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C hile E ffect
ive m onths ago Patricio LaBeuffe
arrived in Portland, seeking an oppor
tunity to experience his spirituality in
an atmosphere that would accept him
Volunteer helps church with Spanish-language outreach
as a gay man and a spiritual man. Five
years earlier he had heard about M etropolitan
by Patricia L. MacAodha
G im m unity C hurch and started keeping in reg
ular contact with the denom ination’s global out
com m union by a trans
reach coordinators and its Miami congregation.
no people to church, in teaching the Spanish
Raised in a country and family ot Roman
person. “This would not
classes, which are tun and delightful."
Githolic culture and religion, LaBeuffe identifies
happen in C hile,” he says.
She is glad to have accepted his offer to teach
as Christian hut needs a kind of ecumenism that
“It was wonderful, and
and to provide a Spanish-language prayer service,
goes more than a little beyond the box: the side of which is done between the two main Sunday serv that’s when 1 realized 1
him that studies with a Tibetan lama, engages in
ices. LaBeutte will tailor the prayer services to the
was in a gtxxl place."
needs
ot
those
who
seek
out
a
Spanish-language
He knows the o u t
regular meditation and does Reiki. (He is a
liturgy and will include cultural focuses reflecting
reach to Latino and Lati
Level II practitioner.) These, he says, would have
the heritage of those who take part in the services.
not been accepted in the Chilean Githolic milieu,
na queers in the Portland
Ail M CC churches in Mexico and Latin
but they are important to him. “My spiritual life
area will reflect a wide
array of cultures. He
has been very personal, my own thing.”
America use Spanish as the liturgical language.
However, the denomination has few such pro expects the majority to be
He deliberately picked Portland after a friend
from Mexico, but with a Patricio LaBeuffe came to Portland in search of a spiritual home that
grams outside these areas, even though large
told him he would find the spiritual tolerance he
significant variety of peo would accept him as a gay C hristian
Latino populations exist in many countries,
sought here, with a church where he would be
ple from South America
communities and cities served by MCC. This
accepted as a gay man. T he church was M CC
and other Spanish-speaking countries.
For these two men, it seems, the dreams, and the
will be the d enom ination’s first Spanish-
Portland.
language outreach in Oregon.
Just Out asked how he expects to work with partners with whom to share them, have met at
LaReuffe came here on a tourist visa and
LaBeuffe’s background reflects the multi this cultural mix. “If they know they can come the right tune and in the right place,
hopes to extend it because of the prix:ess that
here,” he says, "can talk, meet in small
“It is im portant,” LaBeuffe says, “that the
cultural ambiance of Chile. He is French, Spanish,
began the day he walked into M CC Portland.
groups. ..celebrate with their own identities and
people send a positive message. O ne of the spir-
Danish and English but identifies proudly with the
W hen he introduced himself to the Rev. G lenna
itual roads we can take is to learn about our own
Chilean culture and Latino heritage.
sense of community, they will feel more com
Shepherd on that first Sunday, he immediately
personal
divinity.” J H
outlined his plan to offer, as a volunteer, a Span-
fortable, more welcome.”
He mentions gay organizations in Chile,
W ith all of his plans, the one thing LiBeuffe
such as Movihil, that are fighting publicly for
ish-language prayer service as well as providing
M etropolitan G immunity Q iurch of
gay rights and that are encouraging gay and gay- didn’t expect was to fall in love, but that, too, has
the congregation with free Spanish classes. He
PORTLAND offers Spanish-language prayer senice
also told the pastor of his plans to become an
supportive candidates for public office. There is come into his life, in the person of a man named
Tony who teaches English as a second language. from 10:05 to 10:55 a.m. Sundays and free Spanish
M CC clergyman and eventually return to Chile
also a movement to promote gay marriage.
W ith the international scope of his new partner’s classes from 6 to 7 p.m. Thursdays at 2400 N.E.
Trans activists there have created an institute to
and start a congregation there.
Broadway. For more information call 503-281-8868.
help them with their transition prtKesses and
plaas, is Tony prepared to give up his Portland life
Shepherd was a little amazed at the sudden
gaining support and understanding.
and join LiBeuffe in Chile? His aaswer is a quick
ness of LaBeuffe’s offer but was interested in his
“Yes.” Tony’s study of the Spanish language is part
P atricia L. M a c A o d h a is a Portland free-lance
W hen LaBeuffe came to M CC Portland, one
ideas and impressed by his enthusiasm. “1 think
of his dream to live in a Lifin American country.
umter. E-mail her at parmacJ I@juno.com.
thing that caught his attention was being served
he is doing fabulously," she says, “in bringing Lati
F
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