24 [ | « f 1 ilrmtir* — f_________________________________________________
Breaking the binary barrier
Continued from Page 23
at bisexuals and think, ‘I couldn't date him ...he
will just end up leaving me tor a woman.’ (But)
it’s just as likely that he will leave you tor anoth
er man. Gender is irrelevant. It the relationship
isn’t strong, it won’t lx- bisexuality that causes its
undoing."
Myth: Bisexuals suffer from homophobia and
in k o f solidarity with gays and lesbians.
“Some gays and lesbians seem to believe that
bisexuals are hiding behind that label to avoid
the risks and pressures ot being gay or lesbian.
There is a certain level ot cultural acceptance
for bisexuals...more so with women,” notes
Dillinger. "Gays and lesbians sometimes harbor
some resentment toward bisexuals...because
they feel like bisexuals won’t join them in soli
darity in the gay rights movement."
The madness
ays and lesbians have blamed
bisexuals for everything from
the failure of monogamy to the A ID S
epidemic,” says Williams. "W e’ve been
called liars and indecisive and non
ex isten t...! mean, look at (Hollywood
actressj A nne Heche. She tell in love
with a man and the gay media made
her out to be a fame-grubbing, two-
faced, manipulative poser. W hat about
the possibility that, after a great, lov
ing relationship with |lesbian com edi
an Ellen DeGeneres|, their relationship tell
apart and she tell in love with someone else?
Would she have been so demonized in the
press it she had fallen for another woman? I
don’t think so.”
But mention Heche’s name in certain circles,
and sharp words would be flying and chairs
could he broken. Deb France, a lesbian architect
win) is not only in a committed relationship
with a bisexual woman, but who also worked
through her own homosexual identity during a
long marriage, points the finger at people like
Heche for misconceptions ot bisexuals.
“I blame those like Anne Heche, the bitch!”
France exclaims. “Seriously, when do we know it
our partner is really on hoard with our sexual
identity or if they are simply following the flavor
of the day? Is sex like Bask in-Robbins’ 31 fla
vors? There seems to lx* a need for some clarity.”
But 31 flavors sound gtxxl to Williams. “One’s
inherent sexuality is a subconscious weaving of
one’s fantasy, biology, psychology and sometimes
merely one’s changing fancy or the flavor ot the
day," he says. "There are so many more flavors to
ice cream than vanilla and chixolate. There are
hundreds of colors in the rainbow. There are a
myriad different ways people are sexual.”
uWhen do we know i f our
partner Is rea lly on board
with our sexual identity or
i f they are simply following
the flavor o f the day?"
—Deb France
Dillinger remarks, "It is a strange sociological
phenomenon when an oppressed group will turn
around and oppress another group.” He attributes
the action to inherent human need for power and
control. “If a person is lx mg oppressed as a minor
ity, he or she will
often find a way to
find that control and
power by oppressing
someone else,” he
says.
As a bisexual,
James senses differ
ent vibes from differ
ent subsets of the les
bian community. In
addition to feeling
threatened,
older
dykes— those who
have fought harder
than she has to
openly
proclaim
their sexuality— are
jealous about what is
taken for granted
today. She says,
“They don’t seem to
want those bisex
ual impostors rid
ing on the coat
tails of that hard-
won privilege.”
Branden the
orizes: “Discrim
ination affords
an
oppressed
group of peo
ple— in this case
gays and les
bians— to have an
expendable sacri
ficial group during
the fight for equali Scott Dillinger is a gay social worker and therapist at Oregon Health &
ty. Every march to Science University
Call today for a
free qualification
over the phone
Forgot the
Condom?
Let’s Talk About It.
RE/MAX
S ignature
P r o per ties !
First Time Buyers • FHA/VA Loans
Self-Employed ♦ Complicated Borrowers
Bankruptcies & Foreclosures ♦ Credit Problems
Investment Properties • Pre-approvals
100% Financing Programs
“ When u)e learned the landlord was selling our
house, we called Christine in a panic. Being self
employed, we thought it might he impossible to
buy, but Christine came to the rescue. She made
the extra effort to get all our paperwork
in order and the loan approved.
- Patti (r Joy, Rita 's Flowers
&
Christine Hall
Senior Loan Consultant
President's Club
503 698-5429
-
800- W-9943
5 05-101-1941
/ tiger
hollc(p>eoglehomemortgoge.com
_____ _ ■_____
" A s a first tim e h o m e h u ye r, I d id n 't k n o w w h a t
to e xp e c t. T in a listen ed c lo se ly , lent me h e r
e xp e rtise , an d negotiated w e ll in a hot m a rk e t.
S h e w a s p atient and d e te rm in e d th ro u gh a
long se a rc h . I c o u ld n t be h a p p ie r an d w o u ld
h ig h ly reco m m en d T in a ! "
A U W research project
for guys who have sex
with guys.
—
Tina Schafer, PC . GRI. ARR
Com pensation
provided.
Call Sex Check Today
1 -8 7 7 -6 0 4 -6 5 9 5
w w w .thesexcheck.org
LL>ti A lbrecht
L a ser S
u rg ery
Associate B roker
N ow A v a i l a b l e !
M ulti-M illion D ollar Producer
Com panion Pet Clinics
M - F r i 8 am • 6pm
S A T 8am • 5pm
W est L inn Sun 11 am-4pm
W e s t L inn 19343 Willamette Drive •
C l a c k a m a s 16317 S E 82nd Drive •
T ig a r d 13500 S W Pacific Hwy •
B ea v er t o n 14292 sw Alien Btvd •
8 2 nd A v E N E 3150 NE 82nd Ave •
282-4000 X 122
(503)
(503)
(503)
(503)
(503)
035-3115
657 922 5
6 7 0 9707
6 4 i 9151
546 1044
RE/MAX
*fg*
(jm j
Signature
Properties
e-mail:
t i nas(«Vemax. net