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About Just out. (Portland, OR) 1983-2013 | View Entire Issue (Sept. 19, 2003)
BOOKS .............▼............. Seventh Portland Lesbian & Gay Film Festival "Bestial practices" New book reveals Oregon courts used homosexuality to oust progressive politician by M itch G ould n 1904, writes University of Colorado historian Peter Boag in his new bix>k Same-Sex Affairs: Constructing and Con trolling Homosexuality in the Pacific Northwest (University of Califor nia Press, 2003; $24.95 softcov- er), Oregon was already “one of the leaders of the progressive movement.” To help win the war on alco hol, the Anti-Sahxin League hired a broad-shouldered, haby- faced attorney named Edward McAllister. He had just arrived in Portland, minus his wife. He soon joined with a classmate from Virginia to create a law partnership. McAllister then commenced racking up big enemies. He joined a group that proposed a stiff tax on lands owned by real estate speculators and helped spearhead Oregon’s now-famous citizen initiative system. During the election of 1912, he was also involved with controversial issues such as capital punish ment, the vote for women and a funding measure that punished University of Oregon. As Boag tells it, “The results of the elec tion did not bode well for McAllister.” t’s too had McAllister is the closest thing When the election was over, voters soundly Same-Sex Affairs offers to a hero. Credit trumped most of McAllister’s causes. The Boag with being inclusive: He demon exception: a repeal of funding for U of O. The strates how p<x>r immigrants, transient labor university’s hometown expressed its outrage in ers and the homeless also suffered politically the pages of the Eugene Daily Guard. ! at the hands of homophobic opportunists, j But this is a b<x)k about sex, crime and vic ardly a week passed before the Daily timization; the word love never rates its own Guard broke the story of McAllister’s entry in the index. “bestial practices” in a homosexual panic Boag is tcx> occupied teasing out sexual sub called Portland’s “Vice Clique,” which impli species among the homeless and impover cated 68 men. It was followed by similar ished—based upon small variations in gender scandals in 1913 Philadelphia, in 1914 Los identity and sexual techniques—to study the Angeles and, just after World War I, in 1919 basic question of whether love and commit Newport, R.I. (Is the timing of these other ment helped any of these desperate men lead panics a coincidence? If not, we need a plau worthwhile lives. sible explanation, hut you won’t find one in The author’s best results are an account of Same-Sex Affairs.) how the press wavered in covering this McAllister lived and worked on Southwest “unprintable” topic. But instead of his explana Washington Street—the heart of Portland’s tion (censorship), reticence may well have been a humane strategy,-which is unexplored. gay district. His law office was practically on the corner of the city’s “Whitechapel” vice To his credit, Boag tries to make sense of district (nicknamed in reference to Jack the these events as expressions of great stKial Ripper). During the trial, local men testified changes, which is a difficult task for any histo that he picked them up and t<x>k them home rian. But he fails to address the steady rise in or to his office. U.S. churchgoing prior to the scandal, and he In February 1913, McAllister was convicted gives uxy little notice of the concern with sex of sixlomy. “The weight of public opinion ually transmitted diseases just before the wide against him for his role in the single tax move spread intnxJuction of a new syphilis cure (a ment, for his stand on university appropria history brilliantly covered by Alan Brandt). tions,” says Boag, “played a role” in his convic Despite these drawbacks, Same-Sex Affairs tion. “Nor did being a Democrat in a Republi draws upon a wealth of original, first-class can city and state help his case.” scholarship, and it provides a unique per spective into the lives of the men who really Although the lawyer won his case on appeal, he was disbarred, and his impeccable built Oregon. That includes the loggers and sailors who actually created its vast wealth reputation destroyed. He moved to a southern and the progressive politicians who strove to Oregon farm near Myrtle Creek, where he make the state a national iruxlel for gixxl became active in small-town associations such government. jn as the Masonic Lodge. He was only 58 when he died from a stroke in 1926. The Myrtle MlTCH G ould is a multimedia developer and Creek Mail said he was widely respected in the curator of the forthcoming Web site area but “had known tragedy, and persecution, and disappointment.” leavesofgrass.org. He lives m Forest Grove. I H October 9 -19,2003 PASSES AND TICKETS FOR ALL PROGRAMS ON SALE NOW AT WWW.SENSORYPERCEPTIONS.ORG AND WWW.TICKETWEB.COM OR BY CALLING 866.468.7623. Festival passes can also be purchased in advance at the following locations: Balloons On Broadway Gai Pied 617 SW Washington St. (503) 241-3336 2544 Nl: Broadway St. Portland, OR (503) 331-1125 Videorama Yidcorama 2310 N Lombard St Portland, OR (503) 289 8408 2640 NE Alberta St Portland, OR (503) 288-4067 Portland, OR Special Presentation! Free Opening Night Screening! Thursday, October 9, 7:30 pm at The Guild Theater, SW 9th & Taylor Phis year's festival kicks off with a special I REK screening of Tipping The Velvet at the NW Film Center's Guild Theatre, SW 9th ami Taylor at 7:30 pm . C'ome early and buy your passes and tickets for the rest of the festival! The remainder of this year's programs will be at Cinema 21.616 NW 2 1 st Ave. Please Join Us At A Benefit For The Seventh Portland Lesbian & Gay Film Festival Sunday, September 21, 7 pm -1 0 pm at Crush, 1412 SE Morrison Admission is $5. There will be free food, specially-priced martinis, wines, and beer. Everyone who attends will be entered to win passes and tickets to this year’s LGIT. DVDs, and more. You'll also get a sneak peek at the films playing in this year's festival and a chance to pick tip the official program guide. All proceeds benefit the Seventh Annual Portland EGKE mssb CASA RI AI TY. INC ABSOLUT V U l/IV A HE ju s trm I/OUTDOOR P rintingSolution* v DONALD FALK w w w .p d « rr» |ty com WI L LAMETTE ÜHÍ PORTLAND CABLI ACCESS W W W .S E N S O R Y P E R C E P T IO N S .O R O WEEK
