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About Just out. (Portland, OR) 1983-2013 | View Entire Issue (Oct. 4, 2002)
October > COMMENTARY in M a r i a I ) \ \ i > The IN publication for the OUT population F o u n d ed 1983 • J ay B r o w n Vol. 19 N o . 23 and R enee L a C hance O cto b er 4 , 2 0 0 2 FEATURE I I V E M S X n B I C Lessons learned, progress achieved and battles won p 24 NEWS NORTHWEST • Workshop aims to help prevent queer youth suicide; gay men in Klamath Falls organize to offer friendly social interaction, outreach and support; nothing can keep April Sunrise down; Creating Change conference organizers seek safe space for out-of-towners pp 7-17 NATIONAL • There goes the neighborhood pp 19-21 WORLD • How Swede it is PP 22-23 ARTS AND CU LTU RE THEXTER • Profile presents an entire season of Edward Albee; Night o f the Iguana at ART pp 34-35 MUSIC • Right on (sound)track p 37 CULTURE • Women drum up community in Eugene p 39 SPORTS • Portland spawns a queer swim team p 40 MUSIC • No. 2 frontman is a beautiful human P 41 DIVERSIONS • Portland Team Volleyball tourney; film festival announces winners; a new decade in the intcrsex movement; Dina Martina back in town; what’s on In the Life P 42 WHAT’S POPPIN'T • Homy college guys in The Rules; Hannibal Lecter series redeemed p 43 COLUMNS M S. SEHAVIOR exes Only crazies live with their Truth in advertising Smith opponents should consider a Plan B rather than a plan of attack hatever the production costs for U.S. Sen. Gordon The had news is that this newly won recognition stands to be imme Smith’s “Matthew would have liked me” televised diately tarnished as reactionary emotions take precedence over more campaign ad, it’s clear that the committee to re-elect carefully thought-out strategic planning and logic. It would be absurdly got more than its money’s worth as measured in the naive to put forth the notion that all gay men and lesbians should agree commerce of public attention. on a candidate, party or principle; however, it is to everyone’s best inter Across the state, columns are being written, rallies are being sched est to strive to minimize futile efforts and instead work to maximize our uled, and letters are being e-mailed as opinions are hurled and sides are many strengths. taken. All this over what is, in actuality, no more, no less than an ad So here’s how I view the current situation. There’s no doubt that promoting a fairly benign and simple message: Smith did indeed step up Bill Bradbury has a far better record of working for gay rights and and promote federal hate crimes legislation. Yup, he did. That’s the has been a far better friend to our community. H e’s our man. truth. It can’t he argued. N o question. Equally truthful is the fact that Smith picked an emotional subject At the same time, consider that KGW-TV released its latest poll matter with which to present his message. But is he “getting away with” Oct. 2 showing Smith leading 53 percent to 30 percent. With the Brad something? No. bury campaign immediately denouncing the accuracy of the statistics, The ad refers to nothing other than his repeatedly documented work two thoughts still come to mind. First, our energy, money, time and on hate crimes legislation. No lies here. No falsehoods. efforts are better served working far Bradbury than they The cause for the uproar from within our community Now, reality check are working against Smith. lies in the feelings associated with the perceived exploita Second, smart people usually will have a Plan A and a tion of Matthew Shepard’s murder rather than the facts time. It's simply not Plan B when working on really important matters— like of the message. It’s emotional, it has a powerful impact, who’s going to be our junior senator for the next six that far-fetened and it has rubbed raw and reopened the still-unhealed years. Plan A would be that our unified efforts propel wounds of many angered, sadden and distressed by his o f a notion that Smith Bradbury to a strong finish and that the secretary of state tragic loss. wins the election. will win re-election. Yet, who better to judge Smith’s sincerity than the Now, reality check time. It’s simply not that far mother of the victim? And who among us has the right fetched of a notion that Smith will win re-election. to question her decision or values? We do not know her— we know only So, what do we do? Do we send him hack to Washington for six of her. more years with the fresh image of gay men and lesbians rallying The ad is powerful also in that Smith potentially stands to lose as against him and mocking the efforts he has made to work on our much as gain hy damaging his traditionally conservative base of support behalf? What motivation would that provide for him to continue to as he reaches out to more moderate voters. Bold steps for a man who further our cause? would not even take a public position on 2000’s Oregon Citizens A prudent Plan B would include thanking the senator for his work Alliance-sponsored Ballot Measure 9. How much backlash could he on hate crimes and acknowledging that he’s shown "personal growth.” have faced for wearing a button or making a statement of support? We’ll wish him well, then we’ll direct all efforts toward the election of And it cannot be overlooked that the senator has yet to take a stand Bradbury— with our bridges still firmly in place behind us. on any of the myriad additional inequalities facing the gay communi Wishy-washy? Too much sucking up for you? Not radical enough? ty— i.e., marriage, civil unions, domestic partner benefits and so on. Reactionary anger has its place and can be powerful. But considering Will he address these issues in the future? In its endorsement of Smith, the long-term ramifications of this race, this is neither the place nor the the Human Rights Campaign obviously sees great promise and potential time for short-sighted responses. Actions taken in emotional anger will in him. come hack and bite you in the butt. The TV commercial has brought forth a great many concerns and We’ve been given this gift of acknowledgment and credibility for mast decidedly raised the hackles of many in the political realm. This is being a voting force and community of reckoning. Let’s not immediately a “good news, had news” situation. The good news is that this is the first screw this up with infighting, divisiveness and misguided actions. time ever— anywhere, apparently— that a campaign ad for a major office Let’s stride ahead with Plan A and work to elect a known friend and has positively addressed a topic relevant to gays. I find this a significant ally— hut let’s also keep the door open for Plan B, just in case. Building acknowledgment of the strength we have attained as a voting bloc. bridges can he far more effective than burning them. JP1 p 33 LIVING OUT • Once upon a time...when I was radical P 44 THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO MARC • Save the economy! Promote MarcAcito p45 Ju st out ia published on the first an d third Fri day of each month. Copyright © 2002 hy Just Out. N o part of lust Out may he reproduced without written permission from the publisher. The subm ission of w ritten and graphic m ateri. als is welcomed. Written material should he typed and dou ble-spaced. Just Out reserves the njjht 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 should 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 subm issions ro the editorial department and tor the Calendar is the Thursday 15 days before the next publication slate. Views expressed in letters to the editor, columns and features are not necessarily those of the publisher. The display advertising deadline is the Monday 12 days before the next publication date. Classified ads must be received at the Just Out office by 4 p.m. on the Thutxday eight days before the next publication date, along with payment. Ads may be places! by telephone or via the Internet with Visa or MastetCard payment. Ad policy; Just Out reserves the right to reject or edit any aslvertisement. Compensation for errors in, or cancellation of, advertising will be made with credit toward future advertising. Advertising rates are available upon request. Distribution policy: lust (hit is available free of charge, one copy per person. Just Our is delivered only to authorized distnhu- toix. N o person may, without prior written permission from Just Out, take more than one copy. Any person who takes more than one copy may be held liable for theft, including but tux limited to civil damages and/ix criminal prosecution. Subscriptions are $22.50 fix 12 issues. First Class (in an envelope) is $40 fix 12 issues G x ita c t Just Out at P.O. Box 14400, Portland, O R 9729 ) 0400; 5 0 )-2 56-1252, advertising 501-2)6-125), fax 5 0 )-2 16-1257; e-mail |ustout&)iistout.com. Visit our Internet site at www.justout.cixn. 10 years ago in just out _ VOTE NO on 9 qL^cScing back 4 •**’ • * * 4? ‘ „ , * * 1 : *f MT0R • Marty Davis Jim Radosta M m M B CULTURE » T N • Lisa Bradshaw 1 Sarah Leimert Marc Acito, Meryl Cohn, Cheyne Cumming, Susan Detroy, TJ Norris, Juli Roxx, Sally Sheklow, Kim Stephenson, ■ • During Its annual convention in San Francisco, the American Bar Association voted to recognize gay men and lesbians officially and to support women's abortion rights. • Just days after he was outed by the New York gay magazine QW. John Schlafley, the oldest son of anti gay conservative leader Phyffis Schlafley. acknowl edged he’s gay in an interview with the San Francisco Examiner. • About 200 gay and lesbian athletes gathered in Portland during Labor Day weekend for the Pride of Portland Athletic Association's second annual Sportsfest. • KPDX-TV presented Cascade AIDS Project with a check for $1.800 in September. Fox Broadcasting raised the money with a special national television concert and tribute to Freddie Mercury, founder of the rock group Queen, who died of AIDS nearly a year ago. • A group called African Americans Voting No on 9 is forming in Portland. Members include Kathleen Saadat, state Rep. Avel Gorcfiy, Joann Aflen and the Rev Pad A. Spurlock. • The Portland Area Business Association, a new group for gay and lesbian professionals, s. has planned its first meeting. Lt. Col. Greta Cammermeyer. r. the highest-ranking officer I to be discharged from the U.S. military because she's a ies- bian. wifi address the group. • Bonnie Tinker of the No on 9 Campaign and Scott Lively of the Oregon Citizens Alliance will debate Ballot Measure 9 on Oct. 5 at the Atkinson M anori al Church in Oregon City. • An undercover police action against gay cruising in Laurel- hurst Park resulted in few citations. muctfi controversy and an internal investigation following a complaint filed by one of the victims. • Hate and censorship reared their cowartfy side this past month at the CorvaHis-Benton County Library. Four books about gay Issues were vandal ized to the point of destruction. They had been ripped, cut and mangled. One had been flushed In a toilet. Jack Turteltaub, Ed Walsh, Rex Wockner, Pat Young I • Larry Lewis : • Markie Acevedo • Erin Sexton BVW1VE • Rivendell Marketing Company Inc., 212-242-6863 • Gail Shibley plays host to a "john a-thon" auction O c t 4 to benefit the Council for Prostitution Alternatives. • Ample Opportunity, a health organization for fat women, holds its 14th Ample Exchange, an over-size-18 clothing sale, Oct. 17. I • Kevin Moore • Zanne dejanvier I • Sarah Leimert I • Ed Carder, lan Drake, Ron Geer, Mary Hauer, Kelly Keigwin, Merid Schwartz, Jen Spires, Janelle Vogt, Melissa Weigand
