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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
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p i j g ii
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|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
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