november 17. 20ÛÛ ■ Ju s t M il 3
COMMENTARY
by
M a r t y D a v is
The IN publication for the OUT population
F ounded 1983 • J ay B rown and R enee L a C hance
A rt D irector • R upert K innard
Vol.
18 No. 2
November 17, 2 0 0 0
Good cop, bad cop
Kroeker conflict provides potential for growth and understanding
FEATURE
ROUND TWO: Now that the mayor has come
to the police chief’s defense, where do we go
from here?
P 23
NEWS
NORTHWEST • It takes a village to raise a child
PP 5 -1 5
NATIONAL • Campaign 2000 victories and
victims; gay philanthropist pops the Quark
pp 1 6 -2 0
W ORLD • European Union Council of Ministers
makes history
PP 2 1 -2 2
ENTERTAINMENT
& CULTURE
ROOKS • A literary legend lights up Portland
pp 33
FILM • Best of the fest
P 34
ART • Butchin’ it up at PNCA
p 35
CULTURE • Signs of change in the
Deaf community
P 37
ROOKS • Edgy new books
p 30
FILM • Boy toys
p 39
DIVERSIONS • Behavin’ and cookin’ and dancin’
even acceptance, it seems to me we in turn owe this same tolerance to
ate into election night— about midnight, as I recall— I walked
those who hold views different from our own.
away from my television in a stunned blur to e-mail the Just Out
It’s not a one-way street, this tolerance, this understanding, this
staff. In this message I repeated the horrific words that just had
respect. We can’t demand people accept us while in turn condemning
been broadcast: George W. Bush has been declared president
them for holding views separate from our own.
elect of the United States.
People seldom agree with each other. There are more ways to dis
1 laid out the fact that we now had the onerous task of figuring out
agree politically, philosophically, spiritually and culturally than there are
the potential ramifications of this presidency and its impact upon gays
stars in the sky.
and lesbians for coverage in our Nov. 17 issue. The Nov. 17 issue is here
As we demand tolerance, acceptance and respect, we also must
now, and I have to say we haven’t made much progress with the follow
strive to give it in return. U .S . citizens have belief systems rooted and
up to that memo.
based in generations o f family, history, religion, culture, ideology, tra
The good news, of course, is that Bush is NOT, for the moment at least,
dition
and values.
president-elect. The bad news, however, is that no one else is, either.
The current struggle to accept, tolerate and understand homosexuality
W hile the nation awaits the Florida finale, here in Portland the gay
is hard for many, many people. Homosexuality goes against the very
and lesbian community continues to struggle with our own vote of
core of their beliefs.
confidence in Police C hief Mark Kroeker. W hat we have
We see it in our parents, our neighbors, our families and
now is a situation with tremendous potential for increased
now our police chief. Many good people are trying hard
M any good people
understanding and growth between the sexual minori
to adapt their beliefs to a rapidly changing world and
ties community and all levels of the police depart
are
trying
hard
environment.
ment— from the neighborhood patrols right on up to
I think Kroeker is one o f these people. I base
the 15 th floor.
to adapt their beliefs
this
statement on my own conversations and
Since the Kroeker tapes became public, I have
to a rapidly changing world interactions with him and my faith in my own
noticed heavily increased usage— in conversation, in
intuitive abilities.
the media, in explanations, in speeches— of the word
and environment.
Others interested in making their own assessment
“tolerance.” It seems to be an easily and frequently
will have the opportunity to address their concerns
used word.
I think Kroeker is
and questions to Kroeker in a community meeting
Although this usually is regarded as progress, I’m not
one
o
f
these
people.
Dec.
11. (The specifics as to time and location will be
that happy with the notion of being tolerated. To my mind,
presented in the Dec. 1 issue of Just Out and will be posted
people tolerate those things they actually dislike but are forced
at www.justout.com as soon as they are available.) If you are
to accept because they realize there’s nothing else they can do.
attending
this meeting and plan to bring your anger, frustration and pain,
We tolerate mosquitoes while camping, rain in July, noisy neighbors
I ask you to consider also the following scenario.
and the Portland Trail Blazers. We don’t necessarily like or respect these
U.S. Sen. Gordon Smith and his efforts to promote the anti-gay
things; we just put up with them because there’s no other choice.
Republican
Party platform and to elect Bush as president posed serious
Is this kind of tolerance we want from the straight community?
threats to the well-being of the gay and lesbian community. The Human
Wouldn’t it be better if tolerance was merely a step, or perhaps even just
Rights Campaign gave him an award.
a phase, on the way to higher levels of understanding and respect for
At the same time, many are stepping forward to condemn a man for
each other?
10-year-old words that have not once been reflected in his performance,
And in order to achieve these higher levels of regard and respect, don’t
behaviors and actions since becoming police chief. Let’s work together to
we need to give credence to the notion that all these concepts are based
turn this crisis in confidence into an opportunity for building respect and
on mutual tolerance, mutual understanding and mutual respect? As the gay
understanding. i n
and lesbian community reaches new plateaus of public tolerance, perhaps
pp 4 0-41
REFLECTIONS
COLUMNS
M S . BEHAVIOR • Playing footsie
p 31
THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO MARC
Do you
believe in fairies?
p42
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