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About Just out. (Portland, OR) 1983-2013 | View Entire Issue (Aug. 20, 2004)
13 ▲ by M arty D ams The eye of the storm Vol. 21 No. 20 Presidential presence sends a chill through sweltering city FEATURE F ounded 1983 • J ay B rown and R enée L a C hance August 20, 2004 STANDING UP TO BULLIES: Community allies work t’s been a week now since the eye of the storm of presidential pol itics lit down upon Oregon and Portlanders. Hopefully all who attended the John Kerry rally are long since hydrated, with sun burns peeled, firmly resolute in their desire to impact the coming election. Register, volunteer, vote. On that hot and sunny Friday afternoon 1 was faced with two choic es. Brave the lines and heat and be energized by the throngs downtown, or take advantage of a rare opportunity to see, live and up close, the president of the United States of America. I chose the latter. Regardless of the politics of the man, the candidate and the party platform, 1 retain a respectful sense of awe and regard for the office, though not the officeholder, of the presidency of the United States. So I set out to find my place in the press seats at Southridge High School— to observe and, here and now, to report back to you what I saw. Remember, it was quite warm Aug. 13—not as unbearably hot as it might have been, but warm nonetheless. It was especially hot, 1 imagine, for those outside in the noon sun at the waterfront rally for Kerry. In Beaverton the Republican contingent met in a high school gym—one, I’d say, of relatively average size. The filled-to-capacity attendance of 1,500 or so made the room “warmish” in temperature. Not god awful, just on the high end of warm. So, to keep the high-end donors comfortable, big ducts of air-conditioned air were piped into the main floor of the gym from refrigeration units parked outside. So: Kerry supporters broiling in the sun, Bush devotees enveloped in comfortable air conditioning. I had assumed there’d be a long line of speakers, one to introduce the person who would introduce the person who might introduce the person who’d introduce the president. But it didn’t happened that way. From offstage, Sen. Gordon Smith was introduced, followed immediately by the introduction of the president and his wife. You can’t help but get a chill. It is the president. (Or was it the air conditioning?) And there he was. Tieless, affable, confident, assured. This was not the Saturday Night Live president 1 was expecting. I was so disappointed. This guy didn’t fumble his lines, made no gaffes, bantered easily and even used a big word now and then. I know it’s his job to project likability, 1 simply didn’t expect him to be any g<xxl at it. The crowd—his crowd—ate it up. I can tell you, though, that he does do that silly shoulder-shaking thing when he laughs, becoming almost a caricature of himself. The people in attendance were in awe of the man, as 1 was in awe of the office. It seemed that to many he was more than the president, more than the commander in chief; to them, this man is their spiritual and I moral leader. When it came to the “Ask George” part of the program, the questions and comments contained an uncomfortably frequent usage of the word “prayer.” One admirer carried the theme apparently too far when she addressed Bush with the request that he pray for Ore gonians because somewhere someone considers us to be one of the most “unchurched” states in the nation. In a slightly awkward moment, the president chided her by defending the people’s right to choose NOT to believe. He continued by expressing his belief that everyone is free to chcxjse and that people in this country need to honor everyone’s deci sion. Ouch. Your once-in-a-lifetime chance to address the president and he scolds you, albeit gently, in front of everyone. Bummer. At the end of the meeting this well-dressed, well-heeled, totally white, conservative crowd left the building and encountered anti-Bush protesters. Oh my, no turning the other cheek here. We had snarling, spewing, hitting, frothing and fuming. Such utter indignation at the sight of nonbelievers. I wanted to make a fun little game out of it, the way bored performers do when they can’t stand to sing their one famil iar song one more time. 1 was prepared to stand in the middle of the street and pretend to be the star and direct the crowd: “OK, on my left, NO MORE WAR...to the right, FOUR MORE YEARS. Come on, louder now, lefties, NO MORE WAR, right wing, er, side, FOUR MORE YEARS. 1 can’t hear you. Louder now." No one would play, though. They all just wanted to run each other over with their cars. And thus ended my journey to the dark side. When it came to the "Ask George" part of the program, the questions and comments contained an uncomfortably frequent usage of the word "prayer" to end youth harassment, while Oregon earns an F for its laws to protect all students p 22 NEWS NORTHWEST • HIV-positive marathon runner inspires AIDSWalk()4 participants; No on 36 campaign organizers say every effort is key pp 7-15 NATIONAL • New Jersey governor comes out, confesses affair and announces resignation; California marriages invalidated; HRC supports trans-inclusive nondiscrimination legislation pp 16-19 WORLD • Jamaican dancehall music star apologizes for anti-gay lyrics pp 20-21 ARTS AND CULTURE PEOPLE • Kevin Thomas makes the gayest cards P 33 BOOKS • Grab the kids a queer-friendly Ixxik P 35 THEATER • NYC according to PDX; gender bending Flip Side at Miracle Theatre pp 36-37 his next part of my story begins in 1996. This was the year Just Out Arts and Culture Editor Lisa Brad shaw went to England to do graduate work in a women and literature program. She got her degree and, better yet, along the way met and fell in love with her partner and now spouse, Els Debbaut. Els joined Lisa in Portland in 1998, and now it’s time for their journey together to take them back to Belgium. So say gcxxlbye to Lisa and hello to the next chapter of Just Out. With the departure of this valued staff member, it becomes time for us to shake things up, time to do some stretching, growing and changing. We’re interviewing, hiring, switching, planning and kx>king forward with excitement to new staff members, a new kxjk and, what the hell, maybe even a new Web site. And if you happen to be an experienced news editor who’s been waiting for a chance to work for Just Out, well, now’s the time send me an e-mail. We’re kxrking for you. Lisa, Els—enjoy your grand new venture. We’ll be kxtking for your e-mails. jFl T WHAT’S POPPIN'? • Spike Lee bombs again p 38 DIVERSIONS • New Pink Martini CD. Mr. & Ms. Oregon State Leather winners; Portland novelist sings from new book; Sissyboy ain’t for sissies P 39 CULTURE • Get your Queer Eye swag P41 COLUMNS MS. BEHAVIOR • Loosen up them purse strings, Midas p 31 OUT LOUD • Gender identity and you P 32 EPIQUEEREAN • Freedom toast . .* 3 , 10 years ago in V ol . 11 No. 20, A ug . 19,1994 ■ ’ • Family Voice is the monthly magazine of Con cerned Women for America, which claims to be the largest women's organization in the United States. A recent issue offers a list of tips titled “How to Overcome Homosexuality.” Items listed include “accept Jesus as Savior and Lord." “present your body formally to God." “avoid homosexual hangouts” and “learn to control your mind. ” . • The U.S. Senate voted Aug. 1 to cut off federal funds to any school district offer ing programs that encourage or promote ’homosexuality'’ as a positive lifestyle. The amendment, sponsored by Sens. Bob Smith, R-N.H.. and Jesse Helms. PUBLISHER ANO MANAGING EDITOR • NEWS EDITOR • Marty Davis Jim Radosta ARTS ANO CULTURE EDITOR • FEATURES EDITOR • Lisa Bradshaw Meg Daly Marc Acito, Meryl G>hn, Els Debbaut, Jon Kretzu, Karen Kudej, Gary Morris, CONTRIBUTORS • Christa-Margaret Nelson, J.B. Rabin, Bob Roehr, Hoyd Sklaver, Rex Wockner ADVERTISING DIRECTOR • Larry Lewis ADVERTISING REPRESENTATIVES • Kari Tate, p 39 THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO MARC • The • A federal judge ruled Aug. 9 that a discriminatory ballot initiative passed by Cincinnati voters last November is unconstitutional. Issue 3 stripped gay men and lesbians of any protections they had and prohibited Cincinnati law makers from extending any protections in the future. just out is published on the first and third Fri day of each month. (aipyright © 2004 By Just (Jut No pin • Ballot Measure 9 shows Aug. 21 at Clinton Street The ater Featunng the work of Portland videographer Linda Kliewer and produced by Heather MacDonald, it docu ments the gay men. lesbians and allies who diligently worked to defeat the initiative Afterward, a panel of activists including Donna Red Wing, Kathleen Saadat and Scott Siebert will lead a discussion PRODUCTION ASSISTANT • INTERN • Graham Zanne deJanvier Turner Kristine Ashton, Allison Benn, Lisa Benson, Brian Boucher, Bob Terry DISTRIBUTION • Ashley Austin GRAPHIC DIRECTOR • OUT WITH IT! • Belgium or bust R-N.C., also bans counseling or other services on^chool grounds as well as referral of a pupil to an organization that affirms a “homosexual lifestyle.’' • The 1996 Olympic volleyball games will not be held in Cobb County. Ga., where commissioners passed and continue to support a homophobic resolution Pressure from gay and lesbian groups and former Olympic star Greg Louganis prompted the Atlanta Committee for the Olympic Games to move the event • Drama, tension and people filled to over flowing the Senate Committee on Labor and Human Resources hearing room July 29 for debate on the Employment Nondiscrimina tion Act of 1994. It is the first piece of fed eral civil rights protection for gay men and lesbians that has some chance of passage p 34 Kevin Moore ____________________________________________ superheroes of summer P 42 of Just (Jut may he reproduced without written permission from the publisher. The submission of written and graphic materi als is welcomed. Written material sbixild be typed and dou ble-spaced. lust ( >ut reserves the right to edit for grammar, punc tuation, style, liability concerns and length. 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