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About Just out. (Portland, OR) 1983-2013 | View Entire Issue (Oct. 5, 2001)
October 5 .2 0 0 1 » COMMENTARY by M a r t y D a v is The IN publication for the OUT population F ounded 1983 • J ay B rown V o l. 18 N o . 2 3 and R enee L a C hance O c t o b e r 5, 2 0 0 1 FEATURE SEE THE LIGHT: A users guide to National Coming Out Day P 24 NEWS. NORTHWEST • G ay gun club promoted; Lon Mabon claims Oregon judges are impostors; Rally Against Hate remembers slain trans woman; H IV expanded reporting in effect; A ID SW alk 2(X)I sets record; former prisoner turns his life around; the Lovely Suzanne shares the secrets of her success; old law keeps lesbian from running for Legislature pp 8 - 1 7 NATIONAL • Offensive cartoon pokes fun at gays in the military; District of Colum bia domestic partner benefits attacked; terrorism stalls gay agenda in Washington pp 1 8 - 1 9 , 2 3 WORLD • New U .S. ambassador to Romania is an openly gay man; Elton John clips his wings; contestant on Big Brother is a sister PP 2 0 - 2 1 ENTERTAINM ENT SP0RT8 • G ay volleyball, anyone? P 35 FILM • Three new flicks for the fellas pp 3 6 - 3 7 ROOKS • Make a date with We’Moon p 39 COLTURE • Do lesbians practice too much fat acceptance?; one woman’s solution to a big problem pp 4 0 - 4 1 MUSIC - 13 -year-old singing lesbian phenom p 43 DIVERSIONS • Have your photo taken wearing M iss Am erica’s crown; bang a really big drum; trippin' out to Bend p 45 COLUMNS A bittersweet celebration National Coming Out Day 2001 is a time for reflection and mourning n this issue of Just Out we celebrate National Coming Out Day. With Oct. 11 marking the one-month anniversary of the tragic events of Sept. 11 many, if not all, events will he shaded in remembrance and sadness for the destruction and loss of that day. It is important, however, not to let the significance of National Coming Out Day become lost in the greater scope of our mourning pro cess. As we now are hearing repeatedly from our leaders and icons, “Life does go on,” and in that spirit I encourage everyone at least to pause Oct. 11 and consider where you are in your life. If one lesson can he learned from Sept. 11, it should he that life is fleeting and that none of us controls when and where it ends. And if you are not where you want to he in your life, if you are not the person you know you could or should be, how and what can you do to imple ment changes to make your life more meaningful and in step with your inner needs? If National Coming Out Day is no longer a celebration for you, at least make it a moment of reflection. If all is well with you, then be thank ful— be very thankful. Consider those who helped you on your way. Was there a mentor, a guide, a role model? Was there someone who gave a hand and helped you through the rough spots? Is it now your turn to offer a hand to someone else? Acceptance for gay men and lesbians has improved dramatically during the past few years while our bi and trans friends and allies still strug gle to find their place. We have not all yet arrived at the end of the rainbow. We have companies offering domestic partner benefits, we have Will & Grace and Queer as Folk, we have civil unions in Vermont, and we have our own little pieces of cities. We also have large populations of street youth, we have harassment and abuse, and we have a trans woman being murdered in Washington County. We need to a have a day to affirm who we are, and so it was with some disappointment that I learned the Human Rights Campaign has chosen not to have a formal gathering this year. Although I can under stand somewhat the thought process behind this decision, I would rather have seen the positive affirmation of gay, lesbian, bi and trans people coming together across the nation in a celebration of unity, sup port and, yes, grief and mourning for the losses of Sept. 11. The following is a statement from HRC. Fortunately, or perhaps unfortunately, the organization never has sponsored National Coming Out Day events in Oregon, so none of the activities scheduled in our D ear F riends : As National Coming Out Day approaches, so does the one-month anniversary of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks on our country. In light of this, the Human Rights Campaign’s National Coming Out Project will not he holding a national event. Instead, we encourage you to mark these coinciding anniversaries in the manner that feels most comfort able to you and your community. National Coming Out Day provides an opportunity to show America that gay, lesbian, bisexual and trans gender people are a part of the fabric of this country— and in the days following the attacks, America was reminded of that fact. From Mark Bingham, the brave rugby player, to co-pilot David Charlebois to the countless unnamed G LB T firefighters, police and rescue workers— this country was shown an accurate slice of society, one inclusive of all Americans. In the last month, people across the country have stood together and shown the world that Americans of all backgrounds can stand united in support of the women and men who died. When you celebrate National Coming Out Day, take time to honor and assist those G LB T Americans who have been affected by the terrorist attacks. Observe a moment of silence, fly Old Glory, and collect donations for relief efforts. Although we may never remember the 11th of any month without thinking of the atrocities of this past September, it is vital also to remem ber the importance of being honest about who we are and whom we love. Next week, when you observe National Coming Out Day, remem ber the fallen heroes and their families. And take pride in being out— whether you’re gay, lesbian, bisexual or transgender or just an American who truly believes in the shining ideal of equality and justice for all. Consider those who helped you on your way. Was there a mentor, a guide, a role model? V/as there someone who gave a hand and helped you through the rough spots? Is it now your turn to offer a hand to someone else? M S. SEHAVIOR • Sticky issues with money p 33 area are affected hy this decision. 1 encourage you to go out, be out and celebrate yourself Oct. 11. C andace G ingrich HRC National Coming Out Project Manager So, here at Just Out we welcome you to “come out” and celebrate the life that is waiting for you. There are adventures and, yes, challenges and difficult times ahead— hut also support and friendship and the knowledge that you are taking the necessary steps to make your life be the one that it should. Life is fleeting. Live a good one. J H 5_years ago in . vou 13 no * 23, O ctober 4,1996 THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO MARC • Acito ties a blue ribbon around his package • Florida officials confirm ed Sep t. 19 that a confidential list of the nam es of nearly 4 ,0 0 0 HIV-positive S t. Petersburg-area residents w as acquired illegally from a county health departm ent office and mailed to the Tampa Tribune. State law requires doctors to report the nam es of those who test positive in order to track the spread of the d isease. p 46 ju s t o u t is pu b lish ed on the first an d th ird F ri d a y o f each m onth. Copyrichi © 2001 hy Jus i Out. N o pun ol Just Out nuiy he reproduced without written permission from the publisher. The su b m issio n o f w ritten an d grap h ic m ateri a ls is w elcom ed. Written material should he typed and dou- hle-spuced. J im ( hit reserves the riyht to edit for yrammar, punc tuation, style, liability concerns and length. We will reject or eel it articles or advertisements that are offensive, demeaning or may result in leyal action. Letters to the ed ito r should he limited to 500 words. A n nouncements retrardini; lile transitions (births, deaths, unions, etc.) should he limited to 200 words; photos are welcome. Dead line for su b m issio n s to the editorial department and for the C alen d ar IS the Thursday 15 days before the next publication date. Views expressed in letters to the editor, columns anil features are not necessarily those of the publisher. The d isp la y ad v e rtisin g d ead lin e is the Monday 12 days before the next publication slate. C lassified a d s must be received at the Just Out office by 4 p.m. on the Thursday ei^ht slays before the next publication date, alonn with payment. Ash may be placed by telephone or via the Internet with Visa or MasterCard payment. Ad policy: Just Out reserves the rieht to reject or edit any aslvertisement. Compensation for emirs in, or cancellation of, advertising will be masle with credit toward future advertising Advertising rates ate available upon request. D istribution policy: lust (Yut is available free of charge, one copy per person. Just Out is slelivered only to authorized slistrihu- tors. No person may, without prior written permission from Just Out, take more than one copy. Any person who takes more than one copy may be hekl liable for theft, including but not limited to civil slamat’vs and/or criminal pnMention. Su b scriptio n s are $22.50 for 12 issues. First Class (in an envelope) is $40 for 12 issues. C on tact Just Out at P.O. Box 14400, Portland, O R 97295-0400; 505-2)6-1252, advertising 505-2)6-1253, fax 50)- 2)6-1257; e-mail jiBtixitfijustout.com. Visit our Internet site at www.justnut.com. lirrors IR it ' A l • America Online recently announced the launch of PlanetOut. an interactive resource for gay men and lesbians. Along with AOL's G ay and Lesbian Community Forum, the new service caters to the social, entertainment, educational and political interests of queer Net surfers. lln.lt mMn 1 , it I f ' L ] n «S.» *-* «• h iu * *-■ -***? j i t .*«*■' — PUBLISHER AND MANAGING B H T S R • Marty Davis ENTERTAINMENT EDITOR • Oriana Green NEWS B N T 0 R • Jim Radosta CONTRIBUTORS • Marc Acito, Richard Bray, Meryl Cohn, Susan Detroy, Gigi Gordon, Heron, Heather Hybarger, Rebecca Kenney, Sarah Leimert, Paula Martinac, Christopher McQuain, Boh Roehr, • In a move favoring the traditional family. California Gov. Pete W ilson has acted to prevent unmarried couples from adopting children. He is pressuring social service agencies to recommend courts deny requests for adoptions involving unmarried couples. Tom Stevenson, Rex Wockner ADVERTISING M R E C T M • Meg Grace ABVBmSMC REPRESENTATIVES • Markie Acevedo, Larry Lewis NATNNAL ADVERTISING REPRESENTATIVE • Rivendell Marketing Company Inc., 212-242-6863 P M N K T N N M R E C T M • Kevin Moore • President Clinton put pen to paper at 12:50 a m. Sept. 21 to sign the D efen se of M arriage A ct. In doing so he com pleted the p ro cess of codifying into federal law for the first time this m ajor form of discrimination against lesbians and gay men. • Phoenix Rising and W estsid e Youth and Fam ily Services have combined efforts to launch a new mentorship program for sexual minority youth. • Bill C re w s, the openly gay m ayor of M elbourne, Iowa, is the featured sp eaker during an upcoming tour sponsored by Beyond the C lo se t, a njral-focused gay and lesbian organization based m Central O regon. • In order to reflect just how far gay men and lesbians have com e. Right to Privacy has changed its nam e to Right to Pride and touts a new slogan. “W orking for full equality in O regon.“ • State Rep. G eorge Eighm ey d iscu sse s the legislative history of the queer liberation m ovement O c t 9 a s part of Q ueer History Month at Oregon State University. • Melissa Sayler MANAGER • Melissa Sayler P M N C T N N A S S IS T A N T O FFIC E MSTMB9TNN • Jerilyn Adams, Ed Carder, Ian Drake, Rick Geiger, Julie Hanson, Kelly Keigwin, Cory McMillan, Merid Schwartz 3
