julyJlt™ ? JW — t ¡25
T oy S oldier
For Phyllis M cBride, giving
is b etter than receiving
by Patricia L. MacAodha
that much easier to he an out and proud gay
Through the years Lincoln County has
male living in a community that I would have defeated the Oregon Citizens Alliance’s ballot
never considered growing up in.”
measures by a wider margin than most other
Hull is also proud to note the considerable regions of the state. “1 think we experience more
success of the mall. “They have definitely negativity around being Democrats than for
helped to put Lincoln City on the map as an being gay,” Beck laughs.
antiquing destination on the
The Couple of the Year
Citizens
take
top
honors
Oregon coast.”
are quick to note that their
The impact of the award for Community Days
success is attributed in part
has far exceeded the night of MOOtrL CIT17FNS ?>:#:<*« n«v”Okf$. th e
to the people who have
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the ceremony, according to Otift
lent a hand along the way.
City Food *V»fry. aU***.
ijneoto C ay* M en
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t
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Beck. People still are “com Wcrriar
“What people think was
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ing in to say, ‘We read your ftf Coastal
an overnight success for us
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story and had to come in to higNy
was actually 7 1/2 years of
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meet you.’ It has been an
hard work and hungry
incredibly affirming process.”
times in the little shop,
The couple are especially
with many wonderful peo
pleased that their communi
ple pulling for us,” Bris
ty is engaged in a conversa
sette says. “And we’re
tion about gay and lesbian
thankful we were able to
issues.
just keep going on.”
“It is astonishing when
They are confident that
you think about it—a gay
the momentous award will
couple honored for what
help others live openly and
honestly on the coast. “Lin
they have done for their
coln City is a great town,”
community, without hesita
tion and with pride, and this
Brissette says, “filled with
wonderful, loving and
is in rural Oregon,” Brissette
affirming individuals who
says. “We’ve come a very
have demonstrated courage
long way.”
Aside from a small number of angry letters to and compassion over and over again. I know it
the editor printed in the News Guard, the com has made some folks feel a lot more positive
munity has been enthusiastically supportive. about themselves. ” j n
Beck and Brissette are aware of a “virulent layer”
of homophobia in Lincoln City, but they gener SARAH L e im e r t is a Portland free-lance writer.
Contact her at sleimen@hotmail.com.
ally feel comfortable and safe there.
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PHOTO BY
The Little Antique Mall has grown from a small antique store into a nationally known business
hyllis McBride was sur
prised and pleased when
she received two nom
inations and an enthusias
tic majority of votes select
ing her as St. Johns Community Citizen
of the Year for 2002.
An out lesbian who has been
involved in neighborhood activism for
22 years, she was recognized for her
work on the St. Johns Christmas Mar
ket, which she rescued after a two-year
absence and has coordinated for the past
five years. She also has served on the
neighborhood foot patrol, as an assistant
to shut-in residents and as a mentor for
the Big Sister Program at the North
Portland Youth Service Center.
She normally is involved with the
St. Johns Parade Committee as well, but
this spring her second spinal surgery cur
tailed her participation. Still, very little
holds this intrepid woman back—and
not for long.
According to McBride, very few peo
ple in St. Johns reacted badly to a les
bian being so honored; many more have
expressed enthusiasm about her selec
tion. She thinks the detractors are in
the minority.
“There was an objection to my get
ting the award, but I think it was mostly
just talk. Nothing came of it,” she says.
“For the most part, people who live here
are pretty wonderful. They work hard
and let things be.”
One of the Christmas Market ven
dors contacted Just O ut about Santa finds out who’s been nice at the St. Johns
McBride and the award, expressing Christmas Market
deep appreciation of her commitment
to the community. Eve Morgan cited her she “doesn’t like to ask for help.” Both fans agree
work to reopen the market, which had been there seems no end to her willingness to help
a popular wintertime venue in the neighbor others and are proud to have her working for the
hood to generate social activity during the neighborhood.
holiday season.
McBride grew up in Zanesville, Ohio,
Disability activist Laura Woodruff lives in which was “difficult from a gay person’s point
St. Johns and was one of the nominators. She of view,” she says. “I guess I always knew that
says McBride “accepted me for how I am, who I was gay, but I would not admit it to myself
or others because there was a lot of heckling
I am.”
Woodruff observes this is the way her fellow
community leader deals with everyone, adding
Continued on Page 26