»jiy lfl. 2ÛÛ3 ' >at
EfWRlotit
eyes, you see a vomiting woman on the grass and
decide, “She’s not one of us, avoid her.” Or if you
see a brown-skinned sister and decide, “Ella no
hahla espanol, es una ‘sellout.’ ”
Given my experiences, I have found it
more self-motivating to identify as “human"
rather than try to align myself with any par
ticular group and thus be forced to meet
expectations such as those that have been
imposed on Mtxtre and Gulotta. As a proud
member of the human race, I want to develop
empathy for someone who loves her heritage
and wants to be welcomed by those who may
be more in touch with it.
As a member of the human race, 1 would like
to have a hard time passing by a person who is
lying on the grass without seeing if he or she is
getting some help. I’m not a perfect human
being yet, but checking all the boxes off on the
“human race membership list" is enough for me
to work on in this lifetime!
■■■<** rTVTTTTTI
«I
*
K
do
predict will be the aftermath of
the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision in
Laurence vs. Texas? Should homophobes start waving their white flags,
or is this only the first of many battles in Justice Antonin Scalia’s
so-called “cultural war”?
n 1896 the Supreme Court, in Plessy vs. Fer answer, and the religious right wing fits that
guson, ruled that “separate but equal" description perfectly.
I think in time, logic and objectivity may
accommodations for African Americans were
legal. It only took the court 58 years, via Brown prevail, but that won’t happen soon or easi
vs. Topeka Board of Education, to realize how ly. In the meantime, we must be patient and
persistent and celebrate each victory, no
wrong that decision was.
Did that mean the segregationists just
matter how small, as a step forward.
rolled over and played dead? Not bloody like
The Lawrence decision was a step forward
ly. People like Orval Faubus, George Wallace,
of historic proportions and one that we
Bull Conner, Lester Maddox and Strom should value particularly highly. The
Thurmond kept the banner high and resisted Supreme Court does not easily reverse its
own decisions, and for it to reverse a rela
the end of Jim Crow for as long as they could.
While I am thrilled that it only took the
tively recent decision such as Bowers is
remarkable, perhaps even unprecedented.
court 18 years to realize that the Bowers vs.
Hardwick case was just as wrong, you can bet There’s hope that maybe we’ll leam what our
the farm that the homophobes are going to - history should have taught us long ago:
J ean -M arie Z ubia
be just as tenacious as the segregationists There’s no room in civilized society for big
Portland
were. We have our Antonin Scalias, Bill otry and discrimination of any kind.
Frists, Rick Santorums, Pat Robertsons and
Open communication
P atricia H ansen
Lon Mabons to contend with, and you know
they’re not going to exit quietly.
Portland
To the E ditor :
Lawrence vs. Texas, like Brown vs. Tope
think Mitra Rahnema’s letter about what
ka, is a historic first step nationally. The war
the word “racist" means, or should mean or
Bravo’s
who it applies to, is well written ¡“White still rages, let’s not forget that. Those who
Guilt," June 20). 1 don’t agree with some of forget history are doomed to repeat it.
reality
her points.
television show Boy Meets Boy,
P at K erwin
I don’t think Just Out is trying to take
premiering July 29, is like The
Portland
“empowerment away in order to make it easier"
Bachelor but with a twist: Some
• • •
to deal with the word. I’ve never found Just Out
to be particularly selective or excluding of any
of the contestants are straight! Is
he fun is just starting. The Lawrence deci
one or any group, save maybe Jerry Falwell.
this an interesting and playful
sion should be the beginning of the end
(Smile.)
social experiment or an insulting
for legislation that aims to discriminate against
It is about “the word.” When the “R-word” is
practical joke played on gays?
gay men and lesbians, but 1 think it’ll be a long,
brought up, by anyone of any group, it is the
(Please see related item on
equivalent of a man or a woman in a social gath tough battle.
Homophobes, particularly those who justify
ering “breaking wind” with an ear-shattering,
Page 43.) Respond at
their bigotry by reliance on their religious
long and oily eruption. Everything sort of stops.
www.justout.com. (Don’t forget
All talking and all communication just grind to beliefs, will not wave the white flag anytime
to include your name, city and
soon. The most intolerant person in the world
a halt. People sort of step away.
daytime telephone number.)
is the one who believes he has the only right
Just Out is not denying the concept nor the
effects past and, to some extent, present of
racism, only that the word itself is like the
There is still so much more work ahead of
“N-word.” And even among African Ameri “hard" really is like. Even better, talk with some
us to achieve some of the basic rights so many
full-time black transvestites or transsexuals.
cans, using the “N-word” is probably not in the
others take for granted. 1 am encouraged
best of taste. For anyone but an African Ameri
about what the future holds, and 1 hope we
can to use the “N-word" around African Amer J ohn B oynton
can all come together—queer, straight, ques
Vancouver, Wash.
icans, he or she damn well better have a loaded
tionable—hand in hand to move forward.
gun and be ready to use it instantly, for with 100
Because it affects all of us sooner or later, let
percent certainty, a serious attempt will be made
Looking
forward
your voice he heard and follow it through with
on his or her life.
some action. One voice can make a difference.
Finally, I would like to point out to Ms. Rah-
To the E ditor :
nema that if she thinks that various types of VI 'e live in a unique time with the positive
V * changes and endless opportunities hap Rie B errong
“isms" are not going on within the nonstraight
Portland
pening at a rapid pace all around us. The recent
world, then she is very much in denial, and just
so she does not miss the point, that includes the i Supreme Court ruling is yet another step for
ward, but it is still not enough.
world of lesbians of color.
Equality before the law
There is much more work to be done within
Racists for the most part know they are
the queer community to ensure that we contin To the E ditor :
racists, and they may or may not feel bad about
he U.S. Supreme Court upheld the princi
ue to move forward. I am encouraged by the
it. But screaming at them, “getting in their face”
ple of freedom of association June 26 when
many community groups, big and small, young
or haranguing them is not a whole lot different
it struck down a Texas law that criminalized pri-
and young at heart, who are committed to a
from Caucasians doing the same thing at all
those who are not male and white. If there is to common goal: basic human rights for everyone. .vate, consensual sexual behavior between
U.S. Sen. Bill Frist, R-Tenn, wants a consti homosexuals. At its heart, this is similar to a
be change, there has to be open communica
tutional amendment to make it a law that mar Supreme Court ruling three years ago that lim
tion, and neither side can demand that it is
ited New Jersey’s abilities to interfere with the
riage is between a man and a woman. He needs
"their way or the highway" and expect any
Boy Scouts’ private decisions. Both cases should
to define to me what love is before he decides
improvement.
be applauded by all who believe our U.S. Con
As a separate aside, people who are seem who should have the right to bond their love
with marriage. I would he interested If he, or any stitution is a charter of liberty.
ingly pissed off all the time, like Ms. Rahne-
Although both cases embrace the same
ma, also miss a lot of the little good things of his narrow-minded followers, can tell me
constitutional values, many of those who
what I feel is not love.
that happen in life. Being permanently angry
Despite the Supreme Court ruling, with cheered the first decision will revile the sec
can become a 24/7 lifestyle, until people do
out a legal document, a simple piece of paper, ond, and vice versa. That one’s position on
not remember when they were not angry all
freedom of association depends on one's posi
1 am still able to look into the eyes of the man
the time.
who has captured my heart and say with com tion on homosexuality demonstrates how ide
P.S. If Ms. Rahnema thinks being an African
plete, faithful confidence how much I love ologically polarized—and divorced from
American lesbian is hard, she should talk to
him. This is my right as a human being and
some full-time transvestites or transsexuals in
has nothing to do with my gender.
Continued on Page 7
this society, and then she would find out what
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