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About Just out. (Portland, OR) 1983-2013 | View Entire Issue (March 21, 2003)
march 21.2003 48 ealingout eatingout eatïngout THEATER eatingout Nonno« Bto's PounDCAKE From the pulpit to the stage m npnoBH gJ Dave Jenkins leaves the ministry to come home queer by L e g e n d a ry G o u rm e t P izza G O U R M E T PIZZA I ' i ’ llli miir'o b e e r s on T <xp 111 limi teisti I I t i l V i l l III l/i'lll Vega« ÇrieWly numtli F i l i 12 sz. beva\h]ì when \/i'it puiïluisi ii shic i'f sur fiil'iiL'iis I’l'uiiiliiiki' with this delivery available iVii|VM 3342 SE Belmont - (503)233-5444 www.beautifulpizza.com ¡ 5969 dt I ta n L utu » toc J ì Biffi • 503782 6354 • Don-tor 1-1 • itili IH | C h r ist o p h er M c Q u a in PHOTO BY MARTY DAVIS iving as we do in a world that (still) gener dropped out of high school in La Grande and ally assumes exclusive heterosexuality, the was taken to the state mental hospital to ‘cure’ coming-out process is one experience that, him of his problem; a mother that brought her fcle v e n while running the gamut from no big high school son— I assume because he’s gay or deal to major trauma, may he the one reliably questioning; a lesbian couple from the town; 10 consistent, unqualified difference between the students who were taking a course called sexual minorities community and straights. Human Sexuality 101; two of my high school Regardless (if whether queemess is inherent classmates; a man who was in my father’s Sun ly biological, the majority of queer people, iden day schixd class as a child; some family and tity-wise, arrive at our sexuality. And most of us, friends; and an assortment of other people.” once we admit to ourselves that we are sexually The homecoming was remarkably free of attracted to our own gender (or have otherwise controversy, even after a cover story in “different” sexual leanings), are forced to La Grande’s newspaper, The Observer. “I was reassess, disrupt or radically alter some of the surprised that [the article] didn’t engender any most important things in our lives: our families letters to the editor,” Jenkins says. “Originally, and other relatioaships, our religion, where we came from, where we’re going. A new one-man show, Coming Home Queer, tackles all of these issues through the autobiographical revelations of Dave Jenkins, a North 1 m ar Portland resident who didn’t begin coming out until five years ago at age 45. As a minister, Jenkins felt he had some important changes to make. “The bot tom line was that 1 wanted to lead a fully out, authentic life and would not he allowed to do that in the context of ministry,” he says. “ In December of 2000 1 stixxl before my congregation at University Park United Dave Jenkins performs Coming Home Queer one night only Methodist Church and said, ‘1 am a self-avowed practicing April 5 at CoH o Theatre homosexual.’ Those were considered the words that would remove me the college felt that 1 should pay for security...I from the ministry.” wasn’t afraid of protesters or hecklers. As it Having told the district superintendent he turned out, rightly so.” would resign rather than he fired, Jenkins says He feels the town has grown in tolerance the choice for him “was not between my faith along with the rest of the world. “A community and my sexuality. The choice for me was if 1 like La Grande is no longer as isolated as it once was going to continue to he a minister under a was," he asserts. “People have the Internet, cell ‘don’t ask, don’t tell’ policy.” phones, e-mail and cable TV. I probably couldn’t He took an administrative job with the take a date to a bar in Elgin and dance with church— a job he likes, though he no longer him .. .hut overall, it is probably not a problem to attends services there— while continuing his he an out gay person in La Grande.” post-coming-out “sexual adolescence.” He says Jenkins, who is bringing a somewhat he “still felt the need for a ‘pulpit,’ ’’ though, retooled version of Coming Home Queer to Port and began publishing an e-mail column called land’s CoH o Theater on April 5, has combed “Gay Dave’s Homily and Haircut,” which has through the hack-catalog of his life, from child- more than 100 recipients. htxxl through to the present day. He’s included Writing was, for Jenkins, a natural exten a reminiscence of another man who reached sion of an already-developed storytelling per out to him emotionally; the suicide of a possibly sona. “Someone once said of my preaching, gay, married next-door neighbor from his child- ‘4fou preach like a standup comic!’ I considered h(xxJ; and an e-mail correspondence with an it a compliment.” Internet chat room friend that has the emotion That penchant for performance, coupled ally engaging properties of a novel. with an admiration for Garrison Keillor and “Coming Home Queer is a very personal David Sedaris, a history of dabbling in theater show,” Jenkins shares. “When 1 did the show in and his own upcoming half-centennial birthday La Grande, I warned the audience that I may ("Rather than ignoring it or hiding under the cry at some point [and that] these tears would blankets, I decided to do something unique”), not he ‘theatrical’ tears. Helping people on the inspired the idea for his one-man show, which journey towards authenticity requires someone he would dehut in his hometown of La Grande. to tell their story honestly, even if it is with tears in their eyes.” J H oming Home Queer —consisting of prepared monologues, e-mail excerpts and extempo D ave J enkins performs Coming Home Queer 3 p.m. April 5 at CoHo Theater, 2257 N.W. raneous storytelling— was performed at Eastern Oregon University’s Ackerman Hall on Raleigh St. Tickets are $10 from 503-246-7/39. March 1 before an audience of, Jenkins esti mates, about 40 people, including “a man who C hristopher M c Q uain is a Seattle free-lance writer. ■ Come over... M eet the fam ily. Join us for lunchy dinnery a cocktail , or even weekend brunch. D in in g R o o m is open. (W e ll even do the dishes.) 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