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About Just out. (Portland, OR) 1983-2013 | View Entire Issue (Feb. 6, 2004)
4 j M t M t ' febfua/y 6. 2004 m a out how they think a community center can help He is the only candidate to have provided their mission and constituencies. We will seek more than 95 percent of children in his state their views on issues such as co-locating or offer with health insurance. He also balanced the To the E ditor : ing services at a center. budget every year he was governor (11 years) saw a true hero on television Jan. 30. Justin We are holding a community forum at Gregorich is a kid who saved someone’s life while still providing enough money for great 5:30 p.m. Feb. 12 in the boardroom of the Mult schools and social services. on his way home from school. But there is much nomah Building, 501 S.E. Hawthorne Blvd., to I assume that many of you who are undecid more to the story than that. share the draft organization questionnaire and Justin left school early because he was dis ed are considering U.S. Sen. John Kerry. He has get ideas on how we can achieve the broadest for the most part been a very progressive senator, couraged. Other kids were teasing him because he possible input from the nearly 200 organizations but Dean has so much boldness, strength, couldn’t bench-press as much weight as they in the region that address LG BTQ issues. Com integrity and toughness that he outshines Kerry could. He also has Tourette’s syndrome, which ments can also be sent to P.O. Box 1682, Port causes his face to twitch. Tired of the teasing, he as a candidate. Kerry has caved in to President land, OR 97207. Bush on some major issues including the war on left schtx)l. Normally, he’d call his mom for a ride, This LG B TQ Community Center effort has Iraq. While Kerry was part of the failed mess hut that day he decided to walk so he could think generated a lot of interest, enthusiasm and sup things through. And that’s when he saw the car that is the opposition party in Congress, Dean port, which is terrific. Much work has taken has been standing up for better solutions that veer across the road and right into a pond. Justin place, and we continue to do our best to keep transcend politics as usual. dove in and helped save the driver’s life. the community informed with timely updates. Dean offers a real choice compared to Kerry: To say 1 was touched by Justin’s television This can be a challenge at times; for example, interview would he an understatement. I was someone who has st<xxl up to the Republicans at Ron Rasmussen didn’t receive the update e-mail every opportunity, someone who is part of many deeply moved by his kind spirit, courtesy and we sent him in October, which addressed his humility. When his interview concluded, I successful reforms in what is now one of the few questions about the progress of the community states with a solvent government. Studies show turned the television oft and wept. It is beautiful center effort and gave contact information people would rather vote for someone who they to see a kid like Justin, who battles teasing and [“Best Foot Forward?” Jan. 23). We recently con believe may be wrong but is steadfast and bold the stigma of being different, respond with tacted him again hy phone and e-mail, and he about his views, rather than someone who may courage and kindness rather than with anger. he right but is wishy-washy, uninspiring and play was very pleased with our response. The temptation to just give up and accept that ing me-tex) games with his opponent’s views. We hope to complete the community center the bullies may he right after all is strong. But feasibility study— including fund-raising feasi This is why we need someone who is clearly and Justin responded hy becoming a hero. bility and a three-year estimated operating bud admittedly a clean break from Bush. Justin said some kids at schcx)l are still get— by Pride 2004. We still have a lot of work Also, the same corporate mass media that unkind to him after his heroic rescue, yet he ahead and hope anyone interested will attend love Bush do not like Dean. This only confirms responds with an inspiring purity of heart. the Feb. 12 forum or any future monthly forums. that Dean is a great candidate. The media are “That’s life," he says. I hope Justin knows that he being quite kind in comparison to the other is a hero not just because of what he did, hut Democratic candidates. This probably means S am A dams , G wenn B aldwin , K athy because of who he is. He inspired me, and 1 live B ambeck , K aelin B owers , J acob B rostoff , thousands of miles away from him. The impact the pro-Bush media think Dean is electable and this young man can have on others is powerful. the others aren’t, as it is in the corporate media’s J ohn C oomler , A shleigh F lynn , J oey L ee , D avid M artinez , B ill S oderberg , M olly interest to convince I\'tnix:rats to nominate Justin Gregorich has a long road ahead of him. F ranks and A lex D e L ara He will he teased for being different, hut he will someone unelectable. LG BTQ Community Center Fund Board survive and go on to do great things. Whoever is the I\'mcx:ratic nominee will Justin lives in Florida, a state that has been endure the media’s wrath in the general elec tion, so Democrats should not base their prima on my mind a lot lately since gay adoptions were recently banned there. I wonder why it is so ry season vote on current coverage. Since the hard for some to understand that people’s sexu media will be biased against any Democratic j To the E ditor : nominee, we should nominate Dean, as he has ality has nothing to do with how much love t is an honor to be honored. I appreciate hav they will give a child. ing the work of the Rural Organizing Project proven he can stand up to the media’s abuse and come hack again and again. recognized nationally through the recent Lead A s a gay man, I grew up being different and endured childhcxxl bullies. It’s disappointing ership for a Changing World Award. It was gen T om S oppe to realize the battle is not over. Now, as an erous of Just Out to feature the award in an arti Portland adult, 1 am still bullied politically. I’m not cle in your Jan. 9 publication (“Westerling allowed to marry the person I love. The possi Receives Leadership Award”). Thank you. bility of adopting a child I love is forbidden in Out of 1,300 nominees, 17 award recipients some places. were chosen. Two are from Oregon. Both of us But, like Justin, I can still do the right thing. To the E ditor : have been strong organizers for scx:ial justice I have the choice of becoming angry and bitter, s 2004 begins, we want to give everyone an that demands full human rights for queers, or I can stand up for myself and be a hero. I update on what was accomplished in 2003 immigrants and farmworkers. would be so proud to have a kid like Justin, and and what is next for the community center fea- i Receiving an award that is also given to I know many other gay men and women who sibility effort. Ramon Ramirez (PCUN/Causa) is the most feel the same way. I hope someday we will have The most visible 2003 activity was the “Out humbling aspect of this honor for me. Ramon that honor. with It!” survey, which gathered views from has worked tirelessly and inspirationally, with more than 1,600 people in Oregon and Wash grace and force to not allow homophobia to be T odd P ozycki ington. The data and analysis were done a wedge issue that divides people of color from Portland entirely by volunteers who spent weeks making queers. I hope that Just Out will make it a prior sure we had every comment and piece of con ity to herald his selection as a Leadership for a tact information. Changing World Award winner as well. If you didn’t have the chance to see the The queer community has much to be proud To the E ditor : results through Just Out 's news coverage, please of in Oregon. These awards highlight the power recently returned home to Portland after check out the Web site at www.outwithit2003. of a broad vision for justice. serving on Gov. Howard Dean’s presidential com. It was heartening to see in the survey : campaign staff in my home state of Iowa. I want results that the community was supportive of M arcy W esterling to encourage those participating in the Wash having a center. A community center could be Scappoose ington caucuses and the much-later Oregon pri wonderful for Portland, and we are committed that the center both reflect the needs of our mary to support Dean. Dean has a record of standing up for queer community and be feasible. Americans, as he is the only candidate to have The LG BTQ Community Center Fund also To the E ditor : signed a civil unions bill into law. He knew at the filed and received status from the Internal Rev- j esbian, gay, bisexual and traasgendcr people time it was not popular, but has said that he enue Service as a nonprofit organization and merit respect, understanding and support at needed to do what he knew was right, whether it received pledges and commitments of about every stage of life from childhcxxl to old age, yet the $17,000 from individuals, corporations and the was popular or not. He also sttxxJ up against the needs of LGBT elders have all too frequently been ovcrkx>ked by contemporary queer culture and by Iraq war during a time when the media and the city of Portland. We had a major community forum in September to review the survey results, Republicans were calling such a stance treason. society in general. Just Out therefore deserves high and then we took a break for the holidays. praise for giving the voices of LGBT older adults a He always says what he really thinks and Now we are ready to undertake the next prominent place—most recently with your inspir stands up to those who are standing in the way piece of the feasibility study. We are asking ing feature “Generation Stonewall” [Jan. 9). of justice. This is the kind of leadership we need organizations to give us input specifically about I would encourage readers who would like to in the White House. 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