m
prnrronsinews
J m K M t * ocloter 3. 2003
SHAMROCK
LODGETTES
O pen -D oor P olicy
Portland life coaches and therapists guide people out of the closet
by Gina Daggett
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www.epbb.com ___
t’s not hard for queers who are out to encour­
age fellow brothers and sisters to come out of
the closet. It’s easy to forget what that fear tasted
like, how- covering up your life was the only
option. Many proponents believe it’s a queer per­
sonresponsibility to come out because, although
! painful for the individual and loved ones, in the
end, it positively affects the collective society.
“National polls have shown that people
who know someone who is lesbian or gay are
far more likely to support equal rights for all gay
people,” says Elizabeth Birch, Human Rights
Campaign executive director. “And we know
from stories that we hear that the same is tme
for people who know a bisexual or transgender
”
person. Coming out may he one step in the life
of a gay, lesbian, bisexual or transgender person,
hut it contributes to a giant leap tor all G LB T
people, today and in the future."
O n T heir O wn T erms
ife coaches and therapists have been helping
people deal with issues surrounding their
C ome O ut and P lay
Oregonians will celebrate Notional Coming Out Day
with a variety of events Oct. 11 by Jim R ado sta
O
360 - 699-1810
eph&b
insurance
Professional
counselor
Deborah
Samuels
encourages
clients to not
“ come crashing
out the closet”
but to think it
through
A C hoice
or a R esponsibility ?
Aloha Market Centre
20455 SW TV Highway
www.westsideflorist.net
Teleflora
f you ask people who’ve come out of the
closet what the first step is, odds are they
wouldn’t hesitate before they said self-
acceptance. But if you ask them how they
tixik that first step, you’re sure to get a dif­
ferent answer from everyone.
There are lots of ways people in the closet face
their queer demons. Many first confide in a friend
or a family member, others go to support groups,
and fix) many— thank you, destructive fear—face
it alone. But no longer do people in the closet
have to face the scary closet dx>r by themselves.
Therapists and life coaches are waiting right out­
side with a gentle hand out, ready to help.
I
www.shamrockloilgettes.coin
Don Duncan
owner
“You're in the closet, door shut. When you're
cut off from the world. What 's happening? Noth­
ing. It's quiet, you're by yourself, you're hiding,
you're internalizing everything, and you're not liv­
ing your ¡xnentu.il.'
— Eric M. Paul, life coach
ut for Dean— a grassrtxits group of gay, les­
bian, bi, trans and intersex supporters of
Democratic presidential candidate Howard
Dean— is organizing National Coming Out Day
house parties across the country. The former
Vermont governor, who is a strong supporter of
queer equality, will join the house parties for a
live conference call at 5:45 p.m.
Portland lesbian Vannessa Lynn, who led a
successful Dean Team at last m onth’s
AIDSW alk03, is seeking volunteers to help
her plan a National Coming Out Day party in
the Rose City. To get involved, e-mail her at
dcan_gurl@hotmail.com. To sign up to attend
the party, visit the Web site tinyurl.com/p9lx.
For information, updates and interaction,
check
out
groups.yahoo.com/group/
outfordean-portland.
In Eugene, gay couple Ron Wold and Ken
Hindes will hold a house party from 5 to 9 p.m.
at 1409 W. Fifth Ave. They'll provide refresh­
ments, hut everyone is welcome to bring fixxJ
and drink to share with others. Donations will
be requested hut arc nor required. For more
information call 541-345-4057 or e-mail
ron97402@hotmail.com.
P
lanned Parenthood of the Colum bia/
Willamette will play host to the third
annual D isco for Choice fund-raiser from
8 p.m. to midnight at the Melody Ballroom,
615 S.E. Alder St. DJ Gregarious will once
again he the host, and participants are
encouraged to wear ’70s disco costumes. The
all-ages event will feature a raffle, and newly
designed disco m erchandise (including
T-shirts, panties and hats) will he on sale. In
honor of National Com ing Out Day, organiz­
ers arc encouraging gay, lesbian, hi and trans
people to be visible at the event.
Tickets, which arc $ 12 in advance and $ 15 at
the door, may be purchased at any Planned Par­
enthood of the Columhia/Willamette health
center or online at www.ppcw.org. For details
call 503-775-4931, ext. 226.
P
ortland S tate U n iv ersity Q ueers &
A llies will hold a C om ing O ut Day Lun­
cheon from noon to 3 p.m. in Browsing
Lounge 238 at Sm ith M emorial Center,
1825 S.W. Broadway. The event will feature
food, a speaker and some discussion time fol­
lowed by casual mingling and greetings from
sexuality for years. Even though each has his or
her own formula for supporting and encouraging
closeted clients, the bottom line is the same: It’s
important to do it on your own terms.
Life coach Eric M. Paul guides clients into
their own realizations. “Coaches don’t tell clients
what to do, they draw it out of them,” he says. He
adds that the distinction between a therapist and
a coach might he that he deals with the present
and the future, and nothing really from the past.
representatives o f on-cam pus resources such
as the Sate Space Network. For more infor­
m ation call 503 -7 2 5 -5 6 8 1 , e-niail qa@
pdx.edu or visit qa.pdx.edu.
he new Southern Oregon University
Queer Resource Center is putting on a
carnival with the theme “ It’s All in the Fami­
ly" from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at Stevenson Union
Courtyard on the Ashland campus, 1250
Siskiyou Blvd. The event will feature food,
music, entertainment and games for children.
Organizers are in need o f jugglers, face
painters, clowns and folks to work booths, dis­
tribute information and answer questions.
They also are looking for volunteers to speak
on panels about queer issues such as coming
out, homophobia and relationships. Interested
parties should call 541-552-8328 or e-mail
warfiell@sou.edu.
T
I
n recognition of the 16th annual National
Coming Out Day, the Forest Grove chapter
of Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians
and Gays is asking local businesses to display a
“PFLAG Friendly" emblem to promote the
community as a safe and friendly place for all of
its citizens. According to PFLAG mom Patricia
Kenney, it is important for queers and their
allies to he visible in order to exert economic
and political influence, further education and
reduce isolation. For more information call
503-357-2442 or e-mail fgpflag@att.net. JH