march 21.2003
48
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THEATER
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Nonno« Bto's PounDCAKE
From the pulpit to the stage
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Dave Jenkins leaves the ministry to come home queer
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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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