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About Just out. (Portland, OR) 1983-2013 | View Entire Issue (Jan. 18, 2002)
F ounded 1983 » J ay B rown Vol. 19 N o. 6 and R enee L a C hance Bush's benign neglect January 18, 2 0 0 2 FEATURE The president s nonactivist conservatism puts the gay agenda in a holding pattern WHEN INLY THE BEST WILL BO: Finding optimal ways to feed our furry friends n 1969, Daniel Patrick Moynihan, a Democrat but nevertheless a domestic policy aide to Republican President Richard Nixon, sug gested that with civil rights laws in place, the appropriate federal role toward African Americans was “benign neglect.” men and lesbians were plentiful in the Clinton administration, holding powerful jobs in the White House and in the Cabinet departments. Although President Bill Clinton stumbled on his attempt to allow gay people to serve in the military, after that, he rarely missed an oppor tunity to signal his solidarity with the nation’s gay population. He was Let racial issues recede from the political hot seat, he advised, the first president to speak at a Human Rights Campaign dinner. He while black citizens take advantage of their new opportunities. It didn’t made a recess appointment of James Hormel as ambassador to Luxem take long for civil rights leaders— who favored more active policies— to bourg to get around GOP homophobes in the Senate. denounce Moynihan, who then lost significant support among normally He gave the green light to the establishment of a major gay operation Democratic African American voters in his 1976 election to the Senate. at the Democratic National Committee and appeared before gay groups to After one year of George W. Bush in the White House, it is appro help fund it. His administration’s gay minions promoted pro-gay legislation priate to assess his attitude toward gay Americans. “Benign neglect” on Capitol Hill and made government rules work for gay people— such as sums it up very well. awarding small-business grants to gay community centers. Gone is the hostility to gay people that characterized So the Bush administration, suffering by comparison, On balance, the Reagan administration— although perhaps not Ronald gets a mixed review from the nation’s gay community. The Reagan himself, who was, after all, a veteran of Holly the Bush presidency president’s neglect of gay concerns certainly doesn’t push the wood— and the first Bush administration. No Christian envelope for our community. On the other hand, Bush does is a fa r cry from conservatives are lurking in the White House shadows exhibit a personal tolerance— indeed, even a warmth— making sure that funding proposals to combat AIDS are toward gay people that, coming from a conservative Repub its predecessor squelched or that the first lady removes the red ribbon on lican, only can have a positive effect on public opinion. her dress before she appears on national television. Whether this glass is half-full or nearly empty probably depends on On the contrary, President Bush appointed the first gay person to one’s political values. Those who see the federal government as having head the White House office on AIDS and an openly gay man to an an important role in helping move gay Americans from society’s side ambassadorship— only the second in history. His administration let stand lines to a position of full equality— and this includes most national gay the executive orders providing protections for gay federal employees. advocacy groups— only can feel disappointed, perhaps bitter, about the U.S. Attorney General John Ashcroft, a Christian fundamentalist Bush presidency. with a history of anti-gay politics, made nice with the Log Cabin Those who are inclined to see the government’s role as peripheral to Republicans. Bush just signed legislation allowing the District of the actual day-to-day lives of most gay people, and who essentially want Columbia to implement its domestic partners program. And the White a live-and-let-live relationship with straight America rather than a House has backed substantial funding for AIDS programs, albeit not as series of confrontations, probably find him to their liking, or at least tol much as some activists want. erable. This group likely includes the 25 percent of gay men and les Along with these positive signs, there has been a downside for gays bians who reportedly voted for Bush in 2000. in this administration. Bush declined to issue a Gay and Lesbian Pride He has three, perhaps seven, more years in his presidency. His non Month proclamation, is opposed to the Employment Nondiscrimination activist conservatism, benign or otherwise, isn’t going to move the gay Act and favors what some activists consider a weaker form of hate agenda forward. crimes legislation. On the other hand, if his heart is in the right place, he might yet His proposal giving federal funding to certain programs of church have an opportunity to place his administration more fully on the side groups would have allowed them to discriminate against gays. The Office of history with regard to gay people. If such an occasion does arise, let’s of Personnel Management did not include same-sex domestic partners in hope he acts on it with at least a portion of the fervor and effectiveness the federal employees’ long-term health insurance. And although sur he has brought to governing in post-Sept. 11 America. vivors of same-sex relationships can apply for benefits from the govern ment’s Victim Compensation Fund, established after the World Trade HASTINGS W yman publishes Southern Political Report, a nonpartisan Center and Pentagon tragedies, the regulations are not totally clear. biweekly newsletter. He can be reached at HWymanSPR@aol.com. JT 1 On balance, the Bush presidency is a far cry from its predecessor. Gay I R 22 NEWS NORTHWEST. Straight spouses build bridges; health educator honored » 7-15 NATIONAL • Gay man joins Massachusetts ticket; Bridgestone/Firestone under attack pp 1 7 - 1 9 WORLD • Saudi Arabians executed; Sir Nigel Hawthorne dies PP 2 0 - 2 1 CULTURE EROUPS • Just Out straps them on and hits the slopes P 33 FILM • Engage in voyeuristic fantasies with The Fluffer p 35 BOOHS • Tickle your funny bone p 37 THEATER • The Tracks swish into Portland p 39 DIVERSIONS • Alix Olson slams; new movie kills; Rose City Softball plays host to World Series; own the Queer as Folk hotties; SM YRC puts on a show; gay TV for you and me pp 4 0 - 4 1 COLUMNS MS. BEHAVIOR • Brake and in love; stolen vibrators! P 31 THE EOSPEL ACCORDINE TO MARC • Hairy, succinct, homo poet wanted p 42 SPECIAL extins i n • Let someone else cook tonight PP 3 2 . 3 4 NIERTSPBTS . Gay -friendly hangouts p REFLECTIONS s '~ I 41 JOST FRIENBS • Free voice personal ads P 43 Just out it published on the first and third Fri day of each month. Gipyright © 2002 by Just Out. N o part o f Just Out may he reproduced without written permission from the publisher. The submission of written and graphic materi als is welcomed. Written material should be typed and dou - . PHOTO BY fcUitTY DAVIS ble-spaced. Just Out reserves the njiht to edit for grammar, punc tuation, style, liability concerns and length. We will reject or edit articles or advertisements that are offensive, demeaning or may result in legal action. Letters to the editor shtxild be limited to 500 words. A n nouncements regarding life transitions (births, deaths, unions, etc.) should be limited to 200 words; photos are welcome Dead line for submissions in the editorial department and for the Calendar is the Thursday 15 days before the next publication date. 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Any person who takes more than one copy may be held liable for theft, including but not limited to civil damages and/or criminal pnwecutkm. Subscriptions are $22.50 for 12 issues. First Class (in an envelope) is $40 for 12 issues. C on tact Ju s t Out at P.O. Box 14400, Portland, O R 97293-0400; 505-2)6-1252, advertising 503-236-125), fax 503-236-1257; e-mail justoutfijustnut.com. Visit our Internet site at www.|ustout.com. ___ PUBLISHER AND MANAGING EDITOR • Marty Davis NEWS BUTOR • Jim Radosta CULTURE BUTOR • Lisa Bradshaw CONTRIBUTORS • Marc Acito, Meryl Cohn, Oriana Green, Gary M. 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