COMMENTARY
n\ M a k h D amn
T h e I N publication for the O U T population
F ounded 1983 • J ay B rown
and
Vol. 2 0 No. 17
R enée L a C mance
July 4 , 2 0 0 3
FEATURE
BEFORE YOU SAY I DO: Ju st Out's guide to tying the
knot shows how commitment ceremonies aren’t
so queer after all
r 24
NEWS
NORTHWEST. Gay Marine faces court-martial
pp 9-17
NATIONAL • Bill Frist defines marriage
pp 18-21
WORLD • Belgian women get hitched
pp 22-23
ARTS AND C U L T U R E
MUSIC • Annie Lennox hares her soul after
! 20 years o f exposure
p 36
CULTURE • Peacock in the Park pics
p 37
BOOKS • Portland sci-fi writer's characters
I go every which way; major league baseball's
Billy Bean (ells all
pp
39-41
FILM • Classic pom collection released on DVD;
A Fam ily A ffa ir ; Pride prez/.ies from MGM
i pp 42-43
DIVERSIONS • Portland Gay Men’s Chorus
i swings; congratulations, new Gay Oregons;
: Big Ass Field Party; gay cabaret
p 44
WHAT'S POPPIN'T • Take a dip in Sw imming
I P ool
,4 5
COLUMNS
MS. BEHAVIOR • Wah! My friends are having
babies, and I'm out in the cold
p 35
EPIQUEEREAN • It’s not outer space, darling, it's
outer Southeast!
p 38
OUT WITH IT! • A veiled threat
In sickness and in health
Sam e-sex marriage spreads like S A R S
to be made available. Accountability should be a given. Where is the
'"f hat heady, heady times these are. And on so many
money going? How is it being spent? Voice your concerns. Ask for
levels— globally, nationally and locally. Within days,
-Vi
answers. There are no sacred cows.
Canada proposes the legality of same-sex marriage,
the U.S. Supreme Court overturns sodomy laws and
nd while on the topic of disclosure and accountability, here is
The Oregonian publishes an oddly paternal editorial
what’s going on with your staff at Just Out. It seems 1 have to find
acknowledging that the paper continues to oppose the concept of gay
a new salesperson to join us. Markie Acevedo and her partner, Pam
marriage while noting its support for domestic partner registrations, gay
Hahn, have made the decision to return to their hometown of San
adoption and health insurance benefits for partners and families.
Diego. Trust me, San Diego’s gain is Portland’s loss. In addition to
The editorial meanders a hit, noting this and that in recent events,
being an outstanding salesperson for Just Out, Markie has enhanced our
then states in a rather resigned tone, “Over the past two decades, the
community with her work involving many groups and organizations
public’s acceptance of gays has risen markedly, giving us reason to
including Northwest Gender Alliance, Basic Rights Oregon’s Trans
believe that this trend is now inexorable.”
Advisory Group and the new LG BTQ Community Center Interim
Inexorable. Impossible to stop or prevent. That's what the word means.
Board. Markie leaves big pumps to fill. If you think you’re the one to
It seems to me that with this particular word choice we’re being likened to
_ . -
.
- take her place, please send me your information.
the spread of an unfortunate disease. Nothing fatal or
deadly perhaps hut, given a choice, something you’d
Celebrants and supporters o f
In April of last year I hired Erin Sexton to replace
probably rather not have. Thanks, Oregonian, but
rarpnt i /irtnripc inrlpprl hnvp outgoing
° fr,ce Mana«er Mclissa Sav,er 1 don,t
IC IC I 11 VIUUIIC j IIIUCCU IIUVC
know exactly what kind of training program went on
don’t stand tcx) close, “gays” might be contagious.
at the front desk, but apparently it was a hands-on
Celebrants and supporters of recent victories
cause for positive reaction
affair. As a result, Erin and Melissa are getting mar
indeed have cause for positive reaction but at the
but
at
the
same
time
should
ried July 12! It will be a grand lesbian celebration.
same time should not he blind to the possibility of
Guests were advised: “This is a lesbian wedding.
a strong and organized conservative backlash.
not be blind to the possibility Wear comfortable shoes.” Erin shares some of her
Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist led the charge
by endorsing an amendment to the U .S. Constitu
o f a strong and organized wedding planning experiences with you in this issue’s
feature story. Melissa remains characteristically silent.
tion banning legal marriage for gay and lesbian
conservative
backlash
I wish them great and wondrous happiness.
couples in the United States. The country
On a similar celebratory note, Graphic Director
remains evenly divided on support for gay
Kevin Mcxire and his wife, Jenn, are gonna have a baby, their very first!
marriage— and strong, well-funded, organized efforts could swing the
We don’t know if there’s been a Just Out baby before; this might be our
undecided or marginal supporter in either direction.
first, too. Wish us all well.
hich would lead me to the topic of funding and support for our
nd as a final note I’d like to tell you about an experience I had at
activist groups and organizations. Money is, has been and always
Darcelle’s last month. I love Darcelle, I love her performers, I love
will be the mainstay of our movement. Money, that is, and the energy of
her nightclub. But I also love myself and require copious amounts of
the leaders and people working within these very groups. But money
oxygen and, as a rule, don't go to bars because of the smoking. A fund
can be the hardest to find— and money, and the accountability of its
raiser for PeaceKk in the Park was held June 24 at Darcelle’s, and it was
usage, can be the factor causing the most internal strife and divisiveness.
nonsmoking. When they told me about this, 1 was skeptical and didn’t
We all have the right to expect and demand accountability from the
think it would matter— the air must be permanently corrupted. Well,
groups and organizations that come to us as individuals and as a com
guess what? It made all the difference in the world. You could breathe.
munity for financial support. We should be told how much is being
You could enjoy the performers. You could buy drinks and spend money
raised, and we should be given prixif of where it’s being spent. We have
and be festive and not have smoke in your face (and hair and skin and
the right to expect that groups are following their mission statements
clothes).
and that money solicited in the name of those causes is being spent,
So, nightclub owners, how about once-a-wcek nonsmoking nights?
fully and honorably, in that same manner.
Give it a try. There are people out there waiting to be your customers.
Ask where your money is going. Demand prexif. Nonprofits are
Give them, and their lungs, a chance to patronize your business. JPT
reqilired to make their meetings open and public; financial records are
A
W
A
p 44
OUT LOUD • Former Just Out staffer finds some
things arc the same all over
P 47
THE SOSPEL ACCOROINE TO MARC - Is your hair
naturally gay?
p 49
Ju st ou t It published on the fir»« and th ird F ri
day o f each m onth. ( wipynght O 2(XM by Ju\t ( >ut N o pun
• Just Out welcom es C hades M o o se as the city
of Portland's new police chief. He has marched
in uniform with us in Lesbian and G ay Pride
parades for the past few years. W e are
confident of his continued support for the
diverse sexual minorities community.
ÍB5Í out
? V .
ol /u>t ( hit timy lx- reproduced without w ritten p c rm im -m Irotn
tlu- pu b lish e r
• Metropofitan Community Church of Portland has
The tu b m ittlo n o f w ritte n and grap hic m a te ri
al* i* w elcom ed. W r m e n m.iteri.tl -hool.l he typed a n d d o u
ble-spaced. lust l hit reserves the right to edit for yr.umn.ir, punc-
lu.ition, style, liability co n cern s anil length. W e will reject or edit
articles or .klvcrtiscm cnts that are oilensive, de m e an ing o r m ay
result in legal action.
L etter* to the ed itor sh ou ld he lim ited to S 0 0 w ords A n -
I n u u iR c tn c n ls regarding lilc transitions ( h n h s , deaths, unions,
' etc.) should he lim ited to 20 0 words, photos are w elcom e Dead
line for *u b m i**io n * to the editorial de p u n m e n t and tor the
C alendar IS the T h u rsd ay I 5 days before the next publication
dale. Vie w s expresses! in letters to the editor, co lu m n s and features
an- not necessarily those- of the publisher.
The diaplay ad vertisin g dead line is the M o tv la y 12
ilays M o r e tlu- next publication date
Classified ads m int he- received at the just ( >ut office by 4
pan. o n the T h u rsd a y eight ilays before the next publication date,
alon g w ith payment. A d s m ay he placed hy telephone or v ia the
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Ad policy: tint O u t reserves the right to reject or edit any
advertisement. C o m p e n sa tio n for e m irs in, or cancellation of,
a jv e n tx in g will he m.tdc w ith credit toward future advertising.
A d v e rtisin g rales are available u p o n request.
D istribution policy: lust ( hit is available free of charge, one
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tors N o fv rso n tnay, w ithout prior written fxrrm nMon from Just
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civil ilamagvs atul/or crim inal pn«scention
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C o n i.ic t Just Chit at P.O. B o x 14400. Po rtland. O R
1-0400; 501 -2 W i-1252. ad ve rtisin g 5 0 V 2 W > - I2 5 i,
fax
501-2 Vv-1257; e-matl |tMour9|iisiout.cofn. Visit ixir Internet sue
at www |ustisi«.coin.
>
settled on a nominee after a seven-month search
process. The Rev. Dennis Chappefl has been
invited to M C C as a candidate for the senior
pastor position, which has been open since the
Rev. Gary W ilson resigned in December.
-
1/7 ♦
W
A F^.UA
Vpjyjf.
• Labor Com m issioner M ary W endy Roberts
is making an ai-out pitch for Senate BiK 34.
the M l she is sponsoring that would include
sexual orientation in the list of protections
extended to Oregonians in the areas of
employment, housing, public accommodation
and real estate transactions.
L«~i
• The American Civil Liberties Union filed
suit June 10 against the city of Cornelius, charging
PUBLISHER ANO MANACIN6 EDITOR • Marty Davis
that the anti-gay initiative voters there p assed M a y 18 violates
both the O regon and federal constitutions.
• Portland's gay. lesbian and bisexual community is inching toward
creating a community center. The O regon Lesbian. G ay and
Bisexual Cultural Resource Center Task Force has scheduled its
first public meeting for July 26 at Portland State University. The
task force w as started in Decem ber 1992 by Larry Taylor and Lyle
Sw eeney to facilitate the process of founding a center.
• The Pacific Northw est W om e n 's M u sic and Cultural Jam boree
features concerts with such lesbian luminaries a s Ferron. Deidre
M cC alla and Lucie Blue Tremblay from July 1 to 4 at W estern
W ashington University in Bellingham. S e e com edians, attend
w orkshops, peruse the crafts fair, dance and play team sports.
• Colorado for Family Values, the group responsible for
Am endm ent 2. claimed in a recent newsletter that Alyson
Publications has an agenda to recruit children and encourage
them to have sex with adults.
• Som e residents of Enumcbw. Wash., are upset that a gay rodeo is
coming to town Sept. 11 and 12. Resident Jack Vogt says he's
worried about his community being exposed to "improper behavior."
AITS AM CHINE W IN • Lisa Bradshaw
Davidson, Els Dehhaut, Patricia L. MacAtxIha,
Andy Mangels, Gary Morris, Bob Roehr, Floyd
Sklaver, G)ri Tarattxit, Rex Wtxrkner, Pat Young
FEATURES EMTN • Timothy Krause
AIVBITISIM M ECTN • Larry Lewis
EDITORIAL ASSISTANT • Marie Flcischmann
AIVHmSMC REPBESEJVTXnVt • Markie Acevedo
CWTRMfTNS • Marc Acito, Michael Burdick,
Meryl G rhn, Gina Daggett, Meg Daly, Katy
ABVBmSMC ASSBOAIf • Erin Sexton
NEWSBITN* Jim Radosta
C M P M M ECTN • Kevin Moore
PNNCTNN ASSISTANT • Zanne dejanvier
*F1CE MANACB • Marie Fleischmann
n U R I t t t • Kevin Friends
HSTMTON • Kristine Ashton, Alison F3enn,
Ashley Conley, Tara G>y, Mary Hauer,
DaiTen Linder, Ann Lopez, Jennifer Saunders,
Crash Schwartz