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About Just out. (Portland, OR) 1983-2013 | View Entire Issue (Aug. 15, 2003)
GUEST COMMENTARY T h e IN publication for the O U T population F o u n d e d 1 9 8 3 • J ay B Vol. 2 0 No. 2 0 row n and R en ée L a C Promise and peril hance August 15, 2 0 0 3 FEATURE Queers must prepare for battle over same-sex marriage u n m m i m t From well-established to up- experts to not only outlaw the recognition of “gay" marriage, but any ■ “ "'■"’I here’s never been a time of greater promise and greater peril for our community. In just a few short weeks, the thing that comes close to it, like civil unions or the comprehensive confluence of marriage in Canada, the Lawrence deci domestic partnership bill moving forward in California.) At the sion and the expected marriage ruling from the Mas moment, it looks like our side has the Senate votes— 34— to block it. sachusetts Supreme Court has dramatically altered the But in the 37 states with Defense of Marriage Acts and in Congress in 1996, we’ve seen our “friends” repeatedly run for cover when the “M ” national and intracommunity debate about our lives, our families word is trotted out. and our legal rights. O n the one hand, depending on what Massachusetts does, lesbian, (Imagine the impact if we have to fight the amendment state by state. Progress on everything else will grind to a halt as our communi gay, bisexual and transgender people could he married right here in ty’s scarce financial and people resources are sucked dry in ugly, expen the good ole U .S.A . within weeks, just like what happened after the pro-gay marriage decision in Ontario in May. O n the other hand, sive and purely defensive battles.) images of our couples getting hitched in Boston will undoubtedly pro Pundits may be right that the Bushies do not want this to be an voke a backlash the likes of which we have never seen. No doubt, issue in the 2004 race. Maybe so, but if Massachusetts breaks our Congress will feel extraordinary pressure to again “defend marriage.” way, they won’t have a choice. T h e right will raise this as a do-or-die And they have lots of options to inflict harm— any issue, and if you think this administration will thing from denying federal funds to any state that choose us over them, 1 have a nice bridge to sell First and foremost, recognizes our marriages or anything close to it, like you. (Moreover, Karl Rove won’t hesitate to deploy everyone in the civil unions, to approving a constitutional amend this issue to make sure the right turns out in droves ment to cement our second-class citizenship for for Bush if there’s continued slippage in the presi community; no matter decades to come. dent’s approval ratings.) W ithin our community, many see this opening where he or she is on W hat can we do? for marriage as the shining pathway to equal First and foremost, everyone in the community, marriage — for, aaainst, no matter where he or she is on marriage— for, rights under the law. O thers see it as the antith e sis o f liberation, the epitome o f assimilation and against, don’t know or don’t care— must unite to don't know or don't forever short-circuiting the progress we have made fight the backlash. If we do not, we will lose. Period. core— must unite to fight in winning new forms o f legal recognition and Second, because we cannot win this by ourselves, protections for families that don’t come with all each of us must speak openly and directly to our fam the backlash. I f we do not, ilies, friends, neighbors and co-workers. As the the negative baggage o f marriage. And still others are am bivalent, downright confused or both. national atmosphere becomes poisoned with endless we will lose. Period. lies, defamations and distortions, each of us needs to W here does all o f this leave us? say to those in our lives, “They are talking about me, and 1 need you First and foremost, let’s admit the extraordinary peril we face. Gay rights and abortion have always been the new right’s top whipping to take a stand for me." Third, we must demand that politicians— who we have supported boys. Every small step we’ve won has not only been excoriated as another mortal blow to Judeo-Christian values but also served as an for so long and from whom we have received so little— also stand up extraordinarily potent fund-raising and organizing tool. Since for us. No deals. Democrats, in particular, need to be told quite clearly: Lawrence, the right has gone into overdrive. "The sacrament of mar "If you let us down now, at this critical time, that’s it. No deals. No riage cannot he defiled! Armageddon is at hand!” excuses." Make no mistake, this backlash won’t be just about “gay marriage.” And finally, every national L G B T organization must set aside It will be about defaming and demonizing us in every hideous way pos its own turf issues, rivalries and addiction to media coverage and sible and to roll back the limited rights we’ve won in some parts of the dedicate itself and its resources to a collective campaign to turn country. back the bigots. Folks, this is the big one. Together, we can win. JT1 If Massachusetts goes for marriage (or if New Jersey does in a cou ple of years), the right will demand that Congress send to the states for MATT F orem an is executive director o f the National G ay and Lesbian ratification a constitutional amendment restricting marriage to “one man and one woman.” (Beware: This amendment is read by most legal Task Force. and-coming, these three gay and lesbian designers are giving Portland a creative edge 2I p NEWS CA P tailors prevention messages to specific populations PP 7 -2 1 NXTIINAL • Dick Gephardt joins PFLAG pp 2 2 -2 3 WWJ • Vatican declares war on gay marriage pp 2 4 -2 5 ARTS AND CU LT URE Our House makes fund raising an inviting event P 37 FILM • Chalk two up for drag queens of color, John Schlesinger's queer film legacy p 38 I f U T S • Rose City Softball season wraps up as two teams head to the World Series; they’re here, they’re queer, and they play soccer PP 4 1 -4 3 SIT • It’s the same old same old at Portland Art Museum’s Oregon showcase— save for two P 44 H N \ t \ I I h M<l M W _______ WMTS riff i f T • Classics brought back to big screen P 45 M V B M M I • Queers all over Breitenbush; R.E.M. and Pansy Division are in the house; Bob Mensel celebrates 10 years P4S TK A IU • Hedwig star says his peace in new rock opera P47 COLUMNS Oh. the inhumanity! p35 EFtfliElEAN • Sunday night special P 38 NT w in m • Don’t get too comfy, now P REFLECTIONS 15 years ago in. 4 « • Randy Sufcvan. the 1st Congressional Dis trict delegate to the Democratic National Convention, led the fight in Atlanta for increased awareness and knowledge of issues of interest to gay men and lesbians. TW GttPEL ACCaWNC n MAIC • Boy marries boy p48 ih M M - day o f each M M k , ( C 2001 hy Just Out. No pan o f just O m may He rrpnxiuced without written permission from the publisher. l l i l a W t l t M M t f . W ritten material »hnuld he typed and dou ble-spaced. Just ( Hu reserves the right to edit for grammar, punc tuation, style, liability concerns and length. W e will reject or edit articles or advertisements that are offensive, demeaning or may result in legal action. L e t t e r « t » t h t t d l t * € should be limited to 500 winds. A n nouncements regarding life transitions (births, deaths, unions, etc.) should be limited to 200 winds; phorm are welcome D e a d l i n e f o r s u b m i M t o n a i to the editorial department and fin the is the Thursday 15 days before the next publication ilate. Views expressed in letters to the edttm, columns and features are run necessarily those of the publisher. T he d i o p i a y « P w t t l l l B g P ra sIH w c is the Monday 12 ilays before the next publication date. c i a a a l f l e t f a d a m ist be received at the Just C Hit 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 in MasterCard payment. AM f l l c y t lust Our reserves the nght to reject in edit any advertisement. ( annpcnsation fin em ns in, in cancellation of, advertising will be made with credit toward future advertising. Advenning rates are available upon request. D fs tr lfca t l s « p o l i t y ' Just Out is available free of charge, one copy per person, lust Out is delivered only to authinited distribu tors. No person may, without prior wntten permission from Just Out, take more than one copy. Any person who takes mine than one copy may be held liable fin theft, including but not limited to civil damages and/in criminal pnnecutmn. l a k K r t f t k w are $22.50 fin 12 issues. First Class (in an envelope) is $ 4 0 for 12 issues. C o n ta ct Just Out at P.O. B ox 14400. Portland. O R 9 7 2 9 1 -0 4 0 0 ; 5 0 3 -2 1 6 -1 2 5 2 , advertising 501*236-1253, fax 501-2V >-I257; e-mail p»«o*it9jui>tour com. Visit our Interner site ,»r w3vw.iu4fiMif.com. • The gay and lesbian jxesence at the 1988 Democratic National Convention was the strongest it ever has been. More than 100 openiy gay men ana leswans were oe»* gates or anematea to tne convention. a t a M t ju k r t r t r i I n n n i i t r t H ix m iV k M M A • The Advertising Council has announced a “tough and sensitive* AD S prevention campaign that w il be reedy this month. It is designed to reach afl sexually active people in the United States, with a par ticular emphasis on teen-agers, minori ties and women of childbearing age. • Mary Arm Humphrey, who held 8 posi tion as an equal opportunity/affirmative action officer in the U.S. Army's Civil Marty Davis I • Jim Radosta I * Lisa Bradshaw • BdhrootQwynn and Hawk Madrone lead a Paraonei Theater Workshop for woman Aug. I t in vAich the inner characters of the self can come out ana play. • The National Tranavesbte/Tranaaexual Hotfine le e 24-hour free information sendee for female impersonators, transsexuals and . . .» , f , n l U n n l » n n (Ml n i n in in O f ) O f V I ,-MI n L n MM M i B S lM a M x M jla x transvestites, it I k nee more tnan ¿¿.uuu memoers nationwide. iv i i 1 • The Lesbian Boarding House is reopening in Northeast Port land and is seeking donations of beds, becking, yard care and household items. • Sanford Director presents the 13th annuel Turnabout Aug. 14 to benefit the Pride of the Rose Scholarship Fund. The show is tor people vmo nave never performed oerore as a member or tne opposite sex. I • Larry Lewis 1 Markie Acevedo, BMTMUL MSOTHVT • Marie Fleischmann .__I__ ... • The Oregonian failed to publish even one fine about June's Gay arxi Lesbian Pride m arii). which drew 4,100 participants. Kudej, Andy Mangels, Christopher McQuain, Gary Morris, TJ Norris, J.B. Rabin, Cori Taratoot, Rex Wockner I • Timothy Krause CQlYTRMffTttS • Marc Acito, Michael E Barrett. Meryl Cohn, Meg Daly, Matt Foreman, Karen Affairs U nit is one of the many oav oeooie to exuerience dachmf nation, m itary styfe. She said, “The m tery think» that a gay par- son is going to anect tne morale or tne rest or tne troops. Pam Colton A0VBTI3W 6 ASSQCMTF • Erin Scxton-Sayler • Kevin Moore • Zanne dejanvier • Marie Fleischmann Kristine Ashton, Allison Benn, Ashley Conley, Tara Coy, Mary Hauer, Darren Linder, Crash Schwartz
