Just nn
august 17.2001 *
COMMENTARY
by
M a r t y D a v is
1 0 The IN publication for the OUT population
pop
F ounded 1983 • J ay B rown
and
R enée L a C hance
Vol. 18 N o . 2 0
A u g u st 17, 2 0 0 1
FEATURE
HOORAY FOR HOLLYWOOD! Former Oregonians
make it big in Tinseltown
p 24
N E WS
NORTHWEST • Cascade AIDS Project launches
employment assistance program
pp 7-19
NATIONAL • Hate violence escalates across
the country
pp 20-21
WORLD • Gay flight attendant wins U.K.
Bif; Brother
pp 22-23
ENTERTAINMENT
THEATER • Posture Queen for a day
p 34
CULTURE • Klub Z welcomes all ages
and orientations
p 35
FILM • Sex, drugs and boarding school girls
p 37
DIVERSIONS • Clear your throat
P 41
THEATER • Ashland goes gay
pp 42-43
ROOKS • Homos love dogs
p 44
COLUMNS
MS. RENAVIOR • You can’t teach a new trick
old dogs
p 33
THE EOSPEL ACCORDINE TO MARC • Why aren’t
gay icons gay?
p 45
SPECIAL
Caught in the cross fire
Be selective about where you spend your money
«
I
A
S he 2001 Portland Fire season has ended, not with a hang
hut with the whimper that accompanies a 10-game losing
streak.
This is not the type of record that franchise marketing
teams dream about. It will he interesting, then, to see if any
fan erosion occurs during the off season and if the Fire and Trail Blazer
management chixises next season to acknowledge an important segment
of their fan base: the everywhere-yet-invisible lesbian ticket buyer.
Both the Oregonian and the Portland Tribune have written stories recent
ly about the WNBA and how some of the teams have been more open
than others in acknowledging the lesbian segment of their fan base. The
Los Angeles Sparks specifically are noted for their hold visit to a Southern
California lesbian bar, where they schmcxized with current and future fans.
In Portland, no Fire road trips were taken to the Egyptian Club. Fire man
agement did, however, note in both newspaper arti
cles that they reached out to the lesbian market hy
purchasing ads in Just Out. During this past season
the team purchased a grand total of two ads. Sepa
rate from my role as owner of Just Out, as a season
ticket holder I do not feel “reached out to.”
Realizing that sitting and waiting is not a
winning strategy in either business or sports I
will, at the start of the next season, take a more proactive role in
approaching Fire management and suggesting ways that we might work
together on promoting the team to Just Out readers. Their response will
he an indicator of their sincerity in showing appreciation for all of their
fans. Even the lesbians.
Distributors, along with advertisers
and readers, are key to the ongoing
success of this and all other
alternative and free papers
ne of the most important aspects of my job is the responsibility to
maintain and increase distribution of Just Out. Distribution is
never a constant. As soon as we add one or two new drop points, others
close or change policies and drop off the routes.
As chains take over the suburbs and independent coffee shops and
bookstores give up the fight, fewer and fewer distribution points
remain available. Distributors, along with advertisers and readers, are
key to the ongoing success of this and all other alternative and free
papers.
We depend upon the goodwill of business owners granting us free
access to their space, for which they pay rent, so this paper can he avail
able to you. In return, I ask that you show your appreciation and support
by shopping at the places that carry Just Out.
The flip side of this coin is that now and then we run across a situa
tion in which Just Out is not welcomed by a merchant. This also should
be a consideration to you when you spend your hard-earned dollars.
REFLECTIONS
EATING OUT • Let someone else cook tonight
pp
Now I’ll he the first to admit that everyone has the right to refuse to
carry free papers. We ask, they say no, we say thanks and move on to
the next place.
Except, 1 also cheerfully will admit to having a problem with places
that carry free papers hut specifically exclude Just Out. Again, if they are
not comfortable with a gay and lesbian newspaper, well, so he it. How
ever, neither will I he comfortable in handing over my money to a busi
ness that discriminates against gay men and lesbians hy excluding the
publication that represents them.
Excluding one specific publication is discrimination. In this scenario
it is no longer a question of space or neatness or policy. Its exclusion.
Most recently this appears to he the case at Macheezmo Mouse
restaurants. For years we’ve been allowed space at their free-standing
stores, and for this we thank them.
Recently, however, we’ve noticed that the
papers were disappearing as soon as they were left
by the driver. A conversation with the manager
of the Holladay Market store indicated certain
free papers were allowed at that location hut that
Just Out was no longer welcome.
Now why would a business that for years has
been stmggling financially so willfully disenfran
chise a large segment of their customer base? 1 can’t tell you their answer;
their director of operations won’t return calls.
I suggest if you get a hankering for healthy Mexican food you find a
source other than Macheezmo Mouse. Unless, of course, you want to
contribute to your own discrimination.
Taco Del Mar, another Mexican fast-food chain, does not allow Just
Out in its stores, either. Their explanation is that they only distribute
papers in which they advertise, and they only advertise in Willamette
Week. It’s not my favorite explanation, but it is an explanation nonethe
less. And they seem to hold to their policy; you don’t see other free
papers in their stores.
Sometime hack Starbucks got some free press by announcing it was
rescinding its “no free papers” policy in its 9 gazillion local stores. After
several phone calls and one meeting, the java giant tentatively agreed to
allow Just Out in five of its outlets. These plans never were finalized,
and Just Out is still not available in any local Starbucks.
You will find us, though, in virtually every independent coffee place
in the area. Please patronize these hard-working store owners. They
need and deserve your business, just as we need them.
5 years ago in
inally, it’s time for our summer vacation, so we’ll see you in three
weeks. Enjoy your Labor Day weekend. We’ll be back Sept. 7. JH
T T :.;V .
'
VOL.
13 NO. 19, AUGUST 2, 1996
38-39
JUST FRIENDS • Free voice personal ads
p 46
• Reports from the XI International Conference on
A ID S indicate H IV /A ID S is no longer an inevitably
fatal, incurable disease. New combinations of drug
therapies are holding out hope that HIV is manage
able and that people living with HIV have a future.
Ju st out is publish ed on the first an d third
Friday o f each m onth. Copyright © 2001 hy Just Out.
No p.irt of Just Ota may he reproduced without written per
mission from the publisher.
The su b m issio n o f w ritten an d grap h ic
m aterials is welcomed. Written material should he
typed and double-spaced. Just Out reserves the riyht 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 he limited to 200 words; photos are wel
come. Deadline for su b m issio n s to the editorial
department and for the C alendar is the Thursday 15 days
before- the next publication date. Views expressed in letters to
the ediror, columns anel features are not necessarily those of
the publisher.
The d isp lay ad vertisin g deadlin e is the Monday
12 days before the next publication date.
C lassified ad s must be received at the Just Out office
by 4 p m. on the Thursday eight days before the next publi
cation date, along with payment. Ads may be placed by tele
phone or via the Internet with Visa or MasterCard payment.
Ad policy: Just Out reserves the right to reject or edit
any advertisement. Compensation for errors in, or cancella
tion of, advertising will be made with credit toward future
advertising. Advertising rates are available upon request.
Subscriptions are $22.50 for 12 issue*. First Class (in
an envelope) is $40 for 12 issues.
Contact’ Just Out at P.O. Box 14400, Portland, OR
97295-0400; 505-2)6-1252, advertising 50)-2)6-l25). fax
505-2)6-1257; e-mail justout@justiHit.com. Visit our Inter
net site at www.justiHit.com.
Dignity Partners Inc., a San Francisco company
that buys life insurance policies from the terminally
at a discount, announced last month it intends to
stop purchasing policies from people with A ID S
because recently announced progress in treating
A ID S could make such purchases unprofitable.
• A report issued last month by Human Rights
W atch accuses the state of Georgia of racial dis
crimination, intolerance of gay men and lesbians,
undermining freedom of expression and political
abuses.
• Dance Center Seattle and Integrated Healing
are sponsoring a workshop to be held Aug. 23 to
25 titled “Men Touching Men,* which organizers say “will
help participants explore what blocks them from getting
the touch they want and allow them to practice methods
for making touch a more regular part of their lives.“
• Right to Privacy, O regon’s largest gay, lesbian and
bisexual rights organization, recently unveiled a new
project designed to provide volunteer support to candi
dates endorsed by the group. “I liken it to a volunteer
fire brigade." executive director Barry Pack explains.
• C ascad e A ID S Project w illplay host to Salsa-a-G o-G o
on Aug. 3 at Sauvie Island. This afternoon of festivities
of Northwest lesbians, bisexuals and gay men includes
door prizes, exotic food and dnnk, and hot contempo
rary and Latin dancing.
• Street Level, a live call-in current affairs talk show fea
turing gay and lesbian issues, will return to Portland
Cable A cce ss orWVug 6. Gregory Franklyn is the host.
PU81ISHER AND MANAGING EDITOR • Marty Davis
Rex Wockner
PRODUCTION DIRECTOR • Kevin M.xire
ENTERTAINMENT EDITOR • Oriana Green
ADVERTISING DIRECTOR • Meg Grace
PRODUCTION ASSISTANT • Melissa Sayler
COPY EDITOR • Jim Radosta
ADVERTISING REPRESENTATIVES • Markie Acevedo,
OFFICE MANAGER • Melissa Sayler
CONTRIBUTORS • Marc Acito, Erin Blackwell,
Larry Lewis
INTERN • Peter Zuckerman
Richard Bray, Meryl Cohn, Rose Green,
Michael Wayne Keck, Timothy Krause,
Christopher McQuain, Andy Simon,
NATIONAL ADVERTISING REPRESENTATIVE • Rivendell
DISTRIBUTION • Jerilyn Adams, Ed Carder,
Marketing Company Inc., 212-242-6863
ART DIRECTOR • Rupert Kinnard
Ian Drake, Rick Geiger, Kelly Keigwin,
Gaia Mather, Merid Schwartz