3
COMMENTARY
by
M arty D a m s
The IN publication for the OUT population
F ounded 1983 • J ay B rown
Vol. 19 N o . 3
and
R enee L a C hance
D ecem ber 7, 2 0 0 1
FEATURE
RED, WHITE ft BLUES: National crisis leaves gays
and lesbians feeling frustrated
P
24
NEWS
NORTHWEST • Meet Antoinette Laferriere,
businesswoman extraordinaire; Potter’s House
provides a home; holidays are difficult for
recovering alcoholics; Eugene man reflects on
years of activism
7-19
NATIONAL • President Bush keeps the faith;
lesbian activist murdered; trans Minnesotans
face bathroom battle
pp 20-21
WORLD • Cairo 52 verdicts handed down;
gay Canadian murdered; Russian duo make
Eminem seem like Elton John
pp 22-23
PP
ENTERTAINM ENT
GROUPS • Meet the nicest people on the planet
p 37
THEATER • Time trippin' with the Taffetas; gay
actor-collects crumbs of joy; fave fag hag is back
pp 39-43
DIVERSIONS • Gay television, a divine songstress
and holiday activities aplenty
p 44
COLUMNS
MS. BEHAVIOR • The question “do women have
girlfriends?” finally answered
p 35
LESRIAN COMMUNITY PROJECT • Regain a sense
of safety by building community
p 35
THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO MARC • A
compelling argument for queer military troops
p 46
Three days that never end..
Traumatic events make this a holiday season to remember
economic, legal and emotional issues being dealt with by members of
ec. 7, the publication date of this issue, is my friend
our own gay and lesbian community. I imagine these follow-ups will
Esther’s birthday. Because of the date’s historical signifi
continue for a long, long time.
cance, hers is about the only birthday— other than my
In some way or another all of us will feel the impact of terrorist
own, of course— I’m ever able to remember.
attacks this holiday season. Undoubtedly there will be fewer trips home
Now if 1 just could motivate myself to do something
to families and friends; surely there will be more people with money
about the happy event, once remembered, things would he just dandy.
woes, and many others will be troubled by what yet might lie ahead as
Until that time: Happy birthday, Esther, hope you had a great day.
the nation battles terrorist activities— and continues with war.
As a child growing up in rural northern California, Dec. 7 was a
momentous day in the newspapers, textbooks, classrooms and television
n a brighter note, let’s consider the potential positive implications of
news. It was the significant day to remember in terms of political history.
the season. We all have borne witness to the powerful, awesome and
I was far too young to understand what really had happened in 1941,
sudden
way life can be affected.
but there’s no doubt the date forever was etched in my mind.
Would it not seem, then, this should be the holiday season to set
A s a teen-ager, a second black day joined this eventual trinity of
aside old wounds and let go? If ever there was to be a time to be the
horrific dates: Nov. 22, 1963. It’s what now, almost 40 years since
best we can be, now is it.
that awful day?
Brazened by this uncharacteristic and highly
U ntil recently, of course, this was the monu
naive concept, I now throw caution to the wind
mental memory of many lifetimes. Yet it wasn’t
This year,
and admit to taking exception to the “Clog the
until I sat down to start writing this column that 1
memories o f Nov. 2 2
Kettles” campaign being promoted by Basic Rights
realized Nov. 22 came and went this year with lit
Oregon
and other activist organizations across the
tle or no notice.
were yet another casualty
country.
Nowhere did I read, “On this date in Dallas,
o f Sept. 11
1 respect the situation with the Salvation Army.
Texas, a lone gunm an....” No radio announcer
I appreciate the problem. I understand the desire to
intoned, “38 years ago today, tragedy struck the Unit
create change. I admire the motivation behind the plan.
ed States....” This year, memories of Nov. 22 were yet another casualty
That said, I don’t agree with it. Simply put, it’s not the time.
of Sept. 11.
Creating adversaries is not going to gamer domestic partner benefits
Maybe because I’m older now, maybe because I’m more cynical,
for anyone. This plan does not fit the season, the mood of the nation
maybe because youthful memories have more lasting impact— what
and the spirit that all should be striving for at this time.
ever the reason— so far I don’t seem to have been as personally
It’s mean-spirited and does not reflect well upon who we are. The
moved hy the events o f Sept. 11 as I was by the assassination of Presi
losers
in this battle will be the cold, the hungry and the downtrodden.
dent John F. Kennedy. That day— when one death brought a nation
Depositing fake dollars at a time when so many are hurting and
to its knees— still carries the weight of Sept. 11 with its tremendous
needy is not going to win converts in the battle for civil rights. If
thousands of deaths.
you feel the need to make a political statement, donate a real dollar
I’m not sure why this all is coming to mind now. The holiday sea
with a note attached indicating this money was given in the spirit of
son can do that— bring hack memories and create nostalgia. I only
sharing hy a caring individual who also happens to he gay, lesbian,
can begin to wonder at the emotional upheaval being felt hy the
hi or trans.
thousands of survivors and families of those lost and touched hy
It’s not always about us, and combat is not the only way to win wars.
Sept. 11.
Let’s show our good side this holiday season. Give as generously as you
The trauma is going to be with us for a long, long time. In this issue
can of your money, your time and your positive gay energy. JH1
of Just Out we bring to you an overview of the longer-range impact of
O
fust o
SPECIAL
• Banks in C hicago are learning gay m en and
lesbians are a force to be reckoned w ith. A fte r a
m eeting w ith “G ay $ ” backers, tw o banks w ith
branches in neighborhoods containing large gay
populations agreed to recirculate currency
stam ped w ith “G ay $ ." The banks had sorted
out the stam ped currency because ft w as
“m u tilated.”
EATING OUT • Let someone else cook tonight
pp 40, 42
NIGHTSPOTS • Gay-friendly hangouts
p 43
JUST FRIENDS • Free voice personal ads
pp 46-47
t
• D rew Davis and G ordon Shadbum e, funda
m entalist politicos and hom ophobes, now have
som ething else in com m on. N either man w as
able to convince voters he deserves to be
returned to public office. Both candidates
cam e in fourth in their respective races.
It published on the first and third PH'
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2001 hy Just Out. N o part
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BVTHnAINM BVT EDITOR • Oriana Green
NEW S a i m • Jim Radosta
CONTRIBUTORS • Marc Acito, Kronda Adair,
Kristan Aspen, Lisa Bradshaw, MerylCohn,
Susan Detroy, Heron, Sarah Leimert,
Andy Mangels, Christopher McQuain,
VO L.
4 N O . 2 , NOVEM BER 1986
takes place D e c. 6 at N o rth w est S ervice C enter.
Talented lesbiansvvill band to g eth er fo r an evening
o f fun and bring art. m usic, com edy, th e a te r and
satire to the com m unity.
• Phoenix Rising presents S ta r W atch on D e c . 14
at D arcelle XV. The variety show w ill be studded
w ith stars: th e Fallen A ngel C hoir, th e M ich ael Allen
Harrison Trio, Lady Elaine P eacock. J o e A nderson,
Joan Larson, K eira O 'H a ra , Tim Bow m an and a spe
cial surprise guest.
• Barb S u ssex and veteran P ro ject L U C K vo lu n teer
Pat Lynch w ill outline som e o f th e unique service
needs o f gay and lesbian s tre e t youth D ec. 16.
• In case you haven’t heard, Portland's first
lesbian conference Nov. 8 and 9 w as a phe
nomenal success. N early 6 0 0 lesbians gath
ered together for a w eekend of speeches,
workshops and proposal sessions.
• The Snow ball D an ce is D ec. 2 1 . C e le b ra te happy
holidays. W in te r S o lstice, H anukkah and C hristm as
w ith this b en efit fo r th e Lesbian Aging P roject. S e e
the Lesbian V irgin M a n g e r S c en e, sit on
Hanukkah s lap and tell h er your d ee p est desires.
• In an effort to further reduce risk o f A ID S
transm ission through the blood supply, the
U S . Food and Drug Adm inistration last
month issued new recom m endations
expanding the list o f those who should not
include blood to include prostitutes and
their heterosexual custom ers.
• H elp M etro p o litan C om m unity C hurch raise the
$ 5 0 .0 0 0 needed to m eet th e final balloon paym ent
and to resto re th e building. M C C . th e only church
building in th e s ta te o f O regon to be d e fe a te d by
an in-office presiden t, serves as a ce n te r fo r hum an
rights and religious freedom . W e invite you to help
M C C in our end eavor to m ake this historic land
m ark the first lesb ian /g ay-o w n ed p roperty in the
com m unity.
• The Lesbian V ariety Hour, benefiting Lesbians
W ishing W elcom e and W om en M usicians N etw ork,
BNTIM • Marty Davis
wm
Kelly Reilly, Tom Stevenson, Lynn Thomas,
Rex Wockner
ADVERTISING DIRECTOR • Meg Grace
ADVERTISING REPRESENTATIVES • Markie Acevedo,
Larry Lewis
NATIONAL ADVERTISING REPRESENTATIVE • Rivendell
Marketing Company Inc., 212-242-6863
I • Kevin Moore
I ASSISTANT ».Melissa Saylor
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OISTRIIUTHM • Ian Drake, Kelly Keigwin,
Bonita Mattinson, Becky Sawyer,
Merid Schwartz, Melissa Weigand,
Carla Wright, John Yoakum