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About Just out. (Portland, OR) 1983-2013 | View Entire Issue (Oct. 17, 2003)
October 1 /. 2003 - J n t o « t.5 RSfflflout Invest a little time and I'll take it from there. An open letter to Balloons on Broadway To the E ditor : ast week I was looking for a birthday card at Balloons on Broadway and was astonished by a particular card 1 found in your store. O n the front o f the card is a black woman outfitted as A unt Jemima, and the text of the card is a play on the supposed dialect o f a slave. W hen 1 objected to the card as racist and offensive, the clerk told me that the card was “funny.” A few days later, 1 returned to Balloons on Broadway because I was frustrated by the dis missive attitude of the clerk. My co-worker Angie, who is African A m erican, came with me, and together we raised objection to such racist schlock being sold in a gay-owned store. L A very arrogant clerk justified selling the card on the basis that your store sells cards that re inforce gay stereotypes that don’t reflect real gay men. N ot only were we told that this card with the racist depiction of black slaves was amusing, but we were not assured that our protest would be passed on to the manager. Needless to say, my co-worker and I are out raged by this response. How is it that in 2003, this gay-owned shop condones and promotes such a backward and discriminatory attitude about African Americans? We are urging everyone to stop shipping at Balia ms on Broadway until this card is pulled from your shelves and your invento ry reflects real humor iastead of reinforcing bigotry. J ennifer L averdure A ngie G rigsby B WADDELL «SarREED Financial Services Investing. With a plan! For a p erso n a l fin a n c ia l plan, c a ll W ADDELL & REED Member s ,p c 3529 N .E . B roadw ay, P o rtla n d , O R 97232 FLOREID WALKER Senior Financial Advisor w ww .waddell.com • email: floreidwalker@ wradvisors.com 503.4 4 5 .9 3 9 0 500 N .E. Multnomah, Suite 278, Portland, O R 97232 Portland ¡U Q * ^ eP‘ Blumenauer, D -O re., admits he " k was wrong to vote for 1996’s Defense of Marriage Act: Are you satisfied w ith his re-evaluation, or is this a case of too little, too late? lum enauer’s . guest com m entary co n spicuously failed to state whether he would sup port civil unions, if not gay marriage. Is he being silent for political reasons, or does he secretly oppose gay unions? Either way, it makes his position on “equal rights” kx>k cow ardly and iasincere. I think Blumenauer is tragically repeating his past mistakes. It larks like anti-gay wing nuts are successfully embarrassing Democrats with the gay marriage Issue. Blumenauer’s support of the Everyone knows they need a financial plan for the future, but it's hard to find time to do it. That's where I can help. Since 1987, I've helped guide couples, domestic partners, families and businessmen and women towards their goals of prosperity and comfort. All it takes to start is a phone call. Employment Nondiscrimination Act is appreci ated, but this makes him no better than Repub licans such as U.S. Sen. Gordon Smith. U O M S5T JO ~ /U i.lü -» lt> h iÀ 2 S M ention this a d an d g e t a 10% discount. “SAME DAY SERVICE ON MOST REPAIRS” Repairs of All Makes & Models A r .f \ \ T homas K raemer J J V J i 'O B ? Am erican • European • Imports Cars • Trucks • RVs We Fix It Right the First Time From Oil Changes to Overhaul. Fred's Auto Works Does It All Close to Downtown • Free Local Rides All Makes & Models C orvallis n e x tlr tT O liS Z "Fred's Auto Works... Why Doesn't Yours?" wraps up another memorable queer film festival, w hat do you feel were the best and worst of this year's selections? Why? Respond at www.justout.com . (Don't forget to include your name, city and daytime telephone number.) Service« Include: • Maintenance • DEQ • Tune-ups - Poor Engine Performance • Brakes • Clutch • All Electrical Problems • Carburetors & Fuel Injection • Pre Purchase Inspection • Alternators & Starters (Repaired. Rebuilt or Exchanged) w es?»«a o' 926 SE Morrison. Portland • http://aandgautomotlve.uswestdex.com tr eins it ions Don S trausbaugh, 1 9 2 9 -2 0 0 3 onald Wayne Strausbaugh, a leader in developing M etropolitan C om m unity C hurch of Portland, died of brain cancer O ct. 5. He was 74. He was bom May 24, 1929, in Salem. He worked for Northwest Natural Gas in Salem before retiring to Tigard in 1992. Strausbaugh joined the predominantly gay M CC Portland in the mid-1980s. He served as a member of the board of directors, strategic plan ning team and pastoral search committees; dea con; second tenor in the choir; and frequent lay delegate, representing the church at regional and international conferences. “He was always willing to help where need ed, especially with flowers," M C C ’s Dave Dish- man says. “Don was an expert gardener and flower arranger. The church was blessed for many years by his arrangem ents.... He will be missed." Christmas was an important time of year for Strausbaugh, who always decorated his house like a winter wonderland, with eight to 10 trees as well as his famous collection of Santa Claus es. Because his friends and family didn’t know whether he would make it to Dec. 25 this year, they decided to surprise him with an early holi day party. Stealthily borrowing some of his own decorations, they made the 18th Avenue Peace House lixik like a window from Macy’s. His fam ily rented a white stretch limousine for the ride in from the suburbs to the party, which even included a visit from Santa Claus. Strausbaugh traveled to Puerto Vallarta for several weeks every spring for about 15 years. He D We’ve Moved!!! Over 24 years of helping people locate the right home...Now it’s our turn. enjoyed playing cards and dice with the many friends who joined him on these vacations. He also served as president of the Prime- Timers Portland chapter for many years. “He was one of the most gregarious people you’d ever meet— always willing to help out or being a gixxl Sam aritan whenever called upon,” M C C ’s Chuck Harvey says. Strausbaugh is survived by his sons, Greg and Wayne; sister, Berthalene Ca>per; and six grandchildren. A memorial service will be held 3 p.m. O ct. 19 at the church, 2400 N.E. Broadway. A utum n Funerals &. Cremations is handling the arrangements. All of us at Bridgetown are very excited about our new conveniently-located offices and invite you to stop by and say hello. We’d love to welcome you to our new home. 3320 NE Sandy Blvd. Portland, OR 97232 5 0 3 /2 8 7 -9 3 7 0 WWW. bridgetOWnrealty. com 4 Trusted Name in Ktul t stall Since /MTV
