tebiuaiy 16.2001
GUEST COM M ENTARY
F o u n d ed
1983
»J
ay
V o l. 1 8 N o . 8
B rown
and
by
R u p e r t K in n a r d
R enée L a C hance
F eb ru ary 1 6 , 2 0 0 1
FEATURE
CHICKS WITH PICKS: The lesbian music scene
is alive and well in Oregon
P 20
NEWS
NORTHWEST • Queer youth mobilize
pp 6 -1 3
NATIONAL • Recall petition targets gay mayor
pp 1 5 -1 7
WORLD * Drag queen runs for premier
PP 1 0 -1 9
ENTERTAINMENT
& CULTURE
HOOKS • Double conundrum
p 30
THEATER* Behind the scenes at ART;
a kiss from the Spider Woman
pp 3 1 -3 3
COLTHRE* Entertainments for a winter’s eve
P 34
F I L M * Talkin’ trash with John Waters
P 36
RIVERSIONS • So many events, so little time
P 37
COLUMNS
M S . BEHAVIOR • Breaking up is hard to do
P 29
THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO MARC • Sex lives
of flamingos
p 30
SPECIAL
NIGHTSPOTS • Gay-friendly hangouts
Don't be bamboozled
We all should examine and challenge the demonization
behind being labeled “politically correct”
bam* *boo*zle (bam boo' zel), v.l., -zled, -zling. Informal.
1. to deceive or get the better of (someone) by trickery, flattery or
the like; hoodwink; They bamboozled us into joining the club.
tivity toward the less-abled, one might spew, “O h, you’re just try
ing to be ‘PC .’ ”
Recently, a film reviewer for Willamette W eek offered a weak
“apology” for expressing his desire to stick his penis down the throat
rom the beginning of February, I found myself bracing for the of actress Sandra Bullock to shut her up. The same reviewer criti
onslaught of so-called political pundits once again denounc cized Bamboozled director Spike Lee by stating, “He should be beat
ing the need for a Black History Month celebration.
en like a runaway slave.”
Another writer decided to carry on this trendy, witty tradition by
predicting the future of certain restaurant critics and joking, “Those
I thought about the folks who never question any other Jews at The New York Times...will be rounded up and fried until gold
cultural or ethnic celebration yet question the validity of en brown.” A number of letters appeared in subsequent issues
African Americans pushing not only to embrace our denouncing
own culture the
but irresponsible usage of such imagery, but other readers
to share it with others. I thought about the many discussions
I’ve
who went
on had
to defend the writers and the publication itself tended to
with white people who think it’s wrong for black whine about being “PC.”
people to get together in separate groups, men
So how is it we’ve come to a point where one fears
who moan about events for women only and
I ju st wish m ore being labeled “politically correct” or “politically
straight people who don’t under
incorrect”? I feel as if I belong to a community of
stand the need for a gay pride cele
friends,
family and extended family who never would
folks could be as
bration.
react to any perceived injustice merely in the name of
Given all of this, it rarely comes
outraged b y
“political correctness.”
as a surprise to me when many of
This certainly doesn’t mean we don’t make mis
actual instances takes. We simply do the best we can to experience the
these same people— who seem so
negative about what the disenfran
world through understanding the pain that might
o f inflicted pain come from insensitivity.
chised think they must do to pro
mote their sanity— appear rather
We shouldn’t be bamboozled into having our
smug, self-righteous and insensitive. It has been my as th e y are about efforts be reduced to a silly catch phrase created by
experience that these are the people who are most like
those who should know better. Those who do all they
being labeled
ly to endure frustration because they think they are
can to avoid being labeled “PC” are like vampires hid
being challenged to understand something they simply
ing from the rising sun when confronted with an issue
might not be capable of comprehending.
that requires them to imagine what it might be like to
It seems to me the irritatingly trendy term “political
experience the pain of others.
ly correct” has been created as a way to demonize almost
I totally accept that some people just don’t have it in them to be
any attempt at empathy or sympathy. How has the idea behind that compassionate. I just wish more folks could be as outraged by actual
accepted, insipid phrase slithered into our collective consciousness?
instances of inflicted pain as they are about being labeled “PC. " j n
So instead of admitting you might be one who truly has no abil
ity to empathize with the plight of others, you now comfortably
RUPERT K innard is the art director o f Just Out and can be reached at
can say, “Oh, I don’t want to have to be ‘politically correct.’ ” Or rupegroup 1 @ aol. com .
if you seem to be truly passionate about addressing hurtful images
in the media promoting sexism, racism, homophobia or insensi
Vi:
V
:
F
"PC
Vou 8 No* 4, F ebruary , 1991
p 31
EATING OHT • Let someone else cook tonight
• Philip Anderson and Linda Kliewer stepped
new roles as co-editors of Just Out.
pp 3 2 -3 3
• Famed Shakespearean actor Ian McKellan,
who is openly gay, was knighted on New Year’s
Eve by Britain’s Queen Elizabeth II.
JU S T FRIENDS * Free voice personal ads
p 39
ju st out is published on the first and third
Friday of each month. Copyright © 2001 hy Just Out.
• In a welcome turnabout, the National
Endowment for the Arts awarded grants to two
performance artists, Holly Hughes, an open les
bian, and Karen Finley. Both were denied fund
ing in 1990.
No part of Just Out may be reproduced without written per
mission from the publisher.
The submission of w ritten and graphic
m aterials is welcomed. Written material should be
typed and double-spaced. Just Out reserves the right to edit
for grammar, punctuation, style, liability concerns and
length. We will reject or edit articles or advertisements that
are offensive, demeaning or may result in legal action.
Letters to the editor should be limited to 500 words.
Announcements regarding life transitions (births, deaths,
unions, etc.) should be limited to 200 words; photos are wel
come. Deadline for submissions to the editorial
department and for the Calendar is the Thursday 15 days
before the next publication date. Views expressed in letters to
the editor, columns and features are not necessarily those of
the publisher.
The display advertising deadline is the Monday
12 days before the next publication date.
Classified ads must be received at the Just Out office
by 4 p.m. on the Thursday eight days before the next publi
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Ad policy: Just Out reserves the right to reject or edit
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Subscriptions are $17.50 for 12 issues. First Class (in
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Contact Just Out at P.O. Box 14400, Portland, O R
97293-0400; 503-236-1252, advertising 503-236-1253, fax
503-236-1257; e-mail justoutdjustout.com. Visit our
Internet site at www.justixit.com.
Gail Shibley, an out lesbian, was appointed by
the Multnomah County Board of
Commissioners to fill the seat vacated by state
Rep. Phil Keisling, who was appointed secre
tary of state by Oregon Gov. Barbara Roberts.
• Slabtown. formerly known as the Primary
Domain, became the only women's bar in
Portland on New Year's Eve. During Sean
Bryant’s 21 months of ownership, it had been a
lesbian bar, a topless bar and a music bar. She
promised to keep it open as a lesbian bar as
long as women supported it.
• The “ Pride C ard," a new MasterCard benefit
ing the Seattle-based Pride Foundation, which
finances gay and lesbian programs, came under
fire by conservative organizations and funda
mentalist Christian groups.
• D irector David York’s Concord C hoir per
formed M other o f Us A ll, a new oratorio with
special guest artist Obo Addy on African drums,
March 1 and 2. The piece was w ritten by David
York (music) and Judith Barrington (libretto).
• Does your sexuality need liberating? JoAnn
Loulan presented a lesbian erotic lecture and
workshop Feb. 15 and 16. She is a nationally
known psychotherapist, sex educator, author
and researcher specializing in the sexual and
emotional concerns o f lesbians.
• The Flirtations, billed as the “world's most
openly gay, politically active a cappella men's
singing quintet," performed Feb. 22 and 23 in
Portland.
—
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