Esther’s Pantry,
which provides
ftxxl for people
with AIDS,
almost closes
because of
administrative
burnout. Metro
politan Com
munity
Church of
Portland
comes to the
rescue and
assumes
responsibili
ty for the
organization. The
pantry has about 170 clients.
The Sexual Minorities Roundtable and Multnomah
County Sheriff’s Office announce a new set of procedures
for the Ixxiking, classification and housing of trans people
in custody.
Phoenix Rising, a counseling service for sexual
minorities, closes after being part of the community since
1979. Matthew Nelson of Equity Foundation says to Just
Out, “Every time we lose an organization, there is a piece
of our identity that gets lost.”
Multnomah Giunty commissioners unanimously pass
an ordinance creating a domestic partnership registry for
unmarried couples including same-sex couples. Dick Levy
and Lirry Hobnet, who have been together for 30 years,
are the first couple to register in September,
with Mayor Vera Katz and County Chair Rev
Stein signing as witnesses. More than 140
couples register by Oct. 13.
The state of Vermont legalizes civil
unions for same-sex couples, giving them
the state but not federal rights and benefits
of marriage.
“Ballot Measure 9 is hack. How
ironic is this?” writes publisher Marty
Davis. Basic Rights Oregon and the
Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education
Network take the lead in opposing
the Oregon Citizens Alliances latest
measure. By coincidence, the Student
Protection Act becomes Measure 9.
As with the first Measure 9, there are
speeches, rallies, signs and lots of
donated money to oppose the mea
sure. In November, once again, Ore
gonians vote no on Measure 9, which
would have prohibited public schools
from encouraging, promoting or sanc
tioning homosexuality or bisexuality.
2000
The Portland Alliance
publishes transcripts of a
speech Portland Police
Chief Mark Kroeker gave
10 years ago to a group of
Christian cops in Califor
nia. In the tapes, Kroeker
makes negative comments
about homosexuals and
calls them perverse. When
people learn of his com
ments, Kroeker defends his
rights to his “religion and
all its doctrines” and says
he has the right to “com
partmentalize” his life.
Some members of the gay
community call for his res
ignation. Others think his
views won’t interfere with
his work, and Mayor Vera
Katz stands by the chief.
Eventually, the storm
blows, but Kroeker ulti
mately resigns in 2003.
Hometown film director Gus Van Sant releases
Finding Forrester. He goes on to score a coup
at the 20CH Cannes Film Festival, winning both
the Palme d’Or (best film) and Best Director
for Elephant.
Just Out lixiks at the 20-
year-old AIDS pandemic.
“Statistics during the past 20
years numb one beyond com
prehension,’’ writes Bob Rixihr, “be it nearly a million U.S. cit
izens estimated to be infected with HIV, the 40,000 who still
become infected each year or the 440,000 who have died of
the disease. Who can understand the meaning of 36 million
people throughout the world carrying the virus?” Rix.‘hr also
reports that the number of people dying of AIDS has
stopped declining and is on the rise again.
Graham Harriman, who’s been HIV-positive for 12
years, comments to Just Out that now patients often take
information to the dtxaor about being on or off a certain
drug. Ron Robertson agrees, saying: “Most people won’t argue
with their dixitors, but you can’t rely on your dixitor to know everything. And
because they don’t know, they are willing to take risks.”
2001
Terrorists attack the United
States and Just Out readers share
their responses. “We all have dif
ferent triggers that affect our emo
tions. At which point did you
reach emotional overload?" writes
publisher Marty Davis in her com
mentary. “For myself, the sight of
Dan Rather breaking into tears on
The Late Show with David Letterman
was an astounding moment, one
that gave me a jolt of realization
that things were dire indeed.”
A new committee forms to Kxik at
housing for gay and lesbian seniors. Mary
Beth Brindley tells Just Out that many
seniors rely on family or partners to take
care of them when they get older. “T hat’s
not always realistic, because we don’t know
tomorrow what’s going to happen to us,"
she says.
About 60 people attend the Oregon Bi
Gmference. “We often feel as if we’re six:ially
invisible. When
occasionally we do
The city of Port
appear in the
land and Multnomah
media, the repre
County add gender
sentations seem
identity to their civil
outrageous; we’re
rights ordinances.
usually make to
look like freaks—
material for The Jerry Springer Show," com
ments one of the participants.
The Rural Organizing Project marks its 10th
anniversary. The organization grew out of the
fight to stop 1992’s Ballot Measure 9 and is in it
for the long haul, not just for the crisis of ballot
measures. “We cannot simply sit back, brush off
our hands and say, 'Well, we did all that work
and we won; now let’s go play baseball.’ We did
that. And while we were off celebrating, the rad
ical right has always been there preparing for the
next fight,” comments ROP founder Marcy
Westerling. “We can’t forget that we are fighting
for our rights. We can’t simply say, 'I don’t want
to do politics anymore.’ ”
Loni Kai
Okarura, a 28-year-
old trans woman, is
killed in Washing
ton Giunty. Police
think someone
offered her a ride,
thinking she was a
woman, and
“became angered
upon learning oth
erwise," reports Just
Out. More than
500 people attend
a vigil for her at
After airing for only four months, Dr. Ixiuru is canceled because of low
Pioneer (Court
ratings. Portland’s KGW-TV calls the talk show a “financial disaster.” Just
house Square in
Out reports that KGW is the first station in the nation to cancel the show.
Portland.
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Congratulations on 20 years, Just Out!
Rabbi Aryeh Hirschfield • 633 SW Montgomery • Portland, OR 97201
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