUEER L I F E . Priests are people too p 46 Ju st out 1« p ublish ed on the f l n t and third Friday o f each m onth. Copyright © 2000 k Ju st o u t No part of Ju st out may he reproduced without written permission from the publisher. The subm ission o f w ritten an d graphic m ate rial* U w elcom ed. Written matenal ■should he typed and double-spaced. • Bom m Flames was presented at Portland State University. Set in the indeterminate future, the play addressed contemporary issues: C an women’s oppression ever be eliminated? C an the hitter conflicts around race, class, sexual Ju st out reserves the right to edit for grammar, punc tuation, style, lia bility concerns and length. We will reject or edit articles or advertise ments that are offensive, demeaning or may result in legal action. L etter* to the editor should be limited to 500 words. A n nouncements regarding life transitions (births, deaths, unions, etc.) should be limited to 200 words; photos are welcome D eadline for *u b m i**io n * 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, Tire d isp lay ad vertisin g d ead lin e is the Monday 12 days before the next publication date. c la ssifie d ad s must be received at the Ju st out office by 4 p m. on the Thursday eight days before the next publication date, along with payment Ads may be placed k telephone or via the Internet with V'isa or M astetO rd payment. Ad policy: Ju st out reserves the right to reject or edit any adver tisement. ( aimpensation for emirs in, or cancellation of, advertising will be made with credit toward future advertising. Advertising rates are available upon request. S u b scrip tion * are $17.50 for 12 issues. First Class (in an enve lope) is $30 for 12 issues. Contact Ju st out at P.O. Box 14400. Portland, OR 97293-0400; (503) 236-1252, advertising 236-1253, fax 236-1257; e-mail justixitttjustout.com. Visit our Internet site at www.justiHit.com. preference and politics that divide the w omens community ever be eliminated? Politically astute but never dogmatic, Bom in Flames was both thought provok ing and hilarious. • Activists convened to determine what actions to take regarding the M ultnomah C ounty Commission’s recent repeal of an ordinance protecting gay people’s employment rights in county government positions. The meeting was held at the Embers Avenue. • The Times of Harvey Milk was shown at Cinema 21 for two days only. T he film earned the Academy Award for Best Feature Documentary. • Portland Gay M en’s Chorus presented Zillions: Or How We Paid O ff the National Debt. U: r a L l i m AND M ANAGING EDITOR • Marty Davis ADVERTISING DIRECTOR • Meg Grace PRODUCTION ASSISTANTS • Thomas Christian, HEW S EDITOR • Inga Sorensen ADVERTISING REPRESENTATIVE • Larry Lewis Katy Davidson ENTHnAM M BVT EDITOR • O riana Green NATMNAL ADVERTISING REPRESENTATIVE • Rivendi li OFFICE MANAGED • Katy Davidson C IP Y a m Marketing Company Inc. (212) 242-6863 IIS TR M V T1IN • Jerilyn Adams, Michael CONTRIBUTORS • Lisa Bradshaw, Kristine Chat- PROOUCT1M DIRECTOR • Christopher D. C uttone wood, Christopher D. Cuttone, Katy Davidson, Michael Thomas Ford, Irene Hislop, Andy Mangels, Gip Plaster, Alan Rose, Rex Wockner ART B M K T 1R • Rupert Kinnard Albright, Kathy F^ethel, Curtis Henderson, Danahy Sharon Rose, M end Schwartz, Ruth Traut, David Wardell, Larry Williams • C hristopher D. C uttone PRODUCTION • Oriana G reen 3