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About Just out. (Portland, OR) 1983-2013 | View Entire Issue (Feb. 20, 2004)
----- J ------ 1------- i____ 1 __ * ___ » decision to wear “rose-colored glasses.” “I don’t feel prejudice because I’m black or because I’m gay, because I don’t give any one that power. The energy I have is for the positive stuff I’m doing; I’m not going to waste it being angry or on alert.” Under the spotlight: Queer racism r ' j P I here is no question that with 60,000 African Americans in Oregon, to be black and queer in Portland is to be a statistical anomaly. Because of this, Hedgmon says one of two things happen: “My general experience has been either I’m ignored or spotlighted.” Atoe agrees. “In terms of racism, Port land is a funny town,” she says. “Because there aren’t that many people of color, peo ple meet it with more of a curiosity. I get a well-meaning, tokenizing attitude. Port land is kind of a liberal town, but that’s part of the problem. White people want diversity and multiculturalism, and the way they seek out people of color for their own purposes is not always welcomed.” Does a Black History Month feature article on Portland’s queer African Amer ican community foil into this trap? W hile the Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Andre Pruitt has faced multiple forms of discrimination Defamation encourages journalists to fea because of his race and sexual orientation ture black queers in their Black History Osa Atoe, a queer student o f social sciences at Portland Month coverage, it also chastens, “Black State University, says that sometimes it’s not so much about LG BT people don’t have to just represent not being embraced, as just not being noticed at all. “The black LG B T issues.” One interviewee for archetype of queer people is white,” she says. “Because Port this article diplomatically opined that Just land is a white town, it’s harder for people o f color to be Out would be well-advised to incorporate identified as queer.” more queer black voices in articles To illustrate her point, Atoe recounts an episode when she throughout the year, as opposed to within was walking around Portland and saw a single issue. two black women— clearly a lesbian cou Unfortunately, tok- Osa Atoe says she often senses a tokenizing attitude from liberal white Portlanders ple— holding hands. After they passed enizing people of color by, Atoe says she overheard a nearby is not the only form of racism plaguing the Hedgmon concurs. “Just because you’re oppressed doesn’t pedestrian whisper to her friend, “Oh, larger queer community. “Gay people justify mean you can’t be an oppressor.” they must be sisters.” their racism,” according to Pruitt. “We call Cecil Prescod, a board member of Love Makes a Family and M.L. Hedgmon, a Portland resident it ‘preference.’ Lcx>k in the want ads, the a minister at Ainsworth United Church of Christ, says he’s seen and student of feminist studies at Universi dating columns— [white men] don’t want to widespread racism within the queer community. “I struggle with ty of Minnesota, has had the experience of date black men. They say quite a bit: ‘I that more than homophobia within the African American com going to places where lesbians gather and won't date men of color. I want a gay white munity,” he laments. “Racism is often manifested in terms of not being recognized as one. “It sometimes male.’ Same thing with the lesbian column. language. I was in a restaurant and the waiter was queer. [He doesn’t occur to people. Even if you’re [White queers) hide behind ‘it’s my prefer had a] great personality...and in his attempt to be friendly he —A ndre P ruitt there because you’re a lesbian sometimes ence’ and won’t kx)k at the fact that it’s said, with a thick Southern accent, that his family had planta people say, ‘Oh I never thought about it.’ ” based in racism.” tions and owned 60 souls.” Kevin Cook, well-known performer (aka Poison Waters) This denial often stems from the belief within the queer Trying to find a date is no simple matter either, according to and active member o f organizations like Camp Starlight, Pea- community that one can’t be a racist if one is queer. “Both Pruitt. “I’ve noticed that if you’re a black man who has an opin ctx:k Productions and the Imperial Sovereign Rose Court, lesbians and gay m en...w e justify our oppression of other ion and you’re tall, people are scared of you. They follow their doesn’t deny the existence of racism and homophobia but people because we feel like we’re an oppressed organization, doesn’t allow them to affect his daily life. He says he made the too,” says Pruitt. Continued on Page 26 “Ify o u can’t stand alone, be quiet because you w ill not be embraced by the gay com m unity” Call today for a free qualification • over the phone First Time Buyers • FHA/VA Loans Self-Employed * Complicated Borrowers Bankruptcies & Foreclosures • Credit Problems Investment Properties ♦ Pre-opprovols 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 be impossible to buy, but Christine came to the rescue. 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