COMMENTARY
F o u n d e d 1 9 8 3 • J ay B r o w n
Vol. 19 N o . 4
and
R enee L a C
hance
D ecem ber 2 1 , 2 0 0 1
FEATURE
2001 IN REVIEW; A look back at the faces, races
and cases that kicked off the 21st century
'2 6
NEWS
NORTHWEST • Gay priest fights for farmworkers;
sexual minority Republicans come out of the
closet; dine with Wild Abandon; trans campus
figure promotes multiculturalism
pp
7-19
NATIONAL • Gay teachers vindicated
pp 21-23
WORLD • Quebec gets civil unions
pp 24-25
CULTURE
ART • Sierra Lonepine Briano paints modem
goddesses, butch madonnas, witches and crones
P 37
CULTURE • Helping combat your ho-ho-hums
pp 38-39
PEOPLE • Who knew the jolly guy was gay?
p41
CULTURE • The year in entertainment
P 43
DIVERSIONS • Don’t miss Vagina Monologues ;
Queen Edie visits her kingdom; the birth of Venus
p 44
CULTURE • Some marvelous suggestions to get
you outta the house this New Year’s Eve
P 47
FILM • 2001: A Queer Odyssey
p 49
COLUMNS
MS. BEHAVIOR • A sexual harassment case
waiting to happen
by
M a r t y D a v is
Joy to the world
Spirit of the season can be found in community events
A
s the holiday season kicks into high gear and the year
winds down to its battered conclusion, many if not most
of us will find ourselves pausing to reflect upon the past
and anticipate the future.
2001 is a year that will not soon be forgotten.
Although the national crisis will continue to dominate the news, people
who live in the Pacific Northwest face problems uniquely our own. 2001
ends with Oregon laying claim to the dismal distinction of not only
posting the highest unemployment rate in the United States hut also
the highest documented rate of hunger.
It is sadly and understandably easy to he pulled down by the weight
of burdensome news and the situations in which we find ourselves.
However, for a moment, albeit perhaps a brief one, let’s focus on the
bright and positive holiday events our community has presented to the
world. This past week alone, the dance floors and concert halls were
filled with the fun and frivolity of the season.
Granted, along with these light moments came the highly unsurpris
ing announcement that, yes, the Human Rights Campaign is endorsing
Republican U.S. Sen. Gordon Smith for re-election. Is this a coal in our
stocking, or is it more like getting underwear for Christmas— a gift not
really wanted hut begrudgingly accepted as practical and useful.7 The
new year will find Just Out presenting all of the information necessary to
help you decide whether to keep the practical gift or exchange it for
something that ultimately will he of better value.
f you never have spent a holiday season with the Portland Gay Men’s
Chorus, you must make immediate plans to do so next year. With each
passing presentation they become better and better.
The men are more handsome, the tuxes more stylish, and Boh Merisel
becomes more and more adorable. And although adorable is certainly
important, let it he also noted that Ray Elliott has the cutest butt.
The sight of this assembly, in all their seasonal finery, solemnly per
forming the Macarena is not to he missed. I hereby make a motion that
the chorus bylaws he revised to mandate that this choreographic master
piece be included in all future holiday concerts. Second, anyone? This
could become Portland’s own version of A Charlie Broun Christmas.
Bobs, butts and Macarenas aside, tmst me, any concert that includes a
performance hy Portland’s own treasure Diane Cyrcle is not to he missed.
This woman is absolutely extraordinary, and oh, yes, she sings nicely, too.
I
A
nother activity that is fortunately ongoing throughout the year but
becomes more festive at this time are the country dances sponsored
by the Rosetown Ramblers and DJ Crystal. They are held Saturday nights
and usually are noted in our calendar.
Now 1 myself will be taking to the dance floor at about the same time as
I’m awarded my first Pulitzer Prize for writing, but even those of us whose
feet don’t function in public can appreciate the music, friendliness and
good energy prevalent at these events. You really ought to check them out.
B
ecause it’s been bugging me for several days, I now feel compelled to
share with you my thoughts about the recent Portland appearance of
Margaret Cho. I’ll be curious to see who agrees with me.
I’d seen her last show and enjoyed it very much; I recall being
touched hy the way she wove personal pain and intimate memories
together to create a masterpiece of comedy. This most recent show,
however, lacked the brilliance of the early work and instead played to
the lowest common denominator of tawdry raunch.
Now I know that for political commentary you go see Kate C lin
ton, for social satire there’s Suzanne Westenhoefer, and clearly now
for mindless sexual drivel we have Margaret Cho. It’s frustrating
because she obviously is playing to a largely gay and lesbian audi
ence, and if her dumbed-down act featuring colonics, fisting, men
struation and overly scripted, slick, oddly timed patriotism is her
expectation of what we’ll consider entertainment, then I think we’ve
been underestimated. C h o can do better than that, and we should
expect better.
A
nd as the season nears its finale, the staff of Just Out wishes each of
you finds some harmony and happiness as this year ends and the
next one starts. 2002 will he another year of challenges and changes. In
Oregon we’ll elect a governor and a U .S. senator and possibly face yet
another odious Oregon Citizens Alliance-sponsored ballot measure.
Nationally, work will continue in maintaining and building civil rights
for all.
Individually, don’t forget to take time to evaluate your own personal
goals and expectations. Make them reasonable; make them count. Me,
I’m going to take time for a hobby and in 2002 start collecting some
thing besides parking tickets.
Best wishes to you all, and a very happy new year. J H
p 35
THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO MARC • Obsessing
over fictional housekeepers
p 50
SPECIAL
NIGHTSPOTS • Gay -friendly hangouts
p 42
EATING OUT • Let someone else cook tonight
pp 45-46
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