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
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