by
■ustrrrn
M a r t y D a v is
m Ê The IN publication for the O U T population
California, here we come
Vol. 21 N o. 8
Now that San Francisco allows same-sex marriage, will Portland follow suit.7
FEATURE
F ounded 1985 • J ay B rown
reasons behind this decision are valid, varied and vast. The event, in
T hat’s about as elixjuent as I can he regarding the
some ways, falls prey to its own success. It has become too big, too popu
marathon of same-sex marriages that is going on in
lar and tixi overwhelming for the small yet determinedly dedicated vol
San Francisco. At last count the number was some
unteer coordinators and board to manage.
thing close to 3,000 couples, with lines still forming
Please don’t doubt for a minute that this decision was anything but
and applications still being requested. Across the nation editorials are
painful for the coordinators. Their emotional dedication to Lady Elaine
Peacock is beyond question. Their dedication and years of work is to be
being frantically penned and newspaper articles are stacking to the ceil
ing—or filling hard drives, as the case might be. The endless stream of
honored. The spirit, the goals, the principles will continue.
e-mail is filled with quotes, opinions, legalities, fervor and furor.
I will feel the loss of Peacock in the Park because it is a traditional
Will other cities, counties, municipalities follow suit? Chicago Mayor and a meaningful part of our Portland culture, legacy and social struc-
Richard Daley says he supports the idea of same-sex marriage and basi-
ture. In these rapidly changing days— days bringing wondrous accep-
cally tossed the decision back on his county clerk. Will Chicago be the
tance and assimilation— we also face losing sight of the value of the
next major city to break down the barriers to same-sex marriage? I
keystones of our gay heritage. Peacixk in the Park is one of these key-
wouldn’t count on Portland following suit anytime soon. It would be a
stones, and we should ail be keenly aware that the loss of this event is a
grandiose gesture for outgoing Mayor Vera Katz—quite
significant erosion of continuity and pennanence in our
the legacy to leave behind. The problem with that idea,
I will feel the loss o f community.
though, is that the city doesn’t issue marriage licenses,
While saddened by the loss of Peacock, my reflections
Peacock in the Park on community were buoyed by the recent Vive la Com'
Multnomah County does. And you know, somehow I
don’t see County Chair Diane Linn making such a bold
pagrue! concert presented by the Portland Gay Men’s
because it is
move at this time. With her career already taking a sud
Chorus. This musical masterpiece was attended by more
den veer toward fast tixxi management, it diK'sn’t seem
a traditional and a than 700 people and was filled with the powerful voices
likely that she’ll be so emboldened anytime soon.
of the choir and of our community. I love those sing-
meaningful oart
Absolutely no one at this rime knows what will come
alongs! The audience was a glorious mix of friends, family
and community and was a celebration of who we are.
of the San Francisco marriages. Will they be legal? Will
of our Portland
Former Oregon Gov. Barbara Roberts was honored for
they continue? Stay with Just Out for further details.
culture, legacy and her years of work on behalf of civil rights for all people.
he second major news story of this week is the end of
The reception that she received from the audience was a
social
structure.
the Howard Dean presidential campaign. What a
delight to behold. We must never fail to honor those who
paved the way for the events that are happening today.
stunning turn of events. From frontrunner to “outta here”
in, what, less than a month? While Dean will clearly not be leading the Gav men and lesbians are getting married in San Francisco today
attack against President Bush, he is to be given credit for awakening the
because Roberts, and others like her, worked for us yesterday.
passions of a lackluster Demixzratic Party and for forging a viable path to
victory in November.
inally, a thank-you and a gixxlhye. The thanks gix.*s to former Just Out
staffer Melissa Sexton-Sayler, who stepped in and aided us with the
Oregon Democrats will have no say in the nomination, as the deci
prcxluction of this issue while another staff person needed to be away with
sion will have been made prior to our late May primary— our hope now
family. The gixxlhye comes as Erin Sexton-Sayler leaves us to pursue her
is that the other states select well for us. At this point John Kerry would
graduate studies. She has been a valuable and energetic part of the staff,
seem to be on his way to sealing the nomination, but I still wouldn’t
and it’s been a pleasure and an education to have worked with her. With
rule out “nontraditional” events happening at the convention. Who has
her departure we welcome Kari Tate to Just Out along with former free
the best shot at heating Bush? John Kerry? A1 Gore? Hillary Clinton?
Right now the president is leading the way by ambitiously working to
lance writer Meg Daly, who has joined us full time as Features Editor.
defeat himself; let’s all encourage him in his efforts.
hese are heady times. History is swirling about us. While celebrating
une will find our community facing the end of a legacy. The 18th
and rejoicing, do keep a vigilant look to the right. It’s not yet time
annual Peacock in the Park will be the final staging for this event. The i to dismiss the guard. JH
T ow!
R enée L a C hance
February 20, 2 0 0 4
DIVIDED LOYALTIES?: The black queer experience
in Portland
P 24
N E WS
NORTHWEST. ”>004 will be Peacock in the Park’s
swan song; binational lesbian couple confront
biased U.S. immigration laws; national
conference taps into trans community
consciousness; The Queer Profit
pp 6 - 1 7
NATIONAL • San Francisco makes history by
granting mamage licenses to same-sex couples
pp 1 8 - 2 1
WORLD • Melbourne men put Canadian
marriage to the test
pp
22-23
ARTS AND CU LTU RE
CULTURE . Queer open mikes offer libation for the
soul; Portland’s first drag king troupe nudges you
a little closer to your edge
pp
34-35
BOOKS • Wayne R. Besen goes from Ga\ arut
Unhappy to Anything hut Straight
p 37
THEATER • Gay playwright's outrageous macabre
on view at CoHo
p 39
DIVERSIONS • Artist visits Sodom: queer theater
makes connections in Southern Oregon; Deaf &
Hearing OUT Reach celebrates two years;
gaying up the Oscars
p 40
WHAT’S POPPIN’ ? * Skip Havana Nights
p
41
MUSIC • Musicians offer peace and healing at
end of life
p 43
COLUMNS
M S. BEHAVIOR. Sweet surrender
p 33
Ufi
-1 J
and
------ t - J " 1 -----A ------ I
EPIQUEEREAN • Sweet, lovely and wild
I
^
p 36
OUT WITH IT! • Too much of a good thing?
• Nearly 31 years after the murder, Byron De
La Beckwith, 73. was convicted in the killing of
civil nghts leader Medgar Evers. Beckwith, a
white supremacist, avoided conviction twice
before when all-white junes deadlocked in
1964.
• Brandon Teena, a resident of Humbolt, Neb.,
and two friends, Lisa Lambert and Phillip
DeVine, were found murdered in Teenas farm
house on New Year s Eve. Teena, a cross
dressing lesbian, moved into the farmhouse
last fall. Bom a female, she lived and identified
herself as a male.
• The Cascade AIDS Project administra
tion has discovered that bills, including
rent, health insurance, telephone and
grant payments, have gone unpaid during
the past several months. Ail together
CAP owes about $120,000. Attorney
Ben Mem ll was appointed by the board
to conduct an independent investigation
For the past 3 1/2 m onths, the Lesbian Com m unity
Project has been engaged in a search to find a new exec
utive director following the departure o f Donna Red W ing.
The search is over, and the new LCP executive d ire cto r is
LaVeme Lewis.
NEW S EDITOR
• Marty Davis
• Jim Radosta
ARTS AND CULTURE EDITOR
• Lisa Bradshaw
• Meg Daly
CONTRIBUTORS • Marc Acito, Meryl Qihn, Jixli
Darby, Chelsea Fine, Christopher McQuain, Gary
FEATURES EDITOR
Morris, Eric Plemons, J.B. Rahm, Boh Riwhr,
Floyd Sklaver, Rex Wixikner
ADVERTISING 0IRECT0R
• Larry Lewis
ADVERTISING REPRESENTATIVE
ADVERTISING ASSOCIATE
GRAPHIC DIRECTOR
• Pam Colton
• Kari Tate
• Kevin Moore
THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO MARC • I’ m a
celebrity...get me a career!
p 45
• Oregon Gov. Barbara Roberts announced Jan. 28 that she
will not run for a second term as governor. She cited family
illness and the challenges of her position as the reason for
her decision. Robert's husband, former state Sen. Frank
Roberts, died of cancer last October. During her career,
Roberts has been a champion of civil nghts for all people,
including sexual mmonties.
• The 1994 Gay and Lesbian Pride parade and rally has been
set for July 9, said Eric Brown, interim chairman o f Stonewall
Northwest-Gay and Lesbian Pnde. which is organizing the
event. The celebration is set for later than past years
because of lack of early coordination and funds
• Last Friday Videos at Widdershms features Salmonbemes.
starring k.d. lang in her big-screen debut, Feb. 25
• Finally! Portland s premier lesbian nightclub has found a
permanent home. Don't miss the Feb. 18 grand opening of
Code Blue, now open every Friday and Saturday
.......... ..... .
PUBLISHER AND M ANAGING EDITOR
p 40
PRODUCTION ASSISTANT
• Zanne dejanvier
• Kristine Ashton, Allison Benn,
Ed Carder, Ashley Conley, Darren Linder,
S &. E Distributors
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