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About Just out. (Portland, OR) 1983-2013 | View Entire Issue (March 16, 2001)
arch i l 2001 22 Take Me to the River the Columbia Qorge P hotos A ll of this quietly has transformed a once- conservative rural region focused on apples and timber into a sort of hub of open-minded ness—and a friendly place for gays and lesbians so rare in the rural United States. Pollination anxiety? The doctors ara O dgp . for IN* the Season 16 March. H O G A N & SANDERSO N CISTUS DESIGN NURSERY II \ W l i l t I I I I \ \ I U>,\U M l \ l l h i \ \ h > 0 < (.11 .!.> < < I K I n \S It > M ' \ n G M> s 0 P Ü A om ß iin @ www.Dharma-Rain.Org Dharma Rain Zen Center is a Soto Zen Temple for Lay practice, bringing ive years ago, Amy Mann became complete ly obsessed with moving from southern Indi ana to the Pacific Northwest after she saw the Oregon coastline for the first time. But one major obstacle stood in the way: Her partner of 15 years, Jean Erb, needed to find a church will ing to allow her to continue her life’s work as a pastor. Mann and Erb had decided a few years ear lier that they weren’t willing to live in the clos et any longer. They had done that out of necessity before, but they were tired of living a double life. So if Erb was to become a pastor in the Northwest, everyone was going to know she and Mann loved one another. End of story. I f l l O /n SERVICES W ITH COUPON Sondi*s *1wo Wigs Dear L o y a l R e a d e r — and — fo r th e G L B T c o m m u n it y (tha t b e i n g u s, o f c o u r s e ) Delicate Touch Esthetics & Electrolysis Satldi’s <1100 'Wigs M-F 2pm-6pm TG-owned 6 operated • Wig Sales, Cleaning together to build community and wisdom through 6 Styling • Private appointm ents available practice. DRZC offers retreats, classes, intro outside of norm al operating hours ductory workshops, and sesshins. The Zendo 503 - 253-0657 Tibetan, & Zen traditions, creating Delicate Touch Esthetics & Electrolysis tunities for learning about Budd Hair removal by Electrolysis or Waxing Makeovers, Skin Care and Makeup Lessons Ear Piercing, Ear Candling Wax Removal hism and its daily application. For an appointm ent call 5 0 3 - 2 5 3 - 6 6 9 8 a unique atmosphere and oppor Kyogen and Gyokuko Cartson, resident teachers a v is went willingly but expected just to observe. To her surprise, the selection committee wanted to know all about her. Although the women weren’t going to keep their homosexuality a secret, Mann’s Jewish religion wasn’t something they were eager to reveal until people got to know them. But dur ing the interview, one of the committee mem bers asked whether she would be joining the church. Erb jumped in and answered for her partner. “She can’t,” she started off. As it turns out, the women were a hit dur ing the meeting, and not only did Erb get the job at the United Church of Christ in late 1998, they soon moved into the parsonage next door. Erb proudly says the 123-year-old church— which has 80 members, about 30 of whom show up every Sunday— is the only “open and affirming” congregation between Gresham and Walla Walla, Wash. The small hillside town of about 2,000, people space is shared with groups in the Vipassana, D for a Sunday drive and coffee, for bmnch at the Columbia River Gorge Hotel or to start a new life altogether, gays are starting to flock to the area. Zen C e n t e r 2539 SE Madison Portland, Oregon 97214 503-239-4846 Fax. 503-239-5217 E-mail. Staff@Dharma-Rain.Org arty Within a couple of years, a tiny congrega tion in White Salmon, Wash., just across the Columbia from Hood River, decided to call Erb in for an interview. The church needed a new pastor; she needed a new church. The church asked to meet with both women during the interview process. Mann F But the secret slowly is getting out. Some Oregon and Washington urbanites are trading their city bungalows and stressful commutes for digs in the Hood River area, five minutes from the nearest river launch. Others are keeping their urban homes and buying acreage to build a weekend getaway. Some arid M real estate in Washington sells for $1,000 an acre. There aren’t any bars, pubs or restaurants in the area exclusively serving the gay communi ty. Not yet, anyway. But the locals are welcoming gays and les bians like never before. In response, whether T he J ew and the G entile Continued from Page 1 by 10140 SE P in e St. P o rtla n d , OR V is it us a t sa n d l-w ig s.co m coupon md after S/IS/OI • one per customer y o u r fa v o rite b i- w e e k ly is t a k in g a n extra w e e k off. W e ’ll b e b a c k A p r i l 6, 2 0 0 1 . U n t il then... Don’t Be Lonely Check out Voice Personal Ads on page 10
