COM M ENTARY
The IN publication for the OUT population
F o u n d e d 1 9 8 3 • J ay B r o w n
and
Voi. 20 N o. 15
R en ée L a C
hance
Jun e 6, 2 0 0 3
m M \Ri N 1) \\ i"
Community, not conformity
As we come together to celebrate Gay Pride, diversity of thought and speech must also be honored
NEWS
• A new grassroots effort explores
the feasibility of a queer community center
in Portland; Portland teen wins award for
volunteerism; journey toward personal
acceptance helps gay pastor and his family;
All Women’s Health Services invites patients
to participate in their own wellness
PR 8-21
NATIINAL • NGLTF’s new executive director
feels the heat from both sides of the political
spectrum; AIDS Watch 2003 aims to send a
message to a reluctant Congress; House
introduces Federal Marriage Amendment
M 23-29
WIRLR • Scottish MP comes out; gay blogger
in Iraq returns to cyberspace
pp 30-31
ARTS AND CULTURE
CULTURE • Dyke Art Retreat Encampment mixes
art and lesbians in the deep, dark woods
39
ART • Maryhill Museum celebrates the work
p
of tum-of-the-last-century artist Loi'e Fuller;
Kirk P. Linder: “ Lick my art”
42-43
MUSIC • New diva icon releases; Tracy
PH
Chapman, Buzzcocks, Le Tigre all in Portland
all in June
pp 44-47
RUMS • David Oates goes wild; new reviews
pp 52-53
BIVERSIBNS • David Schmader and Showgirls at
Clinton; Gus Van Sant pulls at Cannes; negroes
and faggots for rent online
P 41
WHAT'S PIPPIU'T • Finding Nenw and Together
top picks
p48
COLUMNS
I • Do I have to go out ever, ever
again? Also, to tweeze or not to tweeze.
P 37
SIT WITH IT! • Portland Pride! Brought to y o j
by (insert corporate sponsor).
P 81
THE C8SPEL ACC8RIIM TS MARC • The
elcome to June, nationally acknowledged month of
In this space 1 speak only for myself. Not for my staff, not for family,
neither
for friends. I speak for myself. This is my right. In turn, I offer all
Gay Pride. In Portland, Pride Northwest has sched­
others the chance to speak their voices within these pages.
uled festivities for the weekend of June 14 and 15.
With few exceptions, all viewpoints and expressions are welcome.
In this issue of Just Out you’ll find the official pro­
Anonymity is one of those exceptions. To put power to your voice, you
gram for Pride Northwest. Working in partnership
must put a name to your words.
with the event organizers, Just Out has, for the first time, handled the
complete production and distribution of the program. This joint effort
I recently received a card that said: “You are not me, I am not you.
Stop talking for me." Well, listen, please, think about this. In choosing
lowers costs for everyone, eliminates duplication of effort and energy
to be anonymous, you empower me to speak for you. This is a truth.
and makes the program available to increased numbers of readers via
Those who do not speak for themselves will always have others speak
the Just Out distribution network. Additional copies of the program will
for them. My words carry my name, my face. For
he available and widely distributed at the festival
We are not now, never yours to have meaning, so must they.
site.
And at the same time all of us must be, should be,
Let it please he noted that my staff performed a
have been and never
watchful and wary of those who do claim to speak in
Herculean task in preparing essentially two papers
in a time frame already shortened by a holiday
should be a community o f our names. We are not united in all causes and
should be diligent in protest toward those who would
weekend. They did an awesome job for all of you
one
thought.
We
are
united
proclaim unity in the name of promoting their own
and are to be commended. We are confident you
agenda.
We should be concerned about those who
will find the articles and scheduling information a
neither in uniformity nor
would exploit and manipulate the tragedies and
helpful tool in your planning and enjoyment of
conformity. Nor should we crises of others— especially if it’s in our name.
“Lions and Tigers and Queers, Oh My!”
The Just Out staff will be at our booth at Water­
ever be united in denying
front Park all weekend— the exception to this being
ords can be powerful. They can frighten, they
can intimidate. Words can cause fear and pro­
that during the parade you’ll find us marching
anyone right o f expression.
voke defensive reactions. The words "gay marriage”
proudly along with the many other groups and or­
We are not o f one voice. can have this impact on aspects of heterosexual soci­
ganizations that come together to create this lively
ety. The dislike for the words, the imagined reality,
and energetic event. But before and after the parade
We hove the right to
overwhelms the truth and the structure of the concept.
we invite you to drop by and meet us and share
your thoughts on, well, just about any topic you’d
Another example is the word “racist.” My
expression, the right to
like. Please note that readers with the most intense
experience is that the mere sound and usage cre­
speak, die right to
ates such a negative reaction that context and
agendas are encouraged to come visit early in the
day— when we’re most likely to be warmly
disagree. No one should intended m eaning become lost in the reactionary
amenable to your suggestions. Just kidding, of
fear and denial.
speak for another, nor
Who among us actually wants to step up and
course.
admit they are racist? The word in and of itself is so
should anyone allow
ay Pride will likely have different meanings to
powerful, so fearsome, so loathsome that the
J everyone you might ask. Frequently heard
another to speak for them. instinctive reaction is to recoil and deny. This
dynamic does not create a good place from which
words and phrases include the likes of “honoring
to foster dialogue and understanding. How can we work to understand
diversity" and “being free to be myself.” Less likely to be heard is the
the concept when we can’t even face the word and its implications?
notion of “proud to he part of a co-joined group that speaks, thinks and
Is nonacceptance of the label, the word, another act of racism in and
acts alike.”
of itself? Would creation and/or usage of a “softer,” “kinder,” “gentler”
While the aforementioned celebration of diversity is most commonly
word allow those needing the dialogue and the work the flexibility to
associated with diversity of culture, sexual preference, religion, gender
drop their defenses and step forward with greater trust and less fear?
identity and ethnicity, I think it’s crucial to reinforce the notion that
Words can be powerful. They can frighten. They can intimidate.
diversity of thought and speech must also be honored. We are not now,
How do we work through these words, their wounds and their
never have been and never should be a community b f one thought. We
accompanying fears? Is there an answer in the concept of Gay Pride? In
are united neither in uniformity nor conformity. Nor should we ever be
Gay Pride can we find the personal power to acknowledge other areas
united in denying anyone right of expression. We are not of one voice.
and aspects of our lives where we need to change, grow and be the best
We have the right to expression, the right to speak, the right to dis­
agree. No one should speak for another, nor should anyone allow anoth­ we can be? To me that is Gay Pride: being the best we can be. Even
when it’s very, very hard.
er to speak for them.
w
Dishonorable Rick Santorum
R EFLECTIONS
p 51
10 years ago in
thiftf F ri­
day of each month Copyrichi © 2001 by Just Out. N o part
of just ( Art may he reproduced without written permission from
the publisher.
a l l ( • u n l f o m f Written material should he typed ami dou­
ble-spaced. Just (Ait reserves the ri«ht 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 leir.il action.
Letters to the editor should be limited to 500 words. A n ­
nouncements repmlinu life transitions (births, deaths, unions,
etc.) should be limited to 200 worth; photo» are welcome. Dead
line for submission« to the editorial department ami for the
Calendar IS the Thursday 15 days before the next publication
,Lite. Views expressed in letters to the editor, columns and features
are not necessarily those of the publisher.
The display advertising deadline is the Monday 12
days before the next publication date.
Classified ads 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. Ads may be placed by telephone or via the
Internet with Visa or MastetCard payment.
Ad policy: Just Out reserves the nght to reject or edit any
advertisement. Gim pensation for emits in, or cancellation if,
advertising will be made with credit towatd future advertising.
Advertising rates are available upon request.
Distribution polity; lust (A s is available free U charge, one
copy per | e n n . Just (Ait is delivered only to authorized distribu­
tors. N o person may, without p m * written permisHtm from Just
(Ail, t;»ke more than one copy. Any person who takes more than
one copy may be held liable for theft, including but not limited to
civil damages and/or criminal pnnecution.
Subscriptions are $22.50 Air 12 issues First Class (in an
envelope) is $40 Aw 12 issues.
C on tact Just O ut at P.O. Box 14400, Portland, O R
97291-0400; 505-256-1252, advertising 505-256-1255, fax
505-256-1257; e-mail juMout+juMout.ctwn. Visit our Internet site
at www.jintout.com.
• Airman apprentice Terry M . HeNey « to tte d r a M ay 3 hearing that
he beat gpy shipmate A im ScNndter to death at i Japanese t o e
last year. Hefcey. 21, of Wetland, Mich., was charged last year with
the premeditated murder o f Schindfor. 22, of Chicago.
• A group of conservative Christiana has invited members o f
Congress to view a videotape of events they say the public never
saw during the April 25 gay and lesbian match on Washington, 0 .0 .
The video, The Homosexual Assault on Washington, features shots
of bare-breasted women, kngering kisses between men and leather
enthusiasts in dog collars and nose and nipple rings.
• Gov. Barbara Roberts started the year by prioritizing human
rights for a l Oregonians. She proposed a bfl to create an 11-
member Human Rights Commission, which would concentrate on
education and mediation.
• The Multnomah County Board of Commissioners renamed the
G i BuHdng at 426 S.W . Stark St the Gladys M cCoy Buiidtag
Marty Davis
Jim Radosta
A iTI AM n u n o r a l • Lisa Bradshaw
Timothy Krause
• Marie Fleischmann
! • Marc Acito, Kathy Beige,
Meryl Cohn, Gina Daggett, Jodi Helmer,
at e memorial sendee held in early May. The Portland G ey M en’s Chorus
end state Rep. M argaret C arter sang at the dedfoadon.
• The Rrst Tuesday Coffeehouse features Women of Color Night on
June 1. Performers include M arie W ebster and Jeanette Spencer.
• For the Rrst time in the history o f Portland Pride, the mayor w i be
marching. Vera Katz has canceled her plans to be out of town in order
to march with us in this year's parade.
• O f the 545 reported bias crimes throughout Oregon In 1 9 9 2 ,2 4 0 w ere
based on race or color, 57 w ere based on national origin, 36 were based
on rekgion. 97 w ere based on sexual orientation, 92 w ere baaed on
pottcal beiefs, 22 were based on economic or social statue, and one
was based on handfoap.
Andy Mangels, Christopher McQuain,
Gary Morris, J.B. Rabin, Bob Roehr,
Cori Taratoot, Jack Turteltaub, Rex Wockner
I • Larry Lewis
: • Markie Acevedo
’ • Erin Sexton
I • Kevin Moore
• Zanne dejanvier
Marie Fleischmann
I • Kevin Friends
I • Kristine Ashton, Alison Benn,
Mary Hauer, Youme Inhofe, Barb Pickle,
Crash Schwartz