20.2002
J U S t [ 11 U
COMMENTARY
m M a k h
dwis
i M The IN publication for the OUT population
F ounded 1983 • J ay B rown
Vol. 2 0 N o. 4
and
R enée L a C hance
Decem ber 2 0 , 2 0 0 2
FEATURE
ZMZMREVKVftA 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
p
22
NEWS
N9RTHWEST • Kathy Beige resigns from
Vanguard Youth Services; Oregonian upsets
lesbian newlyweds; check out three new and
improved gay-owned coffee shops; two deaf
queer interpreters fill the seat o f morning news
mainstay Hank Stack
w 7-14
NATIUNAL • U .S. Supreme Court agrees to hear
Texas sodomy case; Baltim ore protects trans
residents; Cracker Barrel ends decade-long
struggle
pp 17-18
WHRLR • China flexible on rubber ad ban;
Canadian televangelist scolded
pp 20-21
ARTS AND CU LT U RE
MUNI • Ju st
O ut's guide for ringing in the
new queer
p 35
M L T H i • The ultimate penny-pinching,
last-minute gift guide
P
37
IIVIRSIINS • Cary Leibowitz at Soundvision;
Ramblers celebrate 20 years; F a r from Heaven
and The Hours tick o ff award nominations
p 38
WHAT'S POPPIN'T • Denzel Washington’s
directorial debut
p 39
CULTURE • Yee-haw! The arts roundup
Season's pleading
When did it become unacceptable to wish someone a “Merry Christmas” ?
S
here in Portland have made the sterilization o f Christmas a popular
topic. A n often-used comparison asks why the Christmas tree has
become a “holiday tree” while our Jewish friends and neighbors still
light their menorah, not their “festive holiday candleholder.”
Yes, Jewish culture is rooted in thousands and thousands o f years
W ell o f course not. T h e best he could possibly dare do
o f history, pain, tears, persecution and oppression. T h e Christmas
is offer a watered-down “Happy Holidays.” Surely no
tree isn’t. But it has been with us through the infancy o f our own
politician in his right mind would be so foolhardy as to
country and our toddler growing pains and, yes, we’ve had our
use the word “Christmas.” Good lord no. Talk about your political
shares o f hard times, sad times and agonies, too.
suicide.
If we willingly and easily cast aside, or allow others to take
Racism, that’s one thing— but Christmas, whoa now. T h e senator
from us, our traditions, how will we ever survive it to
would have to leave the Black Entertainment Television studios
the point where we, too, are a nation with a history
m yself am about rooted in our beliefs? From where do we derive our
immediately and head straight to Lifetime Television for W I omen
(including ultra-PC lesbians) for his next round of
strengths and our unity?
as religious as
apologies.
Yup,
the
G
rinch
finally
has
stolen
Christ
ow before you start stomping about the room in
your average
mas, and
we all indignation,
sat around and
watched
it happen.
find an interesting parallel between the concept of
righteous
let it
be known
that I in no
our Christmas traditions threatening the sensitivi
way, shape or form disagree with or dishonor the con
potted plant. But
ties and strengths o f other cultures and those dedicat
cept o f honoring the diversity of all peoples and all cul
ed
and righteous U .S . citizens who sponsor “defense of
tures. Nor do 1 bring to this conversation a spiritual or
I am also a person
marriage” legislation. To my way o f thinking, gay mar
religious background. Nor is this a defense nor a stance
with memories
riage is about as threatening to the beloved and cher
for Christianity.
ished heterosexual-sanctioned marriage rites as the
I myself am about as religious as your average potted
o f a childhood
Christmas tree is threatening to those who celebrate
plant. But I am also a person with memories of a child
Kwanzaa, Hanukkah, winter solstice, Ramadan and
and o f happy
hood and of happy Christmases past. I am a person
everything else.
who was a child with grandparents who 1 loved, grand
Christmases past.
Perhaps the reality is that memories and traditions
parents who made the season a happy, special and
most threaten those who choose to celebrate nothing
exciting time.
at all. Perhaps in the colorlessness o f their own lives they resent
1 am now an adult who does not want to lose the feelings of these
those who choose to honor what they have rejected.
special memories that Christmas brings back each year. Memories of
I also believe most gay couples who desire the legal and civil bene
trees and presents and food we saw only once a year. And now I feel
fits of marriage have no agenda or desire to deny or alter marriage for
threatened by this far-too-radical concept that the maintenance of cul
others. So why does having a Christmas tree at Pioneer Courthouse
tural, racial and even economic diversity means setting aside our own
Square deny others their ability and right to celebrate and enjoy their
beliefs and traditions.
own customs?
Why does there have to be a tradeoff for those who, Christian or
not, would still like to honor the memories and traditions of our own
elebrate in your own fashion. Do what makes you happy. Share,
country and our culture— all mere 200-plus years of it? And beyond
grow, believe or disbelieve. Honor the diversity of all; cherish the
that, what legacy are we leaving for those who come behind us? Plastic
holiday trees and sterile phrases. How sad.
memories of the past. JP1
In the past few weeks columnists across the United States and
o, do you think Sen. Trent Lott will be wishing his con
stituents and friends a “White Christmas” this year?
NS
I
C
pp 41-42
FILM • Just Out awards dubious distinction
in film awards
P 43
COLUMNS
MS. REHAVIRR • Diesel dyke disagreement
p 33
THE GUSPEL ACCORDING TU MAHC - No fruit
basket and a form letter thank-you. Humph.
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P W U S IH A M M ANAGM 6 O f T N • Marty Davis
N BM O IT N * Jim Radosta
ARTS AM MUUHE « T N • Lisa Bradshaw
EM TIM AL A fS O TW T • Marie Fleischmann
G O T M U T M M • Marc Acito, Meryl Cohn,
Michael Wayne Keck, Timothy Krause,
Christopher McQuain, Bob Roebr,
Floyd Sklaver, Tom Stevenson, Kat Wilson,
Rex Wockner
A M M T M M N K C T N • Larry Lewis
A W O T O M G HHPM M NM • Markie Acevedo
A M EH TIM B A ttH U M T • Erin Sexton
B U N K BM ECTN • Kevin Moore
PMMCTMIAUIUWT • Zanne dejanvier
R E T « M A M C B • Marie Fleischmann
U M 1R M T M I • Kristine Ashton, Jennifer Brinson,
Ian Drake, Ron Geer, Mary Hauer, Anne Qchi,
Melissa Weigand