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About Just out. (Portland, OR) 1983-2013 | View Entire Issue (March 2, 2001)
march 2.2ÛÛ1« üpffilOUt Smith is no ally To the E ditor : ome on! What is this? A Gordon Smith love fest??? Sure, he now reveals he feels the pain of hate crimes like the one committed against Matthew Shepard. He now says he likens the discrimination he experienced as a Mormon to homophobia. 1 am disgusted/sick/tired/outraged to wit ness the gay community honoring him. (That’s right—the conservative, richest turncoat national gay organization known as the Human Rights Campaign gave an award to Gordy at its latest affair in Portland!!!) As if that wasn’t nauseating enough, I got to hear the praises of Smith in a Just Out article [“Progress Report,” Feb. 2J. Let me be blunt: Gordon Smith is a conser vative (forget the “compassionate”), no doubt being groomed as I write this for further fame and political fortune as a darling of this current republication dynasty. (I just read he already has raised $1 million for his next campaign.) He is reactionary, anti-labor, anti-union, anti-femi nist, anti-affirmative action and anti-environ mentalist. (Need 1 add more?) The fact that I feel the need to point this out is astounding to me. I do not trust Smith’s poli tics, his sincerity or his principles. I never would see him as an ally to the lesbian, gay, bi and trans community and hope like hell he gets voted out of office. Gay community: Pay attention to who you consider an ally. If Smith authentically is having a change of heart, then I’ll wait for his other right-wing, conservative views to transform before I consider him a brother in the fight for justice, freedom and dignity for all people. W endy J udith C utler et” attitude in other minority groups and within females across the board, but I really did not think this sort of behavior went on, except for the rare fluke, in the nonstraight world. The first step is to “come out of the closet,” so to speak, because from awareness comes knowledge and from knowledge comes action. My guess after reading this article several times is that the reason a lot of people are not talk ing about this issue is because they were vic tims and are dead. Clothing Sc Furniture Lane's J ohn B oynton House of Collectibles & Consignments Portland 2880 SE Gladstone St (503) 236-1712 Sold short M ultnomah C ounty H ealth D epartment 426 SW Stark. 6th Floor • (503) 988.3700 To the E ditor : eborah Betron says: “With every dollar you spend, you have a choice. Yet, over and over again, people call up just any old company with an ad in the paper, when instead you can call up somebody in the community” [“Sold on Success,” Feb. 16]. Bullshit! I called every Realtor in this com munity that 1 know of, and not one seemed the least bit interested in helping me find a property. Finally, I called one of the largest and best- known real estate companies in this area and got an excellent, professional Realtor who helped me find and sold me my dream property. J ames E. QrVr ^4- T uesdays Your fresh flower professionals JACKSON’S FLOWERS 3804 N. E. Sandy Blvd. Portland, OR 97232 (503) 282-0657 • 1 (800) 303-0657 notables Charlie Stiffler, 1983-2001 ni, ,w Our Hands P&BA wwwJacksonsFlowers.com Movc Hearts™ hithu Injured? ...Call me R corrections Portland • 91.7 CofüMbîa Gor^e Í00.7 Willamette Valley Independent Listener-Sponsored Community Radio S mith harlie Clifford Stiffler died Feb. 14. He s was 17. He was bom June 13, 1983, in Bend, where Politics as usual? he attended Mountain View High School. He To the E ditor : was active in the Environmentalist Club, the upert Kinnard’s commentary put into band and a parent/student debate team. He also words many of the thoughts 1 have had was involved in the arts and loved horseback during the past several years [“Don’t Be Bam riding and dogs. boozled,” Feb. 16]. “Political correctness” has He worked at the Job Corps Center in Trout become another way for those who just don’t dale from July to November 2000, then moved “get it” to dismiss and denigrate those on the to Portland, where he was a student at the receiving end of bigotry and oppression and/or Northwest Film Center. those who attempt to alleviate social ills in He is survived by his parents, Jordi (Carlson) ways small and big. and Cliff of Bend; sister, Capri of Bend; grand Longtime activist Grace Paley talks about parents, George and Dorothy Carlson of Spring the “arrogance of safety.” How easy it is for indi field and Roy and Bonnie Lahti of Springfield; viduals whose lives have been filled with and dog, Zipper. respect, opportunities and creature comforts to A memorial service was held Feb. 21 at First cross the line between innocent ignorance and Congregational Church. Final disposition was by cremation. Arrangements were by Omega self-deception. Unfortunately, too few voices are heard Funeral & Cremation Service. speaking the truth about serious issues in the Remembrances may be made to a scholar United States. To do so would challenge the ship fund in his name by writing to Bank of the comfort zone of too many people who think their Cascades, East Bend Branch, 2650 N.E. High lives are divorced from issues of poverty, afford way 20, Bend, OR 97701. able housing, health care and discrimination. It is, indeed, “trendy” to lack compassion about these issues. It would be great if more peo ple could remember, “There but for fortune go I.” The Feb. 16 article “Touched by a Latte” should have indicated Touchstone Coffee D onna C ohen House proprietor Becky Bilyeu leases the build Portland ing at 7631 N.E. Glisan St. Also, the hosts of open mike night now are Hope Suggit and Ajay. The closet opens * The Feb. 16 brief “Annual Sweethearts Ball To the E ditor : t the risk of being labeled either naive or in Sets Record” misidentified the Friends of People denial, 1 will say the recent expose of men with AIDS Foundation and Miss Sweetheart of Portland Chastity Frustration. Also, the amount tal, emotional, financial and physical abuse within the nonstraight community was both raised was $8,517.55. astonishing and unsettling [“The Second Clos Just Out regrets the errors. et." Feb. 2|. 1 have seen this “keep it in the clos 90«7 QUEER, Q o EER W0R¿t> • 9-'3O AM TWRSDAVS Ttf/s W av O ut • 6 pm Portland Portland A STD HIV testing He Proudly serving our (ommunily since 1989 in personal injury claims including: Intimidated by the typical jewelry stores? Now you have someone on your side. • Auto & Motorcyle Accidents Hala Gores, P.C. 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