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About Just out. (Portland, OR) 1983-2013 | View Entire Issue (Aug. 17, 2001)
p^out lU Q t J ' J k august 17.2001 » Just Mrt.5 U Sam£-sex public displays of affection: Do they fill your heart with pride, m I think PD A s o f any type should be discreet, and not just am ong gays. I don’t appreciate seeing heteros deep-throating it in public. I have a 7-year-old daughter, and I don’t think she should have to be exposed to that. Hand-hold- ing and affectionate kisses in public don’t both er me, and it should be O K for gays and heteros. I usually gauge the environm ent around me before I decide to give a kiss. I also don’t want to offend people. I realize som e older people were not brought up with gay pride, and I consider it disrespectful not to take their feelings into account. W hy create a scene? K risti D avenport Portland D o same-sex public displays o f affection fill my heart with joy? O f course. My friend takes a moment, even when he doesn’t have a moment, to give me a snuggle/hug. A young man holds his friend in his arms while enjoying a boat ride at Disneyland. T he world gets to see the love, joy, confidence and support in these public displays o f affection. Two people openly enjoying each other? A bsolutely!!! R ich K ibbons Portland • • S imply put, I think public displays o f affec tion are h eartw arm in g. T o see love expressed between couples o f any age or gen der is great. I like it that m any gay and lesbian folks do not let social m ores keep them from being them selves. they’re best left at home? There is a limit, however, in my opin ion. There is a difference between being too publicly sexual and displaying affection. That is a standard I would hope even straight folks observe. But other than that, I think it is empowering! EVERY SINGLE BOOK OF GAY EROTICA ALWAYS IN STOCK! T he R ev . T ara L. W ilkins Boring • • • I love it! American culture, if there is one, has a strange relationship with love and sex. We see graphic depictions o f “sexuality” in every maga zine, television program, movie and billboard, yet there is some strange puritan leftover ethic that says, “Love and sex are bad!" 1 think it’s a nice reminder of what life is all about finding someone to love. Kiss on, my friends. displays o f a sexual nature. I think that type of involvement should be private. I look forward to the time when all o f our cities, towns and rural areas accept affection between same-sex couples just as they do for opposite-sex couples. T he experience o f being affectionate in public, as 1 experienced at Pride Northwest, should be experienced by everyone in our community freely. C heryl (A dero ) A llison E rin S exton Corvallis I have been on both sides o f this fence. I have been in short relationships (that I thought were going to be long ones), kissing and practi cally glued to the other person. W hen it was over, it seemed rather embarrassing to find that my hormones took control. But then again I have dated those who don’t show much affection in public, and 1 have friends who feel the same. If someone feels scared or uncomfortable about affection in public, you should respect their opinion or not spend time with them. A s the gay population becomes more acceptable to the general public, I hope someday one wouldn’t think to ask this question. A s for me, I am an affectionate person, and hiding who I am would be like going back in the closet. Been there, done that. I PHOTO BY JOCY like to see couples holding hands, hug ging and looking warmly into each other’s eyes in public It doesn’t matter whether they are same-sex or opposite- sex; if they are showing affection, I like it. I don’t think there is a need for public K ate C arney and J eannie L a F rance Portland Courage under fire lesbian readers but also the community at large. I am also aware your decision on this issue was not an easy one. Your courage in taking this ethical stance deserves to be acknowledged. Each year, an estimated 20,000 greyhounds are killed nationwide because they are no longer fast enough to turn a profit. Grey2K U S A is working with local advocates across the country to end the killing and cruelty associated with this industry. O n behalf o f our more than 5,000 volunteers and members nationwide, we commend you for your decision. C arey M. T heil To th e E ditor : Grey2K U S A President Somerville, M ass. I Thank you. Ju st Out am writing to com m end you for your recent decision to discontinue your advertising rela tionship with M ultnom ah Greyhound Park. As someone who spent more than 10 years liv ing in Portland, I am well aware o f your good rep utation in the community. Your publication has enriched not only the lives of countless gay and E P □ &El t is important for the world to see that I am in love and that it is good. Show ing the world I am happy to be with this wonderful woman dis pels the myth that queers are a lonely and sad group o f lost souls. I am proud to be in love and affectionate and am always delighted to see it in other same-sex couples. I r v ic n u D d r v e i A nnie B ullington SAFECO* Portland To th e E ditor : 1 really appreciate Just O ut providing informa tion and keeping our queer community up-to- date about Pride Northwest events. Many peo- Downtown Portland (503) 227-1771 www.epbb.com • • • I ’m just 17, and the sight of two men together in public makes me glad to be alive in a time when that is even possible. K eegan O ’C onnor NEXT ISSUE: Qay niche marketing: • • • T "Your Independent Insurance Agency" • • Portland his is in reference to the question about “les- bo temping,” the supposed phenomenon of straight women having relationships with lesbians. Has everyone forgotten the term “bisexual’’? Julie Cypher was with Melissa Etheridge for near ly a decade. What was ymir longest relationship? Auto, Home, Life & Business • • • Portland To th e E ditor : DOWNTOWN @ 9 2 7 SW OAK • 226-8141 Elliott, Powell, Baden & Baker, Inc. Portland R ick C aldwell Forget-me-not < © > Black. John Healy photographs black men like no one since Mapplethorpe. 4 stars! $43. ( S^dThe Queen is Dead. Two military chasers share bawdy notes, true stories, etc. $14.95. Bikini.com Boys. Surfers, beach bums, jocks on spring break— they're all here! $20. Does it signal growing acceptance by mainstream companies, or are they just seeing lavender dollar signs? Are we being supported, or are we being manipulated? Respond at www.justout.com. (Don’t forget to include your name, city and daytime telephone number.) ple have told me they learned a lot from the arti cle on our festival [“Pride Q & A ,” July 20). Well, thank you Marty Davis. Sh e is the one who suggested Tom Stevenson write the article because “people needed to know” what it takes to put our festival together. I realize we all sometimes take Just O ut for granted: It always will be there, always will keep us informed, always will support us. But that doesn’t just “happen.” It takes a lot o f love, effort and money. Just answering all the phone calls with ques- i tions about Pride and other events takes up a lot o f time. And you all do it so cheerfully! (A nd your help is really, really appreciated!!!) Portland Pride is truly a community event. N o single group or club or person can make it possible. I sincerely appreciate the ongoing help and sponsorship of Ju st Out. Thank you to all o f your wonderful staff! L inda K. W illiams Pride Northwest Festival Chairw om an Vacation Travel Planners (Formerly Downtown Travel Services) We Took You to New York for Gay Gam es IV -1994 We Took You to Amsterdam for Gay Gam es V -1998 Now: Let Us Take You to Sydney - Nov. 2002 GAY GAMES VI Call Rip For All Your Travel Needs: ( 503 ) 223-1100 • ( 800 ) 357-3194 email: eavtraveKniplanvacationtravel.com www.iPlanVacationTravel.com
