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About Just out. (Portland, OR) 1983-2013 | View Entire Issue (March 19, 2004)
3 by M a r t y D avi s A friend in need I^P The IN publication for the OUT population Support an ally who has put her job on the line for us FEATURE F ounded O O F \ Just out , 10 9 ------- -- ' ‘‘S M P M e S S E L » h j i • M eet the Les- bian Com m unity 11 p r0ject's new executive direc tor, LaVem e Lewis, at the organization's annual mem bership meet ing and volun teer recogni tion night M arch 30. All L C P members and friends are welcome to an evening of good food, socializing, committee reports and updates. • The Seattle Times has becom e the second major daily paper in the United States to extend health insurance and family leave benefits to partners of its gay and les bian workers. The Boston Globe w as the first to offer similar benefits. PUBlISNBt AND MANAGING BUTOR • Marry Davis J ay B rown and V o l. 2 1 N o . 1 0 n the past two weeks many of you have criticized me for question Bruce Broussard, African American activist, talk show host and candi ing the process that resulted in Multnomah County issuing mar date for the Republican nomination to run against U.S. Sen. Ron riage licenses to same-sex couples. Procedural questions aside, 1 Wyden, is named as one attempting to bring a lawsuit against Multnomah stand in personal awe of the results and reiterate my respect and County. In the past Broussard raged against local gays and lesbians whom ««L, regard for the county commissioners. This is even more evident to he blamed for restrictions on military recruiting in Portland Public me now, two weeks later, as the clouds and storms of anger and threats Schools. He later chatted with me at a Basic Rights Oregon dinner and whirl about the commissioners’ heads. Our supporters are under fire. apologized for “the misunderstanding.” I sense that all the misunder What are we going to do to help? standing has yet to be cleared up. The immediate task before us is securing the re-election of C om O n a national level, members of the N ational Black Justice missioner Maria Rojo de Steffey. She has worked long and hard for Coalition are taking a firm stand against the religious right and us, and now is the time for us to return the favor. Prior to the deci coming out in support of marriage equality. Gay activist and coali sion to issue same-sex marriage licenses, Rojo was running unopposed tion president Keith Boykin promised that his organization would for her seat. Now she is faced with a gaggle of candidates and the continue to confront homophobic right-wing groups seeking inroads energy-depleting task of campaigning and fund raising. In the next in the black community. few weeks there are three excellent opportunities for you to meet and visit with her. The best means we have now of thanking the commis n March 13 the Oregon Christian Coalition held a prayer rally and sioner is to bring out our checkbooks. petition drive sign-up in Portland’s Pioneer Courthouse Square. It You can meet Rojo at 2 p.m. March 21 during the Portland Gay was a pretty dismal affair with a very low turnout. The coalition is the far Men’s Chorus’ “Wedding Celebration.” See the calendar on right, the fringe and, perhaps by some, easily dismissed. How Pages 30 and 31 for additional details. On March 25, show ever, the Defense of Marriage Coalition is not the far right. Our supporters PP your support 5:30 p.m. at Hobo’s. And Blend Coffeehouse is They are far closer to the center of the Christian fundamen hosting a coffee from 6 to 7:30 p.m. April 1. are under de I fire. talist belief. They are organized, they have money, and they Let’s all come forward to give back to the friend and ally are focused on their task. If they are able to keep up their What are we who has put her job on the line for us. momentum, they could be a formidable foe. Keeping up the momentum was one of the topics at the City Club forum, going to do n March 1 7 , 1 attended the City Club of Portland forum where it was suggested that the anger, the fury, the emotional to help? “N ‘Marriage: State of the Union.” During the question- wringing of hands might "go quietly into the night," as O re and-answer portion the panelists were asked their opinion on gonians and Americans turn their lives and attentions to why same-sex marriage is so threatening to so many people. The answer, problems of employment, families, health care and day-to-day urgencies provided by Oregon State University sociology professor Rebecca W arn that impact each and all of us. While seeing promise and possibility in the er, was brilliant in its concise clarity: “1 think we’re challenging people short term, today we still have tasks at hand. who hold power." Who are the people who hold power in the United States? People who inally, I’d like to share a tale of two women I met during the weddings hold power in the United States are older white men. They are being chal last week at Holocene. They were visitors from another state, a state lenged and they are being threatened— and, worse yet, they are losing. Impo in the South. A state where a young man had recently been murdered tent with rage is an expression that comes to mind. At this point 1 suspect because he was thought to be gay. A state that refused to air the “I’m a Oregon Gov. Ted Kulongoski might he one of these threatened and angry lesbian” episode of Ellen. These women came to Oregon to be manied people of power. While powerless to stop Multnomah and Benton counties and they were terrified. Thirty-two years together and they couldn’t say from issuing same-sex marriage licenses, he has directed that the state vital their names aloud to me. Women who in their very fear were brave records unit will refuse to certify or recognize all same-sex marriages until the enough to step forward in front of strangers in a city far from their home matter has been resolved, presumably before the Oregon Supreme Court. and proclaim their love and devotion for one another. Two frightened and happy women who then took up their suitcases hile politically emasculated angry white men are seething, the ele- and headed back to a home state filled with fear and repression. No ¥ vated activity level in the gay rights movement is creating both matter what the outcome of our battle for marriage rights, very few of us concern and partnership among black leaders and activists. In Portland, living in Oregon will ever know or face the fears of the two women who h i c t OWL 1983 • on our recent past P 26 NEWS NOR I INVEST • County attorney interprets state constitution; Diane Linn stands by her decision to uphold the Oregon Constitution; fun forum focuses on fight for fairness » same-sex marriages in San Francisco M 2 2 -2 3 M f ll lJ • Cambodian king: I ’m not gay » • The Lesbian Com m unity Project's Anti-Violence Line received 9 9 calls in 1993 to report incidents of hom ophobic violence, the organization announced M arch 8. • M ore than one-third of candidates for school board p osts across the state appeared to be a part of the rad ical nght, according to a study by Right Watch, an O re gon political action committee. 24 -2 5 ARTS AND C U L T U R E M ISIC • Theresa Démarest left music to save her sanity. She came back for the same reason. P 37 MUSIC • Vivian’s a keeper p38 WHAT’S POPPIN’ T • Jersey Girl. It’s turkey time! P 01 DIVERSIONS • Tart needs your art; county commissioners serve cake at “The Wedding Celebration”; PGM C alumni become Nancy Boys P 43 A IT • The many worlds o f Portland photographer Paul Dahlquist P 45 A IT • Painter asks what makes a city a city P 48 COITORI • From humble beginnings sprouts one o f the hottest annual tickets in town p 47 COLUMNS M S. BEHAVIOR . Straight dope on anal sex p 35 EPIQUEEREAN • Don’t have a cow! 38 p 43 MS • State Rep. Terrance Tom introduced a bill into the Hawaii House that would exclude sam e-sex couples and their children from all legal, social, health and welfare rights and benefits that heterosexual couples and their children are entitled to. 11-21 NATIONAL • California Supreme Court halts OUT WITH IT! • C ’mon people now 18 , 1994 • The C linton adm inistration h a s developed grievance p roce d ures for g a y and lesbian federal e m p loye e s w ho feel they have been discrim inated against, accord in g to U .S. Rep. B a rn e y Frank, D -M a ss . The m ove m arks the first time that the n a tio n 's O ffice o f P e rso n n e l M an age m e n t h a s said it will not tolerate discrim ination against sexual m inority people. M a rch 1 9 , 2 0 0 4 IM B I ARE TH Y M M fT: Five queer rabble-rousers P > R enée L a C hance THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO MARC • Darning homosexuals p 50 Ju s t o u t l i published on the firs t and th ird F ri day o f each m onth. (Copyright © 20CH hy Just Out. N o part o f Ju st O u t m ay b e reproduced w ithout written perm ission from the publisher. ON THE COVER aving met through a Just Out singles party at Unleash Yourself Dog Daycare, Leea Voetberg (left) and Tracey Vukovich were “leashed in love” March 8 at Lucky Labrador Brew Pub. The Rev. Susan Leo of Bndgeport United Church of Christ officiat ed. Sharing in their joyous ceremony were close friends Danny and Ron, who also recently married. A receptionjn the gardeas of their home and a honeymoon of tropical snorkeling through Olivia Cruises will follow. The couple have two dogs: Buddy, a hlack lab, and Morgan, aka “Morgi the Corgi.” H Austin NEWS EDITOR • Jim Radosta ARTS AN0 CULTURE EDITOR • Lisa Bradshaw Meryl Cohn, Els Debbaut, LC Haasen, Kobe Kemple, Christopher McQuain, Gary Morris, TJ Norris, Helen Silvis, Floyd Sklaver, Rex Wockner, FEATURES BNT0R • Meg Daly Pat Young DISTRIBUTION • Knst ine Ashton, Allison Benn, CQNTRRWT0RS • Marc Acito, Michael E Barrett, ADVERTISING DIRECTOR • Larry Lewis Jamie Bolyard, Michael Burdick, Bart Church, ADVERTISING REPRESENTATIVES • Kari Tate, Ashley Ed Carder, Ashley Conley, Darren Linder, S & E Distributors GRAPHIC DIRECTOR • Kevin Mtxire PRODUCTION ASSISTANT • Zanne dejanvier The subm ission o f w ritte n and grap h ic m a teri a ls is w elcom ed. W ritte n materia! should he typed an d d o u ble-spaced. 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