19.2003
13
L’ M ü ü i v j + . i m e w s
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wrote an article. It named me, the agency I
And C alvo is not one to quibble over
worked for and had specifics of everything. It
vocabulary. Though many people struggle
was in The Grants Pass Daily Courier, where I with pronouns when referring to trans people,
she has never felt offended by anyone’s word
used to live. I was out to the world.”
And the results have been nothing hut
choice. “ But if I’m out in public, and I’ve
taken the time to l<x>k pretty, I sure as hell
positive. “Since that time it’s been amazing.
don’t want to he called ‘sir.’ It’s rude. But it
Not one single negative thing has happened
doesn’t happen.”
to me since I came out.... It’s just one thing
According to Calvo, people get hung up
after another that’s been positive.”
Not one to sit on her hands, C alvo has on pronouns because society is so geared
toward thinking of gender in binary terms.
become active in politics. She is among many
queers supporting Howard Dean, front “ With the pronouns and that kind of thing,
they’re trying to organize
runner in the race to
how
much time you
become the Democratic
egar
single negative
spend one way or another.
presidential nominee.
thing has happened a to me Sometimes you see things
C alvo is not troubled
from one point of view,
by the fact that the can
since I came o u t . I t ' s just sometimes another. It’s a
didate does not mention
blending o f the two.
trans people in his stump
one thing after another
1 don’t have to metamor-
speeches or brochures.
that's
been
positive.
phosize to be happy
She is concerned today's
anymore.”
voters might he scared
— Laura Calvo
For now, C alvo is con
of the word “ trans
gender" and feels winning is more important
tent in her male fxxJy. Though she feels she
probably wouldn’t miss being a man, she has
than vocabulary.
experienced such joy since coming out, she’s
“ I don’t think he really needs to throw
that trump card down," C alvo says. “When I hesitant to make any big changes like therapy
or hormones.
first started Uxiking at Howard Dean as the
“ Down the road maybe. Possibly. This is
all-inclusive candidate, I was ltx>king for
still a work in progress. I’m catching up for a
something in the hrtKhures saying he was in
favor of equal rights including trans-
lifetime right now. T hat’s a tough one, and 1
gender... hut 1 thought that what he’s saying
don’t have an answer to it. Life is good— I
live in a nice house, with a wonderful family,
gixzs for everyone.”
Calvo points out that trans people have ben around people who love me.” JH
efited hugely from the gay rights movement.
M ichael B urdick is a recent graduate of Reed
“ It’s a slingshot effect. If it weren’t for the gay
College. He can he reached at
community, none of these [trans] people would
have a place to venture out to that was safe.”
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C ome S a il A way
he 2004 Lambda Awards Celebration will
be held from 6 p.m. to 2 a.m. Jan. 10 in
the Grand Ballroom at Medford’s Red Lion
Hotel, 200 N. Riverside Ave.
Individuals and organizations will be hon
ored in four categories— humanities, arts,
public service and Hall of Fame— to recog
nize their dedication to improving the quali
ty of life in southern Oregon for all citizens.
The keynote speaker will be Roey Thorpe,
Basic Rights Oregon executive director.
Entertainment will include the Rogue Val
ley G ay Men’s Chorus and Planned Parent-
hixxl Health Services of Southwestern Ore
gon’s Teen Theatre Program, which is direct
ed by C il Stengel, a member of the all-woman
improv troupe the Hamazons. The Bad Street
Gurlz, possibly the nation’s only trans girl
band, will be making its debut. These ladies
hail from all over the West— from Seattle to
Portland to Reno, Nev.
This year’s theme is “Sail Away,” and cruise
ship/nautical attire is encouraged. The event
also will feature dancing and a dessert buffet.
Tickets are $20 at the door. The special
room rate is $65 a night plus tax.
The celebrations were launched by the
Abdill-Ellis Lambda Community Center but
now are sponsored by the Southern Oregon
G L B T Political Caucus. For more information
call 541-488-6990 or visit www.abdellLs.org or
www.geocities.com/thecaucus.
Volunteers are needed for decorating,
Floreid Walker
Retirement
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Sustainable Investing
Longterm Care
"Not one
W illa m e tte
Financial Group, LLC
O
S f e r **a
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«o sco.
Ç o lu
s * * » P e r
When 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.
The keynote speaker at the 2004 Lambda
Awards Celebration will he Roey Thorpe,
executive director of Basic Rights Oregon,
the organization that helped convince Laura
Calvo to testify before the Legislature about
her experience with job discrimination
planning, awards, security and other duties.
To sign up, send an e-mail to thecaucus®
yahoo.com.
— Jim Radosta
JH
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Em ail: m illynnicjXiol.com