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.
"
—Jody Anderson
Continued on Page 31
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