may 1 Z. 2002
r r r a /io u t
Continued from Page 5
instances involving other employees. The
administration listened and since has opened up
an investigation.
The next day, 1 was eating lunch and over
heard a few students sitting at the table behind
me discussing the case. 1 glanced around and saw
that these were the same wrestlers who facilitat
ed the rally. A few minutes later, one of them
brought up homosexuality.
1 assume the topic was spawned from an arti
cle he was reading. 1 honed in as they began to
take hits at the gay community minutes after
they preached principle.
What’s more, these were the same guys who,
a day earlier, were dispensing justice in front of
the entire campus. I sat and listened to these
wrestlers say “eew" and “gross” with shammed
shivers of disgust about homosexuality.
The specifics of what was said are irrelevant,
hut I was shocked that they were missing the
point of their pilgrimage. How can you climb a
mountain yet disregard the team members you
bury at the bottom?
So I am left wondering— and regretting—
why 1 didn’t turn around and call these guys
on their bigotry. I wouldn’t have pointed my
finger hut pointed out their impotent stand for
justice.
I choose my battles wisely, yet there a
handful o f moments in my life when 1 regret
not getting involved. Hopefully, this will he
the last one.
Was it my place to step in and say some
thing? Yes, I believe it’s my social responsibility
to challenge noisy ignorance.
Granted, they were having a conversation
among friends, and I don’t dispute that people
are free to not only feel whatever they want
but say what they want. However, when peo
ple put themselves out there as martyrs for jus
tice, then it becomes our liability to hold
them accountable.
These young students probably didn’t know
the blonde sitting behind them was not only lis
tening but also a lesbian. If they were going to
take a whack at the African American commu
nity, 1 am quite certain they would have looked
around the room before they spoke.
People with such antiquated ideology need
to be careful in what they stand up for. I’m not
asking them to fight our cause; I’m not asking
them to like me. I’m just asking for them to stop,
open their eyes and look around.
I keep reminding myself that they are young.
But is that really an excuse? It must he rough on
the knees to live in such a shallow pond.
Because I live in a society that is accepting of
my lifestyle, coming across these students
degrading my community didn’t poke holes in
my skin, forcing me into shame or dejection;
rather, I was astounded by their bigotry. If they
really want to stand for justice and righteous
ness, perhaps they should reconsider what the
words mean.
G ina D aggett
Portland
Honest to Goddess
Fetish Masquerade Ball, I only scanned through
the article to make sure all of my performers’ and
sponsors’ names were spelled correctly. Here are
the corrections:
Tushell Lieberman, owner of Bad Attitude
Boutique, had nothing to do with the Fetish
Masquerade Ball that took place Feb. 9 at Rose-
land Theater, nor did she have anything to do
with any other Fetish Masquerade Balls prior to
that. I also did not arrive here in 1994, as I have
been here for about 20 years, with the exception
of 1986 to 1988, when I was studying to be a
Dom in San Francisco, where I earned my title
“Goddess.”
I was never the creator of the Sextacy Ball. I
participated at that event and many other Fetish
Nights thereafter. I am, however, in no way the
creator of these events, nor was I paid for my
performances at any of the previously stated
events.
Fighting the Oregon Citizens Alliance was
just an idea that was tossed around at the first
Fetish Night meeting at Bad Attitude, which I
attended per Deacon X ’s request. I am not sure
why the part about the battle against the O C A
was published, as I had informed the inter
viewer that I was unsure as to the end result of
how the money was distributed and whether it
was used, in fact, to combat the O C A in the
long run.
G oddess S everina
Portland
I
Good w ork
To the E ditor :
just wanted to say a personal thank you for
your coverage o f G eo rgen a’s Journey
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$5 REGISTRATION
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JUNE 9 th , 2002
A T G A R R Y S M A L L SA A B
1940 SE 82nd Ave
Basic *<ght!
C° f f
he April 19 article “Community Found”
incorrectly stated that Seda Rhodes was
the only out queer participant in events spon
sored by Eugene’s Justice Not War. She was the
only out queer organizer of events, not the only
out queer participant.
Just Out regrets the error.
WANTED WOMEN
f
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correction
5 0 3 .2 8 8 .1 123
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Portland
WWW.FIVEDOLLARSOAPVHANDvJOB.COM
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To the E ditor :
would like to thank all of you again for the
generous coverage you afforded me and my
event [“Fetish, Anyone?” Feb. 1]. However, a
couple of things were taken out of context.
In my haste and busy schedule because of the
(“Saving G eorgena,” May 3].
Our first fund-raiser/dance May 4 was a
huge success, and I am certain much of the
awareness and support largely was prompted
by your story. It was helpful having all the
technical descriptions about multiple sclerosis
as a part of the article to help educate people
about the disease and its rapid progression in
Georgena’s case.
Caitlin Sm ith really did a great job, and 1
am appreciative to all of you at Just Out for
going the extra mile to obtain a wide repre
sentation of facts and opinions as considera
tion for compiling this factual yet heartfelt
human interest story. Our efforts will be
ongoing, and it is great knowing we are not
alone in our goals.
There was one minor mistake in the article.
We have to raise the money by September, not
June.
A truly amazing network o f community
efforts helps us all set our sights high and
makes the seem ingly impossible become
attainable over time. Keep up the good
work.
Son
N O O N -8 P M
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.
Millynn James
([\ f * f w t
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7A ’ir-
Associate Broker. GRI
ABR: Accredited Buyer's Representative
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