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Let’s stay on track
To the E ditor :
L
ike many of you, I read the Oregonian article
regarding Ted Kulongoski returning the
campaign contribution of a San Francisco-based
corporation involved in the gay adult video
industry.
Here is a critically important fact that wasn't
part of that (non)story: Throughout his decades
of public service, Ted Kulongoski has always
“been there" for gays and lesbians in Oregon—
and we can count on him to continue to be there.
Legally. Ethically. Morally. Politically. Without
question. Without fail!
The return of that political contribution was
not about Kulongoski turning his back on the
sexual minorities community. It was about end
ing the potential of turning this governor’s race
into a lengthy debate on adult videos— gay or
straight.
This race should be about much more than
adult entertainment. We can’t let ourselves be
sidetracked!
To me, the real question is: Who should be
our next governor— Kevin Mannix or Ted
Kulongoski? None of us who believe in fairness
and equality can afford to be spectators.
We’ve voiced our displeasure. We’ve vented
our anger. Now let’s refocus our energies and not
shoot ourselves in the foot.
Kulongoski or Mannix? The choice seems
clear.
Participation or observation? Can you say
Governor Mannix?
B arbara R oberts
Portland
None off the above
To the E ditor :
i
f the $ 15,000 contribution to Ted Kulongos-
ki’s Democratic campaign for governor from a
trust fund dedicated to “make the world a better
place for gays and lesbians” is so odious that he
or his campaign manager will return it, then
that is a clear signal that they do not need gay
votes to get him elected. I am sick of contribut
ing to politicians who give lip service to equal
rights in employment and housing for gays and
lesbians but are too faint at heart to recognize
that the Moral Majority is neither.
Since no gay or lesbian voter with any self-
respect could vote for Kevin Mannix, 1 am going
to urge my gay and lesbian brethren to sit out
this governor’s race. Ted clearly won’t do any
thing as candidate or governor to offend the
Christian far right, so what is the point of voting
once again for the lesser of two evils?
C an ’t have it both ways, Ted. If our money is
so tainted it must be returned, then you must
not need our votes, either.
M ichael P uhl
Tigard
Butt out
To the E ditor :
i I
cians who continually fight to deprive us of our
basic human rights. Those are the conservative
politics of the tobacco industry.
Images make ah impact. Please don’t tell that
beautiful young questioning person picking up
Just Out for the first time that to be gay, lesbian,
bi, trans or other means you have to smoke.
You have made some wonderful, responsible
choices around tobacco use, such as not taking
tobacco advertising. Please carry that commit
ment throughout the paper.
VETERINARY
C athryn C ushing
Portland
H O S P IT A L
Closet case
232-3105
To the E ditor :
D
uring the past few months 1 have noticed,
and become increasingly concerned by, a
substantial decline in the usage of the word “gay.”
What traditionally has been referred to as
“Gay Pride” is now “Pride.” I just recently was
informed, much to my surprise and astonish
ment, that the word has been stripped from my
own title: I am not “Miss Gay Pride,” as my sash
reads, but simply “Miss Pride,” and my male
counterpart is “Mr. Pride.”
Frankly, I am disturbed by this recent trend and
am not convinced it is a step in the right direction
but rather a step backward into the closet. Gay
Pride always has been a time when we as a com
munity put aside our differences and come togeth
er as one family to celebrate being gay, whatever
that might mean to each of us individually.
Although we can be proud of many things—
our ethnicity, our heritage, our country— Pride
Week was designed specifically to be an oppor
tunity for those of us who identify as gay (male,
female or otherwise) to celebrate ourselves and
our culture. The idea is to openly demonstrate
our pride in being gay, and this event is not nec
essarily intended to be representative of those
who do not identify accordingly. By removing
the word “gay” we are doing ourselves a huge
disservice by widening an already existing
dichotomy within the community and, in fact,
are defeating the entire purpose of Pride.
community members smoking on the cover of
the June 21 issue?
Was that necessary? Could you have waited
until the cigarettes were out to take the pictures?
Tobacco use kills people, and queers are no
exception. Studies show we smoke at,alm ost
twice the rate of the general population, which
means twice the lung cancer, twice the heart
disease, twice the respiratory distress and twice
the death. Haven’t we lost enough?
And don’t forget, every cigarette we pur
chase eventually helps fund right-wing politi
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To the E ditor :
I
would like to take one more opportunity to
thank the board of Pride Northwest, all of the
volunteers who put in many countless hours
producing Portland Pride 2002, our sponsors
and our entire community for giving so gener
ously to help pay for this year’s event.
Portland Pride continues to grow each year.
Without the commitment of so many wonderful
people, this event just couldn’t keep happening.
I also want to thank Mary Ridge for her letter
supporting me for the work I have done with Pride
Northwest during the past six years (“No, Tell Us
How You Really Feel,” June 21]. However, I dis
agree with her comments regarding Jack Keegan.
He has done a huge amount of work helping
Continued on Page 6
503
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