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august 17.2001 » Just Mrt.5
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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
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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
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• • •
T
"Your Independent Insurance Agency"
• •
Portland
his is in reference to the question about “les-
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Has everyone forgotten the term “bisexual’’?
Julie Cypher was with Melissa Etheridge for near
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• • •
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R ick C aldwell
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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
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