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About Just out. (Portland, OR) 1983-2013 | View Entire Issue (June 16, 2000)
June 16. 2000 * J u s t i n 2g Continued from Page 27 they moved to Portland a few years ago. That’s just the way things were for them in Texas. One of the first things they did with their newfound freedom was join the Lesbians Over 50 group that meets monthly for a potluck. And that’s where Brindley heard about an upcoming convention of Old Lesbians Organiz ing for Change. She and her new friend Mary Brady, a Portland senior activist, went to San Francisco for the event. “I’ve gone into a part of the world 1 never knew existed,” she says of the experience of being in a room full of 180 lesbians all aged 60 to 80. Two weeks after their return, the two friends started a Portland chapter of O LO C. “Our goal,” Brindley says, “is to make ourselves a visible presence in the community.” Currently there are eight members— according to Brindley, “We can really get to know one another personally.” The group is, however, very open to new members. (Consult the Out &. About section of this paper for more information.) Brindley is clearly a fun-loving, sensitive individual, but it has to be asked: How do you last 41 years with someone? In a word, compromise. She still seems rather astonished at the feat herself: “I think it takes a long time to be sure— there’s so much stimulus, it can be hard to stay together.” But this retired teacher isn’t ready for a rocking chair anytime soon. “1 want to do every gay and lesbian thing in Portland— I’m putting my hand into the cookie jar of life,” she says with a great big grin. You go girl! —O G K im S mith ne day, 1 0 years ago, Kim Smith woke up and decided to change his life. He wanted to enjoy his life more. Perhaps add a bit more joy to his days as well, he thought. “Life is too short,” Smith says. So he left his life as an attorney and com mitted to start having more fun. Two years earlier Smith had started the OUTdoor Group with two friends. The group meets at least twice a month and attracts peo ple from all over Oregon to its events. After leaving lawyering, Smith had more time to devote to his group. And he did. Twelve years later, the OUTdoor group is one of Eugene’s most popular organizations. , The group has been a constant in Smith’s life for the past 12 years— a source of pride throughout the year. Today the 45-year-old works for the Hult Center in Eugene— “doing whatever needs to be done,” he says— and doesn’t miss the adver sarial role he so often experienced as a lawyer. For Smith, getting to see theater and listen to the symphony while at work makes for a great job. Smith says he doesn’t ever miss Eugene’s gay pride celebration. It is a time to con nect with friends, to search one’s gay / identity, and it is a wonderful chance to see all the diver sity living in his community. O While he has made big changes in his life to find the balance he enjoys today, he’s not kx)king for more change any time soon. He likes his life the way it is. After all, he finally has the time to do what he wants to do and to see the people he wants to see. In fact, his week now has a new high light: two children who live just down the street. Smith became the biological father of two children for a lesbian couple whom he met some years ago in the OUTdoor Group. The trio discussed the situation for more than two years before proceeding. Smith says he never really wanted kids and, at first, he was cool to the idea. But eventually he warmed to the idea, and four years ago he fathered a daughter, and last year a son. It was a “very pleasant surprise,” Smith says about this unexpected turn of events in his 40s. Seated on the edge of his sofa, Smith suc cumbs to a small grin as he leans back. “They 3-year-old calls me Uncle Kim,” he says. —JK .... : < • •• : FAWPtLY P R ID E The Class of 2000 h\t Hit sin m I hr u it lairs art Hats if lifr ii nr pnri i iin iiii J ody A nderson u p I eople expect less of youth,” Jody Anderson says regretfully. She should know. When Anderson was 21, people would sometimes mistake her for a 16-year-old boy. Now, approaching 40, people think she’s about 25. But any conversation with this sharp woman would reveal that she’s a high-level thinker with mere youthful flair— and she has a lot to say about the issue of pride. “Pride used to be more aware of Stonewall,” she says. “It’s not a celebration of Stonewall anymore. It’s good that it’s big, but I also think that there continues to be attempts to homoge nize our community.” Anderson attended her first parade in Port land in 1983 and has only missed one since. Back then, she says, the celebration felt more radical and politically driven. These days, she feels more of a sense of pride just being among her group of queer friends. However, Anderson believes the community should still strive to publicly recognize the people who helped the queer movement gain ground. "Pride used to be more aware of Stonewall. It's not a celebration o f Stonewall anymore. It's good that it's big, but I also think that there continues to be attempts to homogenize our community. 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