Image provided by: University of Oregon Libraries; Eugene, OR
About Just out. (Portland, OR) 1983-2013 | View Entire Issue (Jan. 5, 2001)
5 . 2001 Following his heap! A new guy in town shares past hardships of rural queer life ^«Portland« Gente I "the Gay & Lesbian Audience Series * f *■ pEI^iSlV f Defy convention. Express yourself. Live passionately. Come in from the cold, and find yourself in a vibrant world of artists, lovers and dreamers. Here; the heart is in full bloom. ' - Hiiccmt Sung in Italian with English translations projected above the stage February 10, 12, 14, 17, 2001 Keller Auditorium SW 3rd ft Clay • 7:30 pm s h a r p ! TICKETS FROM S25 • CALL TODAY! (503) 241-1802 (503) 790-ARTS rickets available at all outlets, PCPA and Portland Opera www tir ketmaster conVoregon • www portlandopera org Groups of 10 or more SAVE up to 20% • Call (503) 241-1407 We have carried on a long-distance relation ship for six years, first to Boise, then to Portland from Sun Valley. During this time we have kept Horizon and Southwest Airlines in the green, and we possess almost a billion frequent flyer miles. 1 lived in Sun Valley 25 years and watched it transform from a town with virtually no known gay community to an enclave of liberalism and diversity in what deserved ly is known as an ultra conservative state. Repub lican candidates control everything in Idaho, hut in Blaine County, afflu party was in order. Party tapes were made, ence and education now prevail. The and arts every gay man within a 15-mile radius and culture communities are was invited. strong in this resort town, and You have to understand what an event with them come people like us. like this meant to the two or three of us who Winter skiers and summer had known about each other all these years. tourists provide an influx of cul We had felt, as we all have, isolated. ture and urbanism. An occasional But in Sun Valley, we really were connection thanks to gaydar pro isolated. Clandestine meetings took place vided opportunities to mix and hours away. mingle with gay men from the Meetings of more than two or three peo outside world. ple simply didn’t exist before this. Suddenly, Numerous road trips to 20 men were dancing in my living room, 20 Salt Lake City (five hours) and men relaxed, comfortable in this blaze of Boise (two hours) also provided new friendship and connection. the chance to explore. And as My close friend Dave was there. For this was before the Internet, seven or eight years, we had managed to meeting with other men was keep each other from going crazy. RICHARD still that dance of stares and We looked hard at each other that night body language. and toasted our survival. We had survived In early 1994, having just what seemed like years in a desert. And now turned 40, I was coping with we were surrounded by what to us appeared severe depression, suicidal tendencies a crowd—more like a jumping bar full of and general ennui. With my little buddy, men—with music blaring, drinks flowing denial, I was floundering aimlessly, trying to and relief everywhere. figure out the mood swings. But this isn’t so This seems like long ago now. Coming- much about my coming out as the coming out stories seem old and tired after several out of a whole group of Sun Valley men retellings. All those breakthroughs were real, simultaneously. I’m sure, but now it just seems so easy that While I was going through tons of thera the edge and randiness of that time feel py, I received a mysterious phone call from somehow like old war stories. two delightful lesbians who just had moved But what happened that wonderful summer to Sun Valley. The message on the answer and winter smelled like youth—a looking for ing machine was simple: “You don’t know us, ward with immense excitement I never hut you want to.” thought I’d get to experience. Inevitably, the Unable to resist calling the number they crowd got too big to be contained in one party. left, I found myself invited to what might We splintered into our unique circles: skiers, have been one of the first gay get-togethers partiers, those of us in relationships and those in Sun Valley. With their fabulous taste and ever on the prowl. winning style, these two created what might Now, on the verge of moving to your he called our gay salon. vibrant city, I have to think back on how far As usually happens, this evening led to I’ve come, how far the rest of Idaho has to meetings, which led to more meetings. At a go and how exciting it will he to live in the Fourth of July barbecue, I was introduced to city. I’ve had enough of a go at the wild west my partner. Friends figured we had to meet, of Idaho and plan on jumping into your city as we had to he the only two scuba-diving with my arms outstretched, my eyes open gay Idahoans in existence. wide and opportunity everywhere. Looks like A large part of this story concerns a party a happy new year to me. j m that took place at my house around this time. By now, the jungle drums were R IC H A R D B r a y is a free-lance writer. beating, men were dating, and we decided a ILLUSTRATION BY KEVIN n a few short weeks I’ll be moving to Portland from Sun Valley, Idaho, to join my partner.
