Just out., June 15, 2001, Page 35, Image 35

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34
FAMILY
PRID^x
Continued from Page 33
my life." Their relationship also allows him to
bring some of his own personal experience to
another issue Brother to Brother discusses: inter­
racial dating.
Herrera is coordinating the organization’s
involvement in this year’s Gay Pride parade.
Typical of his attitude, he’s quick to point out
that they’re looking for more people to march
and welcome absolutely anyone.
—RB
than the general population. “Deaths from pre­
ventable diseases are higher for African Ameri­
can men than any other group in the nation," he
says.
Herrera knew when he moved to Portland
from Houston four years ago that he wanted to
he involved in the African American gay com­
munity. He works both on the front lines and
behind the scenes doing not only the face-to-
face work but also sitting on various committees
for both the county and the state.
Herrera appears genuinely encouraged by the
progress and participation he observes in these
various organizations. “One thing I like about
being active in these boards and committees is
it’s really encouraging seeing all these people
coming around the table participating in collec­
tive sharing, all for the same cause, and it’s often
on a volunteer basis. That way, I can see the
commitment of other people, and they can see
mine as well."
As if he wasn’t busy enough, Herrera is also a
full-time student at Portland Community Col­
lege’s Cascade Campus, where he is majoring in
multicultural anthropology.
He lives with his partner, David Scott, who
owns Tonic Salon. He seems like he’s on a roll,
calling their time together “the best two years of
REGINA MOONEY
ollege professors sometimes seem inhu­
man. Do they really go to the bathroom?
What do they do hibernating behind
those office doors all day? As a timid freshman
at Reed College, I was not about to find out.
Then I got an invitation. As a member of the
student-run Queer Alliance, I was invited to a
party held by Regina Mooney, the college vice
president and the dean of student services.
What was she doing inviting me to a party?
She’s the one who hands out punishments. She
probably has a forked tongue and prefers to eat and introduce them to other queer students as
well as queer staff and faculty members.
her students deep-fried with a dab of ketchup.
After the party, I felt like a member of this
But college cafeteria fare had turned me into
a toothpick, and the party’s promise of tasty secret club. Now I say hello to those I met at the
appetizers made me hungry. I came up with a party. We all look out for each other.
Mooney does more than run the school and
plan: Grab some grub and sneak out of there.
I got to her house guarded by a phalanx of make herself an approachable, friendly resource
other flaming and dyke students who already for students. She also has helped them come out
knew Mooney. I tried to hide behind the deli­ of the closet and helped their parents come to
cious plate of lox I was devouring, but she found
terms with this.
“Sometimes parents think their gay kid can
me.
When she smiled, she didn’t have any fangs. never be normal,” Mooney told me. “They
We even began to talk. I learned that she’s a les­ think their daughters have to wear flannel shirts
bian and that she wanted to meet new students and drink lots of beer. I try to show them that a
C
gay person not only can lead a happy and ‘nor­
mal’ lifestyle but also can have a family and pro­
fessional job."
Mooney also makes herself available to stu­
dents—queer or straight—who just want to
drop in or seek advice. Her office door is almost
always propped open.
Mooney is the only woman and only homo­
sexual ever to hold her position at Reed. She
makes sure diversity issues are kept in the fore­
front and serves as a role model for the student
body.
“Educational institutions are traditionally
very conservative,” Mooney explains. “When I
started interviewing for positions, 1 made it clear
that they would have to accept that I’m gay or I
didn’t want their job.”
At Reed, Mooney’s sexuality has been wel­
comed and affirmed. “You realize how far it’s
come when it’s this normalized,” she says. “I
can even make inside gay jokes around my co­
workers.”
I ask Mooney why she does all this for the
students. “I want students to actualize their own
authenticity,” she explained. “I want them to be
their own particular self.” Then, after a pause,
Mooney adds, “And I haven’t met a particulari­
ty that scared me yet.”
—PZ
© KIMBER NELSON
hen Kimber Nelson was bom, the doctors
made a horrific mistake would not be dis­
covered for 20 years: The doctors
assigned him as female.
“At first, I was attracted to women and
thought I was just gay,” he says. “Then I started
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