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
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' ‘‘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
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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
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