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,
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Since 1987, I've helped guide couples, domestic partners,
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Employment Nondiscrimination Act is appreci
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licans such as U.S. Sen. Gordon Smith.
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wraps up another memorable queer
film festival, w hat do you feel were the
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Why? Respond at www.justout.com .
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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