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About Just out. (Portland, OR) 1983-2013 | View Entire Issue (Dec. 20, 2002)
22 2Û.2ÛÛ2 PHOTO BY in Review A look back at the year Lon Mabon went behind bars, Portland created change and two gay dads lured Rosie O’Donnell out o f the closet b y Jim R a d o s t a regon Citizens Alliance chair man Lon Mabon was arrested Feb. 20 for refusing to partici pate in lesbian photojoum al- ist Catherine Stauffers legal efforts to collect more than $40,000 owed to her for a 1991 assault. A s a result, he told Just Out in July, the organization fell “considerably” short in col lecting enough signatures to qualify its latest anti-gay measure for the Nov. 5 ballot. Peti tions for the Student Protection A ct 111, the O C A ’s next stab at preventing the “promo tion” of homosexuality in public schixils, already are circulating for 2004. This fall Mahon ran for U .S. Senate on the Constitution Party ticket but finished last with 2 percent o f the vote. He now is expect ed to target the Oregon Legislature, which might consider a hill in 2003 prohibiting dis crimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity in housing, public accommodation and employment. Lon Mabon is handcuffed Feb. 20 at Multnomah County “Although God does so love the world...He nevertheless still requires all to “How much longer can we identify as a single-issue movement that is ‘just about repent of their sin before He gives any housing, public accommodation or employment in being gay’ as we struggle for equality and jus Heaven,” Mabon wrote in September’s Oregon tice? Are we about justice or just us?” asked keynote speaker Mandy Carter, one of the Alliance. “And although that may sound nation’s leading African American lesbian humorous it remains, with a view to eternity, very serious.” activists. Not everyone was satisfied with the confer bout 400 volunteers mobilized to put ence theme and its execution, however. Accord together Creating Change, the National ing to New York’s Gay City News, the fallout included the resignation of a senior staffer during G ay and Lesbian Task Force’s 15-year-old a closing meeting Nov. 10 in Portland. conference for sexual minority activists, from Nov. 6 to 10 at the DoubleTree Jantzen “ I finally realized...the incongruency Beach. T he theme was “ Building an Anti- between the organization’s leadership and my Racist Movement: Working for Social and own approach in doing anti-oppressive work," Economic Justice,” an attempt to address a said Kenneth T. Jones, one of five African growing disconnect felt by queer people of Americans or Latinos who have left N G LTF color. during the past year. “In order to retain a A Courthouse decent amount of self-respect and personal integrity I resigned immediately.” P ortland couple Steve Lofton and Roger Croteau continue to fight Florida’s gay adoption ban, which threatens to remove their son Bert from the only family he ever has known. Their appeal of last year’s mling that upheld the law was scheduled to be presented the week of Nov. 11 in Miami, hut a federal appeals court has postponed arguments. “We are touched and amazed at the out pouring o f support and kindness that has come our way since we stepped forward with our family’s story a few months ago," the fathers wrote in an August letter posted at their Web site, LetHimStay.com. “Fortunate ly, Bert is still at home with his brothers and You Can Say That Again! Ju st O ut compiles the year’s most memorable quotes b y R e x W ockner “Saying gays should have their own chan n e l... is like saying everybody who m is behaves in this culture should have their own channel. Why do they need a particular channel when so much of prime time features stars that are gay?" — The Rev. Jerry Falwell on the planned MTV/Showtime/Viacom digital cable network, to Fox News, Jan. 10. “I guess it sells papers. I mean, l know who I am. That’s the most important thing. We are going to beat the odds. W ell die in each others arms, I promise you." — David G est, Liza Minnelli’s new husband, responding to tumors that he is secretly gay, as quoted by ThisIsLondon.com, March 21. “W hat? N o! I’m terrible. You’re talking to the girl who married Peter A llen ." — Liza M innelli asked by the Texas Triangle whether she has “good gaydar,” March 8. “ ‘Oh, but you were lying,' the gay Nazis say. ‘You said you liked Tom Cruise.’ I said I wanted him to mow my lawn and bring me a lemonade. I never said I wanted to blow him!" — Rosie O ’Donnell in a Feb. 25 appearance at Carolines Comedy Club in New York City, according to USA Today. “There are people who still don’t believe that Liberace was gay, that Rock Hudson was gay. U n til they hear it from your own lips— i ’m gay’— they don’t want to believe it. I remem ber talking to Rosie lO’Donnell) about it when she was thinking about coming out, and she said: ‘Well, everybody knows I’m gay. It’s been in the tabloids.’ A nd I said: ‘N o, Rosie. They don’t. Believe me.’ ’’ — Ellen DeGeneres, to the Providence [R .I.J Journal, April 28. “You just wish sometimes that the [Catholic] Church protected children as much as it protects fetuses." — Lesbian comedian Kate Clinton writing in July's The Progressive. “I’ve told them to stop. T his is what’s sick about politics.... I repu diate it in the strongest term s.... To do it while claiming to be acting in my best interests is inexcusable." — Florida Gov. Jeb Bush in reference to Americans for Bush, an organiza tion that mailed fliers suggesting his opponent, Janet Reno, is gay. “Abstinence is the surest way, and the only completely effective way, to prevent unwanted pregnancies and sexually transmit ted disease. When our children face a choice between self-restraint and self-destruction, government should not be neutral.” — President Bush, Feb. 26. “For this brief shining moment, 1 am Ethel Merman, starring in a musical.” — Veteran gay actor Harvey ^Fierstein on his role as Edna Tumbtad in the Broadway version o f John Waters’ Hatrspray, to the New York Times, June 23.
