avril 16. 2004
jiistrrn
The IN publication for the O U T population
Stranger than fiction
F ounded 1985 • J ay B rown and R enee L a C hance
Vol. 21 N o . 12
As an ER character struggles with inequality, real-life gays and lesbians
play out the same drama across America
asic Rights Oregon is on a roll. The string of successes for
the organization continued with the 11th annual Oregoni
ans Against Discrimination Luncheon on April 14. This
well-attended and place-to-he-seen event had two shining
moments. Well, three, if you count the desserts. As expect
ed, Multnomah County Commissioners Serena Cruz, Lisa Naito, Diane
Linn and Maria Rojo de Steffey were greeted with a warm and enthusi
astic ovation. For me, the second shining moment of the luncheon was
the keystone address presented by Matt Hennessee, president and CEO
of Quiktrak and chairman of the Portland Development Commission.
What a powerful speaker Hennessee is. He spoke passionately of his
own childhood and family struggles and drew eloquent parallels
between discrimination that he faced as a black man and discrimination
faced by gays and lesbians. One conclusion shared by Hennessee was
that education is a major factor in allaying the concerns of those who
fear and oppose same-sex marriage.
This sentiment is shared by the Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against
Defamation, which recently announced its “I Do” campaign, a new
media initiative designed to promote marriage equality. The two-part
promotion features a competition to create 30-second television spots
and public service announcements that will ultimately feature celebrities
followed by GLAAD-led solicitations to local stations to air the spots.
“Our goal is to tell stories that will change the hearts and minds of
Americans who are not yet convinced that marriage rights are a simple
matter of equality,” executive director Joan M. Garry says. “This cam
paign taps into the deep level of frustration and anxiety in this country
around the ongoing erosion of our civil rights. We cannot allow the
Federal Marriage Amendment to slip under the radar and go undehated.
The media have a responsibility to cover this civil rights story.”
How Americans will respond to these spots remains to he seen.
GLAAD may be getting a helping hand in this process by a story
line under way on the popular NBC drama ER. Regular viewers of
the show are familiar with the trials and tribulations of the once-
evil Dr. Kerry Weaver, who, since she was once evil, was, of course,
the natural choice to morph into the lesbian character. So in the
past few seasons we’ve seen Kerry discover her sexual identity, date,
get partnered and start a family with Sandy, the birth mother of
their child. With the season finale and May sweeps approaching,
Sandy is abruptly killed. In the midst of dealing with the grief over
the loss of her partner, Kerry is dealt a double blow by Sandy’s fami
ly’s refusal to allow her access to their child. Kerry is not the moth
er, they were not married, she has no rights.
While Sandy and Kerry are fictional characters, this same drama, in
real life, could be played out daily in gay and lesbian homes across
America. Here we have the truth of our lives being broadcast directly
into the homes of mainstream Americans. Our truth is that gays and
H
loser to home, I’m curious about what I see, or actually don’t see, hap
pening in our Portland community. Specifically, where’s the uproar,
the outrage, the questions, the marches, the call for solidarity and the
coalition building around the recent police sh<x>ting of James Jahar Perez?
As we all know, it was less than a year ago that Kendra James lost
her life in a similar scenario. Her death and the circumstances
around it sent waves of shock and activity throughout the sexual
minorities community. And now, a year later, where’s the fuss,
where’s the turmoil?
In recent weeks there has been much alignment in our community
between our fight for same-sex marriage and the centuries-old battles for
civil rights fought, and not yet won, by African Americans. I’m puzzled.
Why was Kendra James, in her death, embraced by our leaders and
activists and James Jahar Perez not? One struggled to escape police; one
seemingly didn’t. One was a mother. One was a father. Both appear to
have loving families. Both lost their lives in tragic circumstances. Why
is one of less value to us? I sure hope it’s not because our plates are full
and we’re so busy taking care of our own stuff right now that there’s no
time to stand in support of others.
C
A
15 y e a r s a go in
Just out
• In February, Portland attorney Janice R. W ilson
filed a complaint w ith Secretary o f S tate Barbara
R oberts’ office claiming the Oregon C itizens
Alliance flouted election laws by publishing false
statem ents in its literature urging repeal o f Gov.
Neil G oldschm idt’s executive order banning dis
crim ination against gay men and lesbians in
state jobs.
• According to Alyson Publications Inc. of
Boston, the Oregon congressional delegation
ranks 21 st of all 50 state delegations on votes sup
porting gay interests. First ranked was Massachusetts, sec
ond was Washington state. W orst were New Hampshire,
Idaho and Wyoming.
• Marty Davis
• Jim Radosta
ARTS AND CRTDRE EDITOR • Lisa Bradshaw
I • Meg Daly
Marc Acito, Kathy Beige, Michael
Burdick, Meryl Cohn, Andy Mangels, Christopher
NEW S EDITOR
ART AND PlEARTTY: Queer-friendly homeless youth
program sparks creativity and hope
p 26
N EW S
NORTHWEST • Fired Cirque du Soleil gymnast
speaks at CAP auction; lesbian vies for a seat in
the Oregon Legislature; two gay men oppose
Commissioner Randy Leonard
pp 10-19
NATIONAL . Help nears for AIDS facial wasting
pp 20-23
WORLD • Vatican, Muslim nations scuttle U.N.
gay rights resolution
pp 24-25
ARTS AND C U L T U R E
THEATER • The personal is political. And
theatrical, too.
p 37
MUSIC • Queer girl rockers take root at
Nocturnal
P 39
CULTURE . Queer yoga classes promote a well
body and mind
41
FILM • Men on a mission
pp 42-43
WHAT'S POPPIN'? • Filmmaker documents
execution o f Monster subject
p 44
DIVERSIONS • Art groups co-mingle for razzle-
P
pril brings to us five Fridays, and this means a week’s vacation for the
Just Out staff. We’ll be back with you May 7. But before we go I’d
like to remind you of a few special upcoming events that I hope you can
attend.
First, join us for Gay Night at the Sing-a-Long Wizard of Oz
April 17. This is going to be great fun, and if you bring along the ad
from this issue you’ll get a sizable discount off the cost of admission.
Wear a costume, bring your singing voice, and let’s hit the yellow
brick road.
April 19 is opening day for Rose City Softball Asstxriation games.
This is a great way to relax and people watch while enjoying being out
doors and letting someone else do all the running around. Sweat is so
much more appealing when it’s on someone else.
Finally, the election is getting closer and Multnomah County
Commissioner Maria Rojo de Steffey needs our help to secure her
re-election. Please join her from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. April 21 at Aura
Restaurant and Lounge, 1022 W. Burnside St. Her special guest that
evening willY>e Thomas Lauderdale. A $50 suggested donation will
get you good company, hors d’oeuvres and that special feeling that
comes from knowing you’ve done a really good thing. jPI
1 The Oregon Health Division's new HIV public educa
tion campaign contains “nothing of value," according
to Jim Clay, Willamette AIDS Council’s director of
youth programs. He said the materials prepared for
the division by Turtledove Clemens Inc. of Portland,
at a cost of about $70,000, is another example of
wasted public funds.
MANAGING EDITOR
FEATURE
lesbians do not have equal rights. Fictional or not, millions of viewers
tune in weekly to involve themselves in their lives. NBC has created a
tremendous opportunity to showcase the inequities of denial of rights.
Let’s hope that they chtxise to use this situation wisely. The impact
could be tremendous.
i m
EJECTIO N S
A p ril 1 6 , 2 0 0 4
VOL. 6 No. 6, A pril 1989
• Cathy Siemens, a founder of the Lesbian Community Proj
ect and former deputy campaign manager for the No on 8
Ballot Measure Campaign, joined Bridgetown Realty as a
sales associate in March.
• To the distress of some gay leaders and to the delight of
many others, members of the AIDS Coalition to Unleash
Power (ACT UP) in Portland are circulating a flier alleging that
U S. Sen. Mark Hatfield, R-Ore., is a closeted homosexual
who has repeatedly voted against the gay community on
AIDS and civil rights matters.
• The Portland Lesbian Choir presents its first major concert
April 1. Proceeds will allow the choir to attend the 1989
National Festival o f Gay and Lesbian Choirs this July in
Seattle.
• The Men’s Sexual Ritual for Personal Communication is a
three-day intensive for trance, alchemy and magic through
Tarot Keys.
• In Her Image: A Gallery of Women's A rt presents a group
exhibit of women’s artwork and crafts titled A Healing War
McQuain, Gary Moms, J.B. Rabin, Bob Roehr,
Helen Silvis, Floyd Sklaver, Cori Taratoot, Rex
Wockner
I • Larry Lewis
• Kari Tate, Ashley
Austin
I • Kevin Moore
Zanne dejanvier
I • Kristine Ashton, Allison Benn,
Ed Carder, Ashley Conley, Dairen Linder,
S &. E Distributors
dazzle show; Do Jump! peddles hope; goodbye
to Playing It Straight
P 45
ROOKS • Senior drag queen is star o f Harlem
Renaissance history
PP
46-47
COLUMNS
M S. BEHAVIOR • Without the one
P 35
EPIQUEEREAN • Portland’s own SoHo
P 36
OUT WITH ITI • Old lesbians organizing for dates
p 45
THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO MARC • What, me
worry?
P 49
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