COMMENTARY
by
M arty D avis
The IN publication for the OUT population
F ounded 1983 »J ay B rown
Vol. 18 No. 16
and
R enée L a C hance
June 15, 2001
FEATURE
FAMILY PRIDE: Pull up a chair as we gather ’round
the table to give thanks for our diverse community
P31
NEWS
NORTHWEST • Wine bar uncorks
pp 6-19
NATIONAL • Bush rejects Pride Month
pp 21-25
WORLD • Swazi queen says, “I love L.A.”
pp 26-29
ENTERTAINMENT
ROOKS • A long, sad story
p 45
FILM • Outside the celluloid closet
P 47
ART • Having an art attack
p 50
THEATER • Butches, femmes and felines
pp 51-53
ROOKS • Where no queer has gone before
pp 55
CULTURE • Photo contest winners get framed
pp 56-57
DIVERSIONS • Cakes, tiaras, fox trots and peacocks
pp 58-59
ROONS • Men in hats
p 61
COLUMNS
MS. REHAVIOR • Guess who’s coming to dinner?
p 35
OUT LOUD • Lesbian bed death gets euthanized
p 49
THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO MARC • Size matters
p 63
If you must march naked at least dress warmly
... it's been chilly lately
Publisher seeks to focus on finding the pride in Pride
he ides of June are upon us. Once again it’s the third week
end in the festive month, and with this comes my annual
opportunity to piss off the Lesbian Avengers.
T
This not-so-difficult-to-achieve task comes about via
the bold act of daring to express views and opinions con
trary to their own. The nerve of me—actually challenging those who
challenge everyone and everything else.
But as much as 1 hate to set tradition aside—I’m sorry, gang—I’m
just not into it this year. The whole concept has that “been there,
done that” feeling about it.
So, let’s save some time and energy. 1’11 go ahead and throw in the
requisite “fuck you, Marty Davis,” and now we can move on to new
and loftier aspirations.
Rather than incite the naked crowd, I feel like taking a calmer
approach this year—the higher road, if you will. I invite you to join me
in going out into the community during Pride Weekend in an effort to
seek out the people, ideas, energies and concepts that actually send or
reflect a message of pride to our city.
Some of these moments of pride I already can tell you about. For
example, our community should take pride in Don Hom and his work
at triangle productions! The company just won a Drammy, a Portland
area theater award, for best production of the 2000-2001 season for the
excellent musical I Love You, You're Perfect, Now Change. Considering
some of the powerful presentations put on by the likes of Portland
Center Stage and Artists Repertory Theater, one can see the accom
plishment in this honor.
Although this production no longer is playing, three performances
remain in the Summer Pride Series, and 1 encourage you to attend and
participate in gay and lesbian themed live theater. This will be far more
rewarding to you than any summer blockbuster movie ever could be.
1 think we also should take pride in the career momentum of Lynn
Frances Anderson. Being selected to sing at San Francisco and Atlanta
Pride is a really big deal, and we should celebrate, enjoy and do what
we can to encourage the continued success of this talented singer and
her equally great band.
Let’s put the celebration of achievement back into pride. And yes, 1
understand many more of us have successful careers and win awards
and accolades out of the public eye and probably never gamer public
kudos—to me, that is even more reason to rejoice in the visibility of
one of us who so publicly succeeds.
Let’s look at Sam Adams and David Lane and Frank Dixon and
appreciate the strong roles they play in local politics and policy and
decision making. Although we don’t have a bumper crop of gay
elected officials in office, we still have viable, intelligent members
of our community helping lead the way for progressive policy mak
ing and a city with strong leadership in civil rights. Let’s take pride
also in our straight political allies, such as the entire Multnomah
County Commission, and let’s remember to thank them for their
efforts.
Last year’s contentious election brought forth visibility to the next
generation of leaders. Kudos to the Emma Roods, the Victoria Conrads,
these amazing high school kids who form gay-straight alliances and
work with teachers and students to create positive environments most
of us never could have imagined during our adolescence.
We all have the opportunity to be proud of ourselves as we work and
give together to ensure the continued education and progress of these
students. Those of us who have “made it" owe it to those who came
before and those who come after to continue the work started by others.
We must give freely of our dollars to any or all of the scholarship
funds benefiting gay and lesbian youth. Together we can provide rea
sons for pride for years to come.
For every besotted beer-garden celebrant there will be a lesbian cou
ple celebrating 20 years of long-term commitment. For every thonged
and tanned float participant there will be marchers carrying the Gay,
Lesbian and Straight Education Network banner as well as teachers
and administrators who actually risk consequence for being seen in the
Pride parade. These are the people who realize the value of being hon
est to themselves and of setting strong, positive examples so the
Emmas and Victorias can envision positive futures.
Risking your career is a true act of pride and conscience. Taking off
your shirt is, well, I wasn’t going to go there, was I?
So, what makes you feel proud this year? Who do you look up to
and admire?
What makes you feel good about who you are? What would you
like to be different—which direction or path would you like to see fol
lowed more closely?
Share your thoughts with us at www.justout.com, and we’ll pass
them on to the rest of our readers. Also, please check out our survey on
Page 73 and let us know what direction you’d like to see Just Out take.
Even better, stop by our booth at Portland Pride and fill one out.
We look forward to talking with you. JH
June has five Fridays, so the next issue of Just Out won’t
hit the streets until July 6 —an interval of three weeks rather than two.
PLEASE NOTE:
SPECIAL
JUST FRIENDS • Free voice personal ads
p 64
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