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About Just out. (Portland, OR) 1983-2013 | View Entire Issue (March 5, 2004)
4 J u * t o u t « march 5. 2004 EfPfflout Riverview Building Service commercial cleaning services W c ( llca n ÿW vW vW VA • Restaurants >3 ro o m s > C a rp e t > C le a n 5 $89 • ( )t f i e e s • C larp et f *l j M 7 up to 350 sq ft P re s s u re W a s h in g -Driveways -Patios -Sidewalks - R o o fs en v iro n m en t-frie n d ly produ cts used W estovek H eights C L I N I C Offering general internal medicine and excelling in sexual health care Serving the com m unity fo r 2 2 years 2330 NW Flanders Suite 207 503 226-6678 - Stop th e e v ild o e r To the E ditor : fter being doubled-crossed in a classic Warner Bros, cartoon, Bugs Bunny’s campy response was, “This means war!" I had the same response when President Bush and Vice Presi dent Dick Cheney supported a constitutional amendment that would pre-emptively bar both gay marriage and civil unions. (Note that the president only called for “legal arrangements other than marriage,” which is something gay people already have and is not “civil unions,” as the media misreported.) I have publicly supported Republican candi dates, such as U.S. Sen. Gordon Smith, who have helped the gay community. While I still believe gay people need to he involved in the Republican Party, I do not see how any gay per son could reasonably vote for any Republican candidate until this premeditated gay-hashing is stopped. Bush’s assault on gay people is so radical that 1 expect to blindly vote for the Democratic presidential candidate. I see removing this “had man" Bush from office and stopping his “evil- doing” as being essential to preventing the “downfall of our society.” A ’m jumping for joy, and with 3,200 marriages in 10 days, that's a lot of joy! Here’s another thought: If you’re really seri ous about stimulating the economy and creating jobs, then extend the right to marry to gay and lesbian couples aenss the country and let them start planning their weddings. I • • • am probably the only gay-identified female on the planet who does not believe in marriage— gay, straight or otherwise. It is a useless, outdated institution founded eons ago out of necessity. In 2004, the only tangible benefit of marriage that I can think of is the convenience of having someone there to drive you home when you are too drunk to do so yourself. Having said that, I do firmly believe that us gay folk have every RIG H T to sashay down the aisle should we so choose and be just as miserable as the straight people. Therefore, I commend Mayor Newsom for this brave and pioneering act in the struggle for equality. Rock on, Gavin! I A makeover contest sponsored by Spank and Frock! Call us for details.... AT ITS BEST! need to say” time, and Newsom is saying gay ■ marriage is inevitable. It’s the truth. D a n ie l B u r g Portland applaud the bravery of Mayor Newsom. He is a hero willing to risk his political career for the right thing. Those who think we should wait for the “right" time to demand equality naively assume there will ever he a “right” time. From the women’s suffrage movement to the civil rights movement of the ’50s and ’60s, the disenfranchised have had to fight and sacrifice to make change real. It’s time we insist on being granted our equal place at the table instead of timidly waiting for the “masters" to drop as scraps or a hone. The religious right understand well that legal recog nition of our right to marry destroys all argu ments made to justify discrimination against us. It’s time we got smart and stood for full equality, whether or not you would get married. D avid D e yo Beaverton A n n ie R o c k a fe l l e r F o x x • • • think his decision to grant marriage licenses to same-sex couples was a good one. It is good to get this issue out in the open in order for people to get used to the idea. Also, it certainly was a quick way to raise much-needed cash for the city. I ALL FOREIGN & DOMESTIC AUTOMOBILES C h r is t o p h e r D raus QUALIFIED, HONEST, QUICK & FAIRLY PRICED Portland SATISFIED CUSTOMERS TELL THEIR FRIENDS — THEY ALL COME BACK! (references on file) AUTO-MARINE 4230 NE SUMNER ST. 503-282-0159 / 'T ay men and lesbians ought to he fair to \ J others if they expect to he treated with fairness. Therefore, my view is that the concept of marriage is owned and operated by virtually all religious communities worldwide. Fairness to those communities obligates me to let them have that concept for man/woman marriage and turn to another concept, such as civil unions, for same-sex couples. Their obligation would then be to treat gays fairly within the American constitutional context and grant civil unions/domestic partnerships with rights and privileges equivalent to those granted to married people. Civil unions ought to he achieved by politi cal action in each state. But we should recognize that courts do have authority to find that the Constitution does require fair and equal treat ment of gays and order legislatures to establish suitable alternatives to marriage. Either way, it is up to me and other responsi-. hie citizens to teach the public that courts do have this authority and that judges who order such alternatives are not “activist judges” and Corvallis Ms. Gay Oregon XVII A u to m o tive M ain te n a n ce & R e p a ir To the E ditor : T homas K raem er I Portland & F r o c k you up! D ivided th e y fa ll B lM I S t F P r m T n ^ °W a^°ut '-*m Francisco Newsomfs sudden decision to grant M v marriage licenses to same-sex couples? A brave act of civil disobedience, or a poorly timed maneuver that only will complicate matters further? A la n e C o lla r We want to 1 did not vote when I was younger because it didn’t seem to matter. Fortunately, the worst thing that Presidents Lyndon Johnson, Richard Nixon, Gerald Ford, Jimmy Carter and Ronald Reagan did was to completely ignore gay issues. But today, our freedom is seriously at risk if we do not effect a "regime change” in the White House. Our future depends on every gay person twisting the arms of their friends and family members to vote against Bush in the next election. Gay-hashers, such as George Bush, are usually insecure about their own masculinity and sexual orientation. For example, look at the large codpiece that Bush carefully padded in his aircraft carrier flight suit before prema turely declaring “mission accomplished” in Iraq. Bush’s disgust of homosexuals is “unnatural" homophobia, which is a very serious mental ill ness when it harms other people. But we should he “compassionate” and help Bush get the psy chological help he so desperately needs by removing him from office. • • • say kudos to Mayor Newsom. His actions have allowed gay men and lesbians to express their real desire to be legally married. These acts have brought the issue to the center of the national stage. Democrats nor Republicans can duck the issue any longer. It’s “say what you I ivil disobedience? OK, but brave? Complicate FURTHER? How far is further when one can exit the human resources office, where they C A N N O T ask if “roommate” means “partner,” and enter the benefits office, where they DEMAND PROOF of partnership before granting benefits to the “roommate.” Huh? Confronting politicians means they might have to address the issue, maybe, hopefully, it also scares folks and might backfire. A lot of states are calling for a vote of support for traditional marriage, and guess what? They can have it! “They” have bruised and broken it and now want to hang the tag “gay” out front and blame us! I think same-sex unions are inevitable, and all couples deserve the chance to “make it legal.” It jast needs a better name than gay marriage. C D E l a in e C r a n d a l l Beaverton efinitely a brave act of civil disobedience. From what I’ve learned about Mayor Gavin Newsom, he seems to he a very well- educated, knowledgeable and connected person who didn’t make this decision lightly. This is an action that is based upon princi ples that I just recently became aware of: that we should not accept being placed in a different class. All arguments against same-sex marriage are completely unfounded or outdated, and as a society we need to understand these fears for what they are and move forward. I’ve been with my partner for more than 12 years and was fortunate enough to be down there in San Francisco to be a part of this. It was an incredible, life-changing experience. D G ary R uss Portland • • • ell, my sweets, it is a brave act of civil disobedience, hut LaFruita and I have been in a relationship for 35 years and have had to spend a large amount of money on attorney fees just so we can have some of the “taken for granted” liberties that "married as defined by Miss Bush” have now. Wc are tired of being “second-class citizens” and, of course, dearly hope there will be NO CH A N G E to the Constitution. We really admire Mayor Gavin Newsom and wish he were running for the presidency. How ever, I doubt very much in our lifetime we will see open marriages for everyone. When this fails— after most likely going all the way to the Supreme Court— those awful right-wing Repub licans won’t stop with that; their goal will be to shove us all back into the closet. Love your paper and try and support all who advertise in your publication. W J ack “ S w e e t n e s s ” F a llin H o w ard “L a F r u it a ” F ried m a n Mdwaukie • • • cts of “civil disobedience” can never he timed properly. They arise from a cry that A
