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 , (
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• 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