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About Just out. (Portland, OR) 1983-2013 | View Entire Issue (June 16, 2000)
rrr u ¡it: ivi /une 1&2ÛÛO t m ew s s I grow older, 1 so Kinnard had often heard the com appreciate that the ment: “Wen, I know what you are going present life is enriched through as a black person because, as a more when you under gay person, I go through the same stand where we have thing.” And Kinnard would respond come from,” comments Rupert Kin- with: “No, you know some aspects of nard, who founded the Diversity what it might he like to he discriminat Alliance in 1981. “It’s interesting for ed against because of a certain part of people now to get a sense o f what it Once upon a time, in the early '80s, who you are, but you can’t draw this was like in the early 1980s.” across-the-board comparison.” diversity wasn't taken (or granted Ahh, the early 1980s: Ronald Rea For less serious occasions, the Diver gan was beginning his eight-year reign by members of a unique allianace sity A lliance sponsored dances and as president, a few Portland police events to raise funds for the Portland by Pat Young officers were under scrutiny for plac Town Council. For fund-raisers, some ing dead possums on the doorsteps of by RON HERNDON c-d-r members wanted to have a rummage f»rU*»4 Black Uaack Frwrt African Americans, gay men were sale, while others suggested a show or a being attacked in Laurelhurst Park, the diversity alliance p rasan ta game night. T he result was “How THURSDAY SEPT 17* 800, and the Portland Town Council was • yry I • Bizarre Can a Bizarre Bazaar Be?” Yep, OLD WIVES TALES the prominent gay organization in one event that covered everything. All town. that fun for just a 25-cent ticket. The PTC was like a one-stop shop The group lasted for about two years. ping center. It lobbied the state legis “I don’t remember anything formal . Jewish lesbian & gay community lature for gay rights, raised money for / l ,|" T or any moment when we said, ‘Well, " speak out! gay-friendly candidates and set up a \§ this is done,’ ” notes Dobrof. “It just foundation for social services and MON. MARCH 15th 7=30 didn’t happen anymore.” counseling. Kinnard says people became at M j CC. NE. 24th and “Basically, if you were going to do involved with other things and the "" Broadway anything in town, you either had to be organization kind of petered out. with them or you wouldn’t get any Opinions differ on whether the orga thing done,” notes Susan Dobrof, a nization achieved anything. member of the Diversity Alliance. “It was a successful group for its Portland Town Council time,” says Kinnard. “I can’t say it had W hile gay men and lesbians were part of the PTC, it wasn’t exactly a any lasting effects on anything, hut it was like a one-stop shining example of diversity. To some, really made me feel as if we were doing it seemed too white and too male. things at the time to bring people shopping center. “I think that, at that time, the together. T he absolutely best thing council had sort of been called to the It lobbied the state about the organization was the friend carpet for not having really tried to ships that came out of it.” Th# D lw ilty All It net ind PTC legislature for gay get people of color or a more diverse Dobrof adds: “To me, it felt like a p rtitn t • btntflt group of people on the board,” failure that there was this kind of T H F D V K IT O N E S rights, raised money ______ A 1950'.'; Rock and Roll Dance Band remembers Kinnard. intense conflict and then everybody just Advanct TlcktU ¿thirdly Juna 27 1981 $5 00 at Iht door *4 00 But then Kinnard received a call 8:30-12:00 midnight for gay-friendly candidates and set up sort of went off into their separate cor t t The M uonic Timpla 1119 SW Park Avt. by the tine arts museum from Jerry Weller, the executive direc ners. 1 didn’t feel successful at changing S w r Wtaa « » muncNaa i v i i i t a a foundation for social services and counseling. PTC to be more inclusive, but it didn’t tor of the organization, asking him to For CtiHtf ca rt «od work txchongo information eoli PTC «I 227-2765 in odvanco join the board. matter because, through the Diversity “I had been impressed with seeing Alliance, I had made really important Jerry on television representing the organization 1 need to get beyond being upset and just see putting down. But 1 could take it,” he adds with relationships.” and thought, ‘That sounds like the kind of thing what I can do.’ ” a laugh. It was a different time. Perhaps one that I wouldn’t mind doing,’ ’’ Kinnard recalls. And that’s how the Diversity Alliance start A core group of about 10 members organized won’t be repeated. So he signed on. ed. It was for men, women, gays, straights, peo panel discussions, including “Repression and “W hen I think of today, one of the main rea After going to a few hoard meetings, Kinnard ple of color and anyone else who wanted to rec Exploitation” and “Jewish Lesbians and the Gay sons we tend to come together is because of a became frustrated because the council never ognize and celebrate diversity. Community.” The one that generated the most crisis— such as to fight the anti-gay ballot mea seemed to respect the importance of addressing “The idea was to try and have a vehicle that heated discussion was “Racism, Sexism and sures,” comments Kinnard. “But back then, it community diversity within the struggle for gay women and people of color who were gay could Homophobia— How They Are Not Alike.” was just so interesting that we came together rights. W hen someone suggested that, as a board come into the Portland Town Council,” notes That forum drew a packed crowd. with our energy and the commitment to cele member, he could create a committee to address Dobrof. “It was an incredible, far-reaching forum to brate diversity'.” diversity, Kinnard was a hit offended. “The concept was wonderful. There was have,” notes Kinnard. “Racism, sexism and “Why is it that I— as the person of color on nothing else like it at that time,” recalls member homoj hobia have unique qualities, and the goal ■ P at YOUNG is a Portland-based free-lance writer the board— why should it only he my responsi David Kerr. was for each of us to respect the unique part of and gay and lesbian historian. 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