___________________________ October 1,2004 »
iustnrn
Jilt Oft[3
The IN publication for the O U T population
Speaking out
V ol. 21 N o . 23
From the AIDSW alk to the election, make your voice heard
FEATURE
F ounded 1983 • J ay B rown and R enee L a C hance
lidos to Thomas Bruner, executive director of Cascade
A ID S Project, and his entire organizing committee for the
successful staging of AIDSWalk04. The number of partici
pants was substantially greater than in recent years, and the
amount of money raised was equivalently higher. Corpiirate
sponsorship was cnicial to the success of this event, as well as the
turnout of friends, neighbors and families of those whose lives have
been affected by the disease.
It was especially encouraging to see a large presence of younger par
ticipants taking their place among the walkers. Teens were every
where— some straight, some queer, some from the city, some from the
suburbs. While lacking visible commonality, all were seemingly aware
that this all-inclusive disease shows no regard for age, nor respect for
racial, cultural, economic or geographic boundaries. As always, the Sun
day morning crowd was largely white, yet not so much as in the past.
There were drag queens in high heels; there were clowns with bal
loons. There were children in massive SUV-ish strollers, and of course
there were big dogs, little dogs and then more dogs. There was an over
all festive spirit of gcxxl will. Many familiar faces were spotted in the
throng of walkers, like Kevin Ccxik, aka Poison Waters. But wouldn’t it
be great to see even more community present for AIDSW alk05? Think
of the impact if all the teams from the Rose City Softball Association
walked together in
their uniforpas. If the
teams from the Friday
and Sunday bow'ling
leagues organized
themselves and partici
pated, AIDSWalk
would soon outgrow
Pioneer Square.
Stories were told
and spirits lifted by the
signs people carried.
Banners were held high
and proud, and pictures
of loved ones were car
ried in memory and tribute. A contingent of folks, including city
spokeswoman Mary Volm and fonner Commissioner Mike Lindberg,
wore signs and photos honoring the life and memory of much-revered
Keeston Lowery.
L
ate last month, the city o f Portland announced dynamic and excit
ing new plans for the downtown Park Blix:ks, a project that will
bring new development and progress closer yet to the 10th and Stark
and Burnside area. I find myself wondering how this new “Park
Avenue” will affect the decaying Burnside Triangle. What happened to
the studies, the meetings, the findings and the plans for this area?
Where are the walking tours, the Burnside Triangle Advisory Group
and the grandiose plans for a cultural district? With urban renewal
encroaching from the north and now from the east, what does the
future hold for the establishments serving gay clientele on Stark Street?
With upscale condos planned for long-deserted hotels, producing a
stream of folks accessing services, restaurants and entertainment in the
Pearl, does anyone really think that Stark Street and her patrons will
he left to continue in the current fashion? And what exactly will he the
location of that oft-talked about new LG B T Q community center?
What happened to those plans? Where do they fit into the city vision?
U
nfortunately, election years with gay rights ballot measures are
often marked by increases in hate crimes, property crimes and
overall nastiness. This election year is proving to he no exception. Just
Out has seen our rack taken from the lobby of the 15th and Broadway
building and thrown into a nearby trash bin, papers and all. An outdoor
rack in front of downtown Nordstrom disappeared, even while chained
to nearby racks. These are not accidents. In Beaverton, a law office
adjacent to a requested drop site haughtily infonned our driver, “We
don’t think these should he placed in public.” Ah, bite me.
F
inally, I would he remiss to not remind you, as if you could forger,
that as Nov. 2 and the presidential election approach, so do related
deadlines and guidelines. Oct. 12 is the final date that you can register to
vote in Oregon. Oregon ballots will be mailed to voters Oct. 19. Ballots
are due back in by Nov. 2. Prior to voting, it is your obligation to
become infonned and educated. Registering is only the first step; your
greatest responsibility of all is to know who and what to vote for. Just
Out will provide our election endorsements in the Oct. 15 issue, but I
encourage you, I implore you, to study all candidates and ballot measures.
And if you should find yourself in the downtown Portland area on one of
these beautiful fall days, take your voters’ pamphlet and visit the garden
honoring Keeston Lowery adjacent to the main entrance of City Hall.
This would he an excellent place to visit, study, reflect and honor your
right to vote. J H
u
REFLECTIONS
5 years ago in
-M m
<
• It's been two w eeks since the Oregon Liquor Control Com m ission
suspended The Em bers’ liquor license. The O LC C ,
w hose m ission is to regulate the sale, distribution and
"responsible use of alcoholic beverages in order to pro
tect O regon's public health, safety and community liv
ability,” did so Sept. 14 citing “repeated serious and
persistent problems of fights, assaults, large unruly
crow ds and intoxicated custom ers."
• A group of parents, teachers and students from the
Seattle area has organized what is believed to be the
country’s first gay and lesbian parent-teacher association.
BRAVE STEPS
P U B L ISH » ANO M ANAGING EDITOR
• Marty Davis
NEWS a i m • M.L. Madison
ARTS AND CULTURE EDITOR
S W T WRITER
«Jim Radosta
• Meg Daly
• Marc Acito, Michael E Barrett,
Kathy Beige, Stephen Blair, Meryl G>hn, Timothy
CQNTRnUTQRS
Krause, Andy Mangels, Christopher McQuain,
Gary Morris, Boh Rtx:hr, Floyd Sklaver, Rex
Wix:kner
ADVERTISING DIRECTOR
Y ou 16 N o. 23, O ct . 1, 1999
■
• Larry Lewis
• Kari Tate,
Ashley Austin, Gshea Walker
ADVERTISING REPRESENTATIVES
P 24
NEWS
NORTHWEST • Marriage equality foes stoop to
new lows; breast cancer survivor: "I don’t sit
around thinking about dying"; Vancouver
congressman supports marriage equality;
positive men make positive impact
PP 7 -1 7
NATIONAL • Louisiana and the marriage
referendum dominos
pp
19-2T
WORLD • Manitoba becomes latest Canadian
province to legalize same-sex marriage
pp
2 2-23
ARTS AND CULTURE
THEATER • Profile dedicates entire season to gay
scribe; Lorca in a Green Dress brings Spain's
most celebrated poet back to life
pp 3 4 - 3 5
PEOPLE • Tony winner returns to Oregon for
‘Avenue Q & A’
p 37
WHAT'S POPPIN'? • First Daughter enjoyable yet
predictable
p 39
FILM • What's up, doc?
P 40
DIVERSIONS • Women and trans folk get their
kink on at PacificFriction conference; Jupiter
Hotel plays host to professional art fair: Boston
queer musician Pamela Means comes to
Portland; San Francisco gay filmmaker
documents Republican National Convention
p
4T
ART • Lesbians invite art lovers to visit their
studios
p 43
COLUMNS
MS. BEHAVIOR • Three is a magic number
• According to a Sept. 24 San Francisco Chronr
cle article, the San Francisco city attorney’s
office says the M orm on Church may have violat
ed its tax-exempt status when it encouraged its
California m em bers to help finance an initiative
designed to prohibit sam e-sex marriages.
• Jonathan Schm itz has been sentenced to 25
to 50 years in prison for killing a gay man who
revealed he had a crush on Schm itz during a
taping of The Jenny Jones Show.
• The London street-activist group OutRage is
• Four team s from the R ose City Softball
Association played in the annual Pacific
C up tournament held during Labor D ay
weekend in Vancouver. British Columbia.
The participating team s were Scandals,
Red W ings, Bogart's Q uest and J O Q 's —
with the Red W ings shagging second
place in the “C Recreational" division.
• The Rev. Su san Leo sa ys she "gave in to G od and to pop
ular demand.” In July, the Portland resident and longtime
human rights advocate w as ordained in the United Church of
Christ, one of the few Protestant churches to ordain out gay
men and lesbians. At the urging of friends and supporters.
Leo founded Bndgeport Com m unity Church a year or so ago.
W hat began as a monthly service has since grown into a full
time church with a weekty service
PHOENIX RISING: Crime survivors turn tragedies
into a platform for change
—
calling on Britain's biggest gay club, G A Y ., to
cancel a performance by Donna Sum m er
unless she recants statements allegedly
made during her 1983 concert tour to the
effect that A ID S is G o d ’s retribution against
gays for their sinful lifestyles.
• Oregon Gov. John Kitzhaber has proclaimed October
Lesbian and G ay History Month. The proclamation
acknowledges the contributions gay, lesbian, bisexual and
trans people have made to society throughout Oregon h is
tory and offers the opportunity for positively affirming the
lives, families and culture of sexual minorities.
O c to b e r 1, 2 0 0 4
ART DIRECTOR
• Bonnie Barrett
PRODUCTION ASSISTANT
• Zanne dejanvier
• Kristine Ashton, Allison Benn,
Lisa Benson, Brian Boucher, Boh Terry
DISTRIBUTION
p 33
EPIQUEEREAN • Weekend guests?
P 36
THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO MARC • What's new
in Jersey
p 45
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