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About Just out. (Portland, OR) 1983-2013 | View Entire Issue (July 19, 2002)
24 ♦ tul» 19.2002 Q ood N eighbors Gay and lesbian Oregonians are laying the foundation to build a stronger community his month Just Out tracked down four gay men and lesbians who are doing their part to make the world a better place for everyone— queer or straight. Three of them— Dan Beck and Rick Brissette of Lincoln City and Phyllis McBride of St. Johns— are making their presence known in places where the sexual minorities com munity isn’t too visible. And while they are working hard to open improve people’s quaL ity of life, activist Cathryn Cushing is busy trying to save those lives by fighting tobacco use and breast cancer. Oregonians are lucky to have so many strong role models out there representing our community. T he C oast I s C lear Meet Dan Beck and Rick Brissette, Lincoln City’s Couple of the Year by Sarah Leimert omething shocking happened in the small coastal town of Lincoln City on April 13: The local weekly newspaper named two gay men as Couple of the Year. Dan Beck and Rick Brissette were honored for their work with Coastal A ID S Network, the Democratic Party and the antique shop they built from the ground up. Partners in business and in life, they have had an immeasur able impact on their tightly knit community and have made them selves indispensable in the fight against AIDS. The two met in 1989 in Lin coln City and formed a partner- ship that seems to grow stronger by Beck (,eft) and Brissette have frjends m hy , laces the year. Upon arrival in Oregon, Beck founded the Coastal A ID S Network with events and organizes the World AIDS Day Laurie Ammerman. As executive director, he Candlelight Vigil. publishes a monthly newsletter for the sexual Beck also does HIV counseling and testing, minorities community, holds weekly social operates a needle exchange program utilizing Le Meitour Gallery H f\ccu^U' Ü Travel Arrangem ents Tailored to Your bleeds Portland, Oregon 9 7 2 2 5 (Raleigh W eft Shopping Center) 7 8 1 4 S W C a p i t o l H w y , P o r tla n d • 503/246-3631 I Elegance Silks & Runners Natural 6 5 4 7 S W Beaverton-Hilltdale Hwy 5 0 3 -2 9 2 -0 6 7 5 fax 5 0 3 - 2 9 2 - 9 3 8 6 1 -8 8 8 -3 1 7 -8 8 8 6 efinf@tforldattentt.eom www.worldaccents.com Casual Handmade Qlvht The only museum where you get to take the treasures home. two employees and does advocacy work. C A N soon will he starting a group for queer youth in the Lincoln City and Tillamook areas. Additionally, Beck acts as program chairman for the Lin coln County Democratic Central Committee. Brissettes involvement in and dedication to his town are equally astounding. He serves as a C A N advisory hoard member, a Lincoln City planning commissioner, Lincoln City Chamber of Com- merce president and Lincoln County Demo cratic Central Commit tee chairman. “In the ’90s, we were losing everyone in our lives, and a lot of our early involvement in C A N was not entirely altruistic,” Brissette says. “It began because we, too, needed the support, and we just kept going forward with our dream.” With seemingly boundless energy, Beck and Brissette also own and operate a business. With the help of many volunteers, the Little Antique Mall was opened in 1993 and contin ues to flourish, bringing avid “antiquers” from throughout the state to do business with them. The mall has been successful amid numerous personal challenges, including the death of Bris sette s mother in 1998 and Beck’s hospitalization with pneumonia shortly thereafter. “The whole process of opening the mall was a very spiritual and gratifying experience,” Bris sette says. “Dan and I both know that to those whom much is given, much is expected.” The Couple of the Year award was a shock hut could not have been given to more deserv ing recipients. The Lincoln City News Guard declared: “Together Rick and Dan have poured their hearts and resources into help ing those at risk or suffering with HIV |a n d AIDS, they were instrumental in the formation of the Coastal A ID S N et work in an area where services are scarce. At the same time, [they] have built one of the most successful and nationally recognized busi nesses in the community.” The reaction to Beck and Brissettes victory was widely supportive during the 2002 Community Days Banquet. “I was overcome by the reaction of the audi ence," Brissette remembers. “Some people were standing on their seats screaming and applaud ing, some individuals were crying, it was truly overwhelming. I think that many in the crowd were not only cheering [Dan and I] but were applauding all the gays and lesbians that have been in their lives.” Beck praised Lincoln City at the ceremony, revealing that they came there “to heal and found not only each other but a community that just said no to the hate being promulgated in our beautiful state.” Friend and co-worker Ken Hull admires Beck and Brissette for their willingness to give so selflessly and considers them his mentors. “I strive to be half the men that they both are pro fessionally and personally. 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