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. She is currently writ
bility?” Kinnard asked himself. “Then I thought,
“Yet, it was weird being a white male in the
what we go through and what our experiences
ing a book about Ballot M easure 9.
♦♦
‘Well, it’s the only thing I want to do, so maybe
group, because that was what people were
are.
A llegiance
to D iversity
PANEL DISCUSSION
ih
A smart financial plan
begins with just 7 numbers:
Latest in Gay Travel, Fiction G More
2 3 8 -6 0 3 6
Eric Brown
District M a n a g e r
5 0 0 N E M ultnom ah Portland, O R 9 7 2 3 2
■ 5 0 3 /2 3 8 -6 0 3 6
W AD D ELL
S cR E E D
The people with a plan for you.
Happy Texas, Boys Don't Cry A More
Gai-Pied
2544 NE Broadway Ph 331.1125
Rental A Sales on the latest titles!
* Great Discounts On Our Website: www.gaipied.com *
t3