2003
28
1990
ACT UP claims there are no
HIV/A1DS programs directed
toward women. Mimi Luther
writes back to say not only are
there programs for women, hut Oregon Womens AIDS Network
held its second conference in September. Luther goes on to explain
that in 1987 a group of women formed the network after attending
the first Women and AIDS conference produced earlier that year.
The organization increased awareness about the particular issues
that affect women with HIV and started the first support groups
for women with AIDS. “There’s a lot more work to he done,"
writes Luther. “It isn’t enough, hut it’s far from nothing.”
A C T UP also defends its policy of “outing” people and
says it’s outing U.S. Sen. Mark Hatfield not because he’s gay hut
because of how he votes on gay issues. O uting becomes a controversial method of
drawing attention to gay issues. Hatfield neither denies nor confirms the outing.
Just Out staff mourn the death of friend and
fellow journalist Jay Brown, an original founder,
co-publisher and editor of the publication. Renee
LaChance writes: “Jay touched many lives, some
positively, some negatively. I valued his friendship,
and he was my family. It was my honor to he by
his side during the past three weeks and to he near
when he died.” Chris Maier adds, “I carry the
smile he gave me in a very special place.”
triangle productions! gets its start at Firehouse Theatre
with After the Rain, a story of survivorship in the time
of AIDS written by Portland playwright Per Donnie
"Dyke culture is falling apart in
Portland,” writes Linda Shirley in Just
Out. “We have no Kx)kstore, we have
no bar, we have no cafe, no place
where we can he together and love and
dance and talk and plot the next revo­
lution. W hat’s going on around here?"
W hat’s going on is the closure of
A W omen’s Place B<x)kstore, which
opened in 1973, and the 927 Club,
which stops being a lesbian bar when
the owners change the name to
Sassy’s and put up a sign announcing
topless dancers. But not all is lost as
Portland’s W omen’s Theater Compa­
ny celebrates its 10th anniversary.
In Just Outs youth column,
Julie Baumler writes about com­
ing out to her high school. She
comments about gay teachers
who may not have been out to
others at the school but were to
her. “1 cannot say enough about
how much having gay and les­
bian teachers who were willing
to be open has helped me.
W ithout them, I would have
dropped out a hundred times
over and over and done about a
million stupid things.”
A Task Force on Adolescent
Sexual Minority, formed in
Portland in 1989, spurs similar
research teams in other cities to
address issues of gay, lesbian, hi
and trans teens. One main issue
is that “sexual minority youth
are three to four times more
likely to attempt suicide than
their heterosexual peers.”
1991
“We are becoming a com­
munity split into HIV-positive
and HIV-negative," says
Andrew Miller.
*
>'
.
Fund-raisers for AIDS organizations become even more
important as Cascade AIDS Project and the Oregon Health
Division state that 1990’s Measure 5 property tax decision is
causing a “two-thirds reduction in funds for condom distribu­
tion and a two-thirds reduction in HIV prevention grants to
county health departments.”
Gov.
Barbara
The Portland City Council adopts a civil
Roberts, who Just
rights ordinance that bans discrimination based
Out endorsed in last year’s election,
on sexual orientation in housing, employment
appoints state Rep. Phil Keisling as secretary of
and public accommodation. Gay activist Keeston
state. Members of the Lesbian Community Proj­
Lowery plays a role in making this happen. Ore­
ect and Right to Privacy lobby the Multnomah
gon Citizens Alliance leader Lon Mabon, who is
County Commission to appoint Gail Shibley to
in the City Hall hearing room when council
Keisling’s former posi-
members unanimously
tion. O f the three peo­
pass the ordinance, is not
In January, the Gulf War starts.
ple considered, Shihley
happy with the news. In
Army veteran Barbara tells Just Out
an interview with Just Out
that she has a horrible, sinking feeling. is the youngest and least
politically experienced,
years later, Lowery’s friend
“I know a lot of gays and lesbians who
but lobbying and her
Mary Volm recalls:
are
in
the
sand
right
now
and
I
don’t
“intelligence, diversity
“When ILoweryj flew into
want
them
to
be
forgotten.”
and initiative" convince
the hearing rexxn, he was
the board to appoint
full of hugs and kisses. In
her. Shibley becomes an iastant hero to gays and
that rixim, he turned to Lon, flew his arms around
lesbiaas— and the first openly gay state legislator.
him and kissed him on the cheek. The kx)k on
L in’s face was priceless."
Portland cop Katie Potter comes way out
when Just O ut runs a feature on her and her
In May, the O C A files an initiative to
father, Tom, who is chief of the police bureau.
amend Oregon’s constitution to state that
Response is overwhelmingly positive. Lon
homosexuality is abnormal and perverse. The
Mabon, however, calls for Tom Potter’s resigna­
initiative becomes Measure 9 on the 1992 bal­
tion after father and daughter march in the
lot. For the next 18 months, the fight to
Pride parade.
oppose it consumes the gay community.
i
'
m i*v.
Portland filmmaker Nicole C onn creates a lesbian movie in Oregon— Claire of the Moon,
starring Karen Trumbo (left) and Trisha Todd
W ) PEACE
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