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About Just out. (Portland, OR) 1983-2013 | View Entire Issue (April 18, 2003)
aprii 10 .2 0 0 2 ' iustrrm COMMENTARY in J im H a d o s i a ■ m The IN publication for the O UT population F ounded 1983 • J ay B rown Vol. 2 0 N o. 12 and R enée L a C hance A p r il 1 8 , 2 0 0 3 FEATURE WAR ANO PEACE: Sexual minorities community reacts to the conflict in Iraq P 26 NEWS NORTHWEST • Labor commissioner promises crackdown on workplace discrimination; Eugene lesbian reflects on years of disability activism; scholarship recipient still advocates for equal rights; Lou Gehrig’s disease ends 34-year relationship; Bad Kitty java isn’t your average cup of joe; spiritual leaders mobilize for “ex-gay” conference pp 8 -2 1 NOTIONAL • Utah court favors lesbian teacher pp 2 2 - 2 3 WORLD • Mexican lesbians march pp 2 4 - 2 5 ARTS AND CU LTU RE MUSIC • Queer musician Tamara J. Brown digs that Portland scene; Honey is sweet. Flare is hot pp 3 6 - 3 7 PEOPLE • Groundbreaking lesbian comic tells all p 39 ROOKS • Gay author picks over the movies pp 4 0 - 4 1 CULTURE • Smash some scales and kiss a fat girl p 43 DIVERSIONS • Wild Abandon celebrates anniversary; Middlesex wins Pulitzer Prize p 44 WHAT’S POPPIN’ T • Acclaimed documentarían revisits Stevie P 45 FILMS • High Art director’s second film is as good as the first p 47 COLUMNS M S. BEHAVIOR • Breakin’ up is hard to do p 35 EPIQUEEREAN • Just desserts p 38 OUT WITH IT! • Closets are for clothes P 48 THE GOSPEL ACCORIING TO MARC • Kid stuff P 49 ju s t ou t 1« p ublish ed on the first an d th ird PH- d ap • t each m onth. Copyright C 2001 by Just Out. N o part Peace is just a word A pre-emptive confession: I am about to commit a cardinal sin of journalism y name is Jim Radosta, and I am a pacifist. oppose the war, but I’m finally beginning to understand how easy it is I realize this isn’t the most profound statement for a to make that leap of faith. liberal Portlander to make, hut for a journalism gradu ate who prides himself on the quest for impartiality he interconnectedness of all oppression is so blatantly represented JL ^ - J L and truth, it’s tantamount to a surgeon general dis in the Bush administration: The sexism of stripping women of con cussing masturbation. It could get you fired! trol of their uteri (while luring oblivious soccer moms by the millions). Fortunately, I work for a queer newspaper. And, as I’m just now The racism of eliminating ethnic consideration in college admissions beginning to comprehend— thanks to artists like Todd Haynes and (while fooling the masses by publicly scolding the racist Senate majori experiences like Creating Change 2002— “queer” does not necessarily ty leader). The homophobia of doling out taxpayer dollars to discrimi have to refer to genital contact. It can refer to any alternative perspec natory churches for their hypocritically “humanitarian” causes (while tive on mainstream culture. The late great Harry Hay believed it indi lying to the world about an A ID S spending hike that never will come cated a higher state of being; after all, we queers have the supernatural to fruition). ability to love anyone, regardless of gender. So you met with a dozen fags on the campaign trail, and your Well, I hope I’m not going out on a limb here, but I’d say this veep’s daughter is a dyke? Bra-vo! So your wife is pro-choice but keeps absolves me of the need for silence in certain circumstances. Besides, her mouth shut? Bra-vo! So you’re pals with Colin, Condoleezza and queer newspapers already take the “biased” position that gay, lesbian, Vincente? Bra-vo! Welcome to the 20th century, mr. president. The bi and trans people deserve to be treated equally. In Texas, that type of rest of us have advanced to the 21st. presumption will land you in jail. Or maybe we haven’t. Conformist patriots mock Iraq for its “state- Within the confines of these pages, alas, I’m safe. controlled Al-Jazeera media,” claiming, “They teach So I have no shame in adding another handicap to their children to hate us!” Excuse me, but are you Here, journalists can my score: Despite my role as News Editor of Just aware of the F C C ’s existence? Do you realize many Out, I must come forth about my disgust for the express their passion for U .S. teachers would lose their jobs if they dared dangerous path our president is taking us down. show compassion for Iraqis in the classroom? Now peace without having to you tell me which nation is the dictatorship. pnestly, until the bombs started dropping fa ll over themselves in the And guess what? I’m not even done yet! .]March 19, I was patient with my fellow Ameri The injustice of handing environmental regula impossible pursuit o f cans. I could empathize, however faintly, with the tion over to polluters. The absurdity of fueling a post-traumatic stress disorder from which we were suf war on drugs while turning a blind eye to the "objectivity" on this issue futile fering. I could see the anti-Bush learning curve slowly failing public school system (too intellectual), the turning in our direction. inevitable Social Security crisis (too eventual) and But I’ve lost my patience. I no longer expect a slow learning curve the straight HIV epidemic (too...hom osexual). from U .S. citizens. I expect a steep— no, make that perpendicular— And, last but not least, the sheer obsolescence of corporate- axis turn. An axis of upheaval, if you will. controlled media— a back-scratching machine that serves purely to So where is it? If this is the wake-up call the country needed, does misinform, a village that needs to be destroyed in order to be saved. anybody have their ringers turned on? Or are we screening our calls, Thankfully, I do not live in this village. I live one town over the afraid to take a risky stance for fear of alienating our colleagues, friends rainbow— in La-La-Lavender Land. and loved ones? Here, journalists can express their passion for peace without having When I see brave celebrities like Susan Sarandon, Sean Penn, to fall over themselves in the impossible pursuit of “objectivity” on Martin Sheen and the Dixie Chicks (of all people!) get shouted down this issue. You want some objectivity? Here goes: N o link between for speaking the truth— that we oughta be ashamed of ourselves for 9/11 and Iraq; a war on terrorism launched by a terrorist nation; and a letting the White House get this far— I realize it’s worth the risk to massive military industrial complex, homy for missile strikes at all come out against the war. When I see once-decent Democrats too costs. chicken to be the voice of opposition— a job they were hired to do, if The day after cops clashed with peaceful protesters downtown, I I’m not mistaken— I realize it’s worth the risk. When I see the Port walked home from work during a downpour, glaring at the SU V s land City Council nix an anti-war resolution but unanimously rubber- splashing past me, staring at the overwhelming volume of oil running stamp an admirable but ultimately meaningless “we support our down the gutters along with the rain. I immediately envisioned the troops” letter, I realize it’s worth the risk. blood running down the streets of Baghdad. I am grateful for the existence of organizations like Out Against the Clearly, there is only one stance I can take in good conscience. J H War and Pride at Work Oregon for giving queers an avenue to chan nel their dissent. I still believe it’s wrong to presume that all queers JlM RADOSTA is the News Editor at Just Out. T H ■mm mmt p > ■ mm «am « of Just Out may he reproduced without written permission from the publisher. mm years ago in i • in Other Words feminist bookstore has rid itself of a major obstacle to accessibility for physically disabled patrons. In early March a group of volunteers embarked upon a lull dismantling of a restrictive platform. The su b m ission o f w ritten an d grap h ic m ateri a ls is w elcom ed. Written material should be typed and dou ble-spaced. Just ( hit reserves the right 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; phot in are welcome Dead line for su b m ission s to the editon.il department and for the C alen d ar IS the Thursday 15 days before the next publication date. Views expressed in letters to the editor, columns and features are not necessarily those of the publisher. The d isp la y ad v ertisin g d ead lin e is the Monday 12 days before the next publication date. C lassified ad s must be received at the Just Out office by 4 p.m on the Thursday eight days before the next publication date, along with payment. Ails may be placet! by telephone or via the Internet with Visa or MasterCard payment. Ad policy: lust Out reserves the nght to re|ect or edit any advertisement. Ctvupensation for errors in, or cancellation of, advertising will be made with credit toward future advertising. Advertising rates are available upon request. 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Visit our Internet site at www.justout.com. 5 a n t Wk ■ N T * REFLECTIONS • Researchers are taking a closer look at Oregon's S /M community and documenting the politics of identity. • The city of Vancouver will extend employee benefits to domestic partners starting May 1. • Lonotime local politico and Portland City Commissioner Gretcnen Miller Kafoury has been named the recipient of this year's Bill and Ann Shepherd s Award. She will receive the honor during the second annual Shepherd's Award Dinner, slated for May 1. N E W ! EDITOR • Jim Radosta ARTS ANO CULTURE EDITOR FEATURES EDITOR • Timothy Krause EDITORIAL ASSISTANT CONTRIBUTORS • Lisa Bradshaw • Marie Fleischmann • Marc Acito, Kathy Beige, * • The American Foundation for AIDS Research has begun recruitment for the first clinical trial of combination therapy for hepatitis C among those who are also HIV-positive. The 18- month study will involve 200 patients at 20 sites around the nation, including Portland. • Galloway and Luckett perform one last time in Portland before they set out on their No Frills nationwide tour. • Join the Lesbian Community Project, Suzanne Pharr. Pruett, Angela W ilson, Darlene Lambos and Jack from rag on Lon Mabon. • Join the Portland Gay Men's Choru6 and the Gay Men's Chorus of San Diego lor Swellegent Elegance, their tribute to Cole Porter. Jamie Bolyard, Michael Burdick, Meryl Cohn, Susan Detroy, Christopher McQuain, ADVERTISING ASSISTANT Gary Morris, TJ Norris, Catherine Sameh, Floyd Sklaver, Jack Turteltaub, Rex Wockner PM B H C T10N ASSISTANT ADVERTISING DIRECTOR • Larry Lewis ADVERTISING R P R E S S nA TlV E • Markie Acevedo G R A M M B H iC TO R OFFICE MANAGER • Erin Sexton • Kevin Moore • Zanne dejanvier • Marie Fleischmann • Kristine Ashton, Dana Corbin, Ian Drake, Mary Hauer, Crash Schwartz O ISTRIRUnO N to
