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About Just out. (Portland, OR) 1983-2013 | View Entire Issue (Dec. 5, 2003)
ipBRSout |U S | n ^ T T T m * k ^°M ^ ^eSa^ za^ on of sam e-sex m arriage in M assach u setts trill be a positive or negative step fur the sexual m inorities community? Will it expedite equal rights, or trill it ensure p assage of the anti-gay Federal M arriage Am endm ent? e will just have to fight all the harder to prevent “backlash” legislation. What we should do is promote the concept of “civil mar riage" as separate from “sacred marriage." We can then argue that, given separation of church and state, all our laws and mles that refer to marriage (tax laws, visitation rights, etc.) of course mean civil marriage. If you get married in a church, you get the sacred marriage with the civil marriage thrown in. When President Rush claims that mar riage is a sacred institution, he’s obviously talking about sacred marriage; what dix's that have to do with our (civil) marriage laws? Let each church duke it out over what “sacred marriage" means. U nfortunately, though a tremendously posi tive step in the right direction, 1 believe tFTe Massachusetts decision will show negative results for sexual minorities in the near future. There will undoubtedly he a highly reactive con servative backlash, and unfortunately, the large segment of society that would oppose discrimi natory action will probably remain or eventually become silent in the same manner as those who opposed the war. Equal rights will probably be delayed as a result, and anti-gay legislation will certainly be more and more prevalent. However, I also believe that legislation passed to prevent legally recognized same-sex unions will eventually he overturned by the courts...a long way down the road. 1 think the key will be D ave R essler to relegate the word “marriage” specifically for Portland use within religious institutions. Relationships recognized for legal purposes, whether same-sex or opposite-sex, should all he referred to by think that any step toward legal equality with another term (i.e., union). Hence, religious over heterosexuals—on a local, statewide or nation- ; sight of the public beginning of a relationship would involve two activities and two sets of al basis— is a positive development. Backing down paperwork—tine religious and one sccular/legal. on same-sex marriage in Massachusetts could actu ally make the Federal Marriage Amendment more M ark L aub popular than pushing it through, in that it is bound to kxik to someone like an admission of Vancouver, Wash. error or wrongdoing— “See! Even homosexuals • • • know that we as a nation should walk all over our Constitution by pandering to religious inhibitions! ositive step. It will expedite equal rights in Forget the separation of church and state! Forget the sense that it will mobilize those interest ‘all.. .arc created equal’!” ed parties that may have been unwilling previ Then again, since marriage is a religious institution, maybe it shouldn’t be legally recog ously to step forward and speak out for equal rights. The argument for at least the recognition nized at all. Civil unions all around? of civil unions has now reached a national audi ence that transcends sexual orientation. The J esse J ames L eff G osson voice of this majority I believe will be heard. Or Moro I choose to believe that. • • • W C E R T I F I * A E D P mkri c a n " R e s o l u t i o n " S p e c i a l : 12 E R S O C o u n c i se ssio n s N A O n l L T R k h ■ m c i $250 - « A I N E R c gift c e r t i f ic a t e s a v a il a b l e la» I IÛ 04 LINNTON FEED & SEED. NOT THE M ALL. ^ We carry multi-pure water system s 10920 NW St. Helens Rd Portland, OR 97231 Phone: 503.286.1291 Mention Just Out for 10% discount 6359 SW Capitol Highway Portland, Oregon 97239 (503) 246-4660 1 Oxer / 7 years of experience and compassion . • Dentistry • Internal Medicine • Surgery • Geriatrics • Pain Management • Preventive Care NEW C L I E N T S P M E N T IO N T H IS A D FO R A FR EE EXA M . Realtor M ic h a e l T e u fe l I Portland feel the legalization of same-sex marriage in Massachusetts will be a positive step for the • • • sexual minorities community. I feel Massachu setts is the most appropriate state to take this he ruling provides us with a footing into the first step, since the hypocritical Catholic Church in Massachusetts is raising such a community that will in time open its arms ruckus. I mean, give me a break, does anyone and hearts to us. No one should doubt that the next phase of this niling will he the reactionary recall all those pedophile priests in Boston whom the Catholic hierarchy kept a secret? groups that seek nothing more than to limit DUH! A pedophile is a male who feels made- j what they believe to he a “homosexual agenda.” quate as an adult, sexual person and allows him- j The future is ixirs if we have the courage and desire to pursue it. Few steps forward are greeted self to be castrated by a patriarchal religious and/or national power base. with wild abandon and applause. So let’s simply 1 feel it will, in time, expedite equal rights for continue the work and keep faith with the path to equality for all. the sexual minorities community. T L inda S eidel Monmouth ©>#ör Baor«S°n sJ e r r a C lu b ■r 8 ?*C O -J ¡EüSSß „ V a n i t y CO£ o | e e t "« » a tio o > V ' HUÄ >a‘«2 *yr. : v L a „ r# te e p e r M icheil M ac C utcheon i Portland If you identify as gay or lesbian, uttuld you date next liTHTI someone who identifies as bisexual? Why or why not? (P lease see related item on Page 2 2 .) Respond at www.justmit.corn. (D on't forget to include ytrnr nam e , city and daytime telephone number.) preparing to leave, she came up to us and asked if we were familiar with Just ( )ut, and we said we were. Then she asked: “Guild I take your picture? I need to do a story aKuit the opening, and you’re the only ones who set off my gaydar!" This turned iuit to he none other than Marty Davis herself, and we were actually flattered that she had asked! That certainly helped "validate" us as a "ample"—and who doesn’t like to have their picture in the paper? Additionally, after the picture appeared, both of us experienced others arming out to us on the His W hen you buy or sell a home with me, you’ll know your dollars are helping support a greater cause. I contribute at least 10% of my earnings to community and environmental organizations. or in restaurants or simply on the street. We’re pret ty sure we were recognized from that photo. We’ve had the opportunity to meet and speak with Ms. Davis several times since, hut we’ll take this opportunity to again say, “Thank you, Marty." It’s one of our favorite stories. D onald F inch M ichael K rzeszak M illynn Jam es Broker, Graduate Realtor Institute ABR: Accredited Buyer’s Representative 5 0 3 .3 3 0 .H O M E (4 6 6 3 ) 8 6 Rij^MAX equity group Portland Continued on Page 7 1 .8 0 0 .8 2 5 .9 9 4 8 w w w .m illy n n .c o m E m a il: m illy n n ( c i) a o l.e o m
