À
Grief relief
justm
in M arty D avis
the in publication for the out
Founded 1983 • Jay Brown and ReneJ
Make a donation in reflection of a powerful moment from your life
eflections. A glance backward, a thoughtful examination and
recollection of memories of times, people and events gone by.
“Reflections” is the title of the space that follows this
column. Usually it features a glimpse back five, 10, 15 or 20
years ago in Just Out. In this compact space, we highlight the events of
times past in our community. Who was running what organization?
What entertainer was in town? What was new in AIDS research?
In our personal lives, we also mark time with reflections, milestones
and markers of our lives. We all have them. They are the colorful
threads of the tapestry of our lives. Our personal reflections will be
marked with joy and loss, with love and longing, with sadness and grief.
Reflections such as:
“Twenty years ago I came out and began the search to find myself.”
“Fifteen years ago we lost mom.”
“Ten years ago 1 met my partner.”
“Five years ago I tested positive.”
Most of us will never know what it’s like to have lives affected by a
disaster of such magnitude as that of the tsunami that recently swept
across Asia. And our own personal reflections will never be so horrific
as to have to include:
“Five years ago, 10 years ago, 15 years ago, 20 years ago—this was
the day that the world came to an end.”
Millions of people will mark time with the scars of this memory for
the rest of their lives. It is a reflection of sorrow and pain and loss that is
nearly incomprehensible to the rest of us.
For our “Reflections” of this issue, we’re skipping our glance into the
past and providing instead a list of relief agencies serving the tsunami
victims. We encourage your support and contributions. Pick a powerful
moment, a proud moment, a happy moment in your life and send a
donation in reflection of that memory.
R
I suspect that many at the swearing-in ceremonies, like myself, felt
humbled by the waif-like presence of Vera Katz. What a dynamic pres
ence she has been in our city and our state. For Just Out’s tribute to the
outgoing mayor, please turn to Page 20. Vera, we thank you for all your
years of good work and wish you many more years of leadership and
good life in Portland.
Away from the center spotlight, Multnomah County Commissioners
Maria Rojo de Steffey and Lisa Naito took their oaths of office Jan. 5.
The rcx)m was filled with family and friends, and our community was
well-represented as we showed ongoing support and thanks to the com
missioners who took such bold steps last March. Again, thank you,
thank you, thank you.
Now all the ceremonies are over and it’s time for everyone to get to
work. Next up: the 2006 midterm elections. Who shall be our next gov
ernor? Quick—who’s the current governor? Kinda low-key fella, isn’t
he? How’s that working out for everyone? I think Oregonians need a
governor who can motivate, energize and activate citizens to want to do
and be better.
So who’s it gonna be? Let’s not wait too long to start thinking about
this. Seriously. Kevin Mannix almost won this office in the last election,
and that was before the organized strength of the Defense of Marriage
Coalition. This powerful force is now in place, and my guess is it’s
already meeting and selecting who it’ll be supporting in 2006. We have
got to get to work and get behind someone now. Let’s learn from this
past election. Let’s not lose again.
Vol. 22 No. 5
Januai
FEATURE
I
20 OUR YEARS WITH VERA
Her advocacy, her legacy
a
NEWS
I
I
I
4-13 NORTHWEST
New stats from Q-LAND on free bafl
neighbors band together against skim
Southwest Portland; no decision yet ■
case from the Otegon Supreme Coufl
incoming Mayor Tom Potter takes ol
funding, meth abuse and homelessn J
Action promotes social justice throuB
of theater; Portland’s first gay city coB
taps three out queers
I
14-17 NATIONAL
I
Jerry Falwell’s Moral Majority return«
face-lift; Washington transitions; sinB
pill for HIV in development; Victor«
Arkansas foster parent case; victory ifl
suit gains domestic partnership benefl
employees in the university system I
18-19 WORLD
I
Newfoundland legalizes queer marrial
Korea reports AIDS stats of dubious J
SnowBall.04 canceled in Singapore I
he theme of the 116th Rose Parade, the one in California on New
Year’s Day, was “Celebrate Family.” As far as I can tell, not all fami
lies were represented. I did not find mention anywhere of a same-sex
ARTS AND CULTURE
family float. No lesbian moms with kids, no gay dads. Shocked? Yeah,
30-31 FILM
I
me, too.
Tone-deaf musicals can’t compete witl
ith ceremony and celebration, Sam Adami and Tom Potter start
In a few months, Portland will host her own Rose Parade, along with
visionary artist who’s actually losing hl
ed the new year with their oaths of office. Both events were tes
the more lighthearted evening Starlight Parade. Years ago, gays and les
Coach
Carter scores; Fear and TremHzrJ
taments to the cultural diversity of Portland and showcased the talents,
bians put together a float for the Starlight Parade. It was quite stunning
Good Company explore dysfunctional I
rituals and beliefs of minority communities within the greater city.
for the time. Anyone interested in doing it again? it will require money,
There was much respect for culture and much solemn sense of awe,
sponsors, planning, lots of volunteers and lots of organization. Who
33 ART
even in the midst of celebration.
wants to take the lead?
Self-taught photographer renders the I
To my mind, both events also showcased the lack of ritual and cere
beautiful
1
mony in the seemingly bland, plain old daily white middle-class life.
arewell to Marc Acito, the oft-identified “gay Dave Barry,” who is
35 DIVERSIONS
What a ho-hum bunch we can be. Bouncing about and making odd
retiring his column, coincidentally at the same time Barry is setting
Activist/artist/organizer/amputee Norn
movements to the ancient sounds of the Village People’s “Y.M.C.A.”
his aside. Marc’s column originated in Just Out four years ago, and 1
comes to Nocturnal; queer DJs spin wJ
just doesn’t compare favorably with the traditions of other diverse eth
know readers will miss his wit and perspective. Marc, any time you
at the Goodfoot; Pageant hops aboard
nic groups. Where is our ritual? Where is our culture? Where is our
wanna come back, the space is waiting for you.
Portland Spirit; remembering Dinah iJ
respect for heritage?
Martin and Susan Sontag
On the topic of respect, and with all due, Adam’s swearing-in cere
inally, 1 invite all our single and stxzial readers to start the year with
mony ran so long that there was speculation that it would automatically
a singles party Jan. 13 at Hobo’s. If your plans for the new year
COLUMNS
evolve into a fund-raiser for his second-term re-election. Checkbtxiks
include meeting new people and widening your social circle, then this is
29 MS. BEHAVIOR
were on the ready.
where you need to be. I’ll see you there. JM
Scrooge of a boss frowns on holiday gn
T
W
F
F
32 EPIQUEEREAN
The new fondue
REFLECTIONS
American Red Cross
International Response Fund
P.O. Box 37243
Washington. DC 20013
800-HELP-NOW
www.redcross.org
Catholic Relief Services
Tsunami Emergency
P.O Box 17090
Baltimore. MD 21203-7090
800-736-3467
wwwcatholicrelief.org
Direct Relief international
27 S. La Patera Lane
Santa Barbara. CA 93117
805-964-4767
www.directrelii
Doctors Without Borders
P.O. B ok 1856
Merrifield. VA 22116-8056
888-392-0392 .
www.doctorswithoutborders. org
Food for the Hungry
Asia Quake Relief
1224 E. Washington St.
Phoenix. AZ 85034
800-2-HUNGERS
www.fh.org
International Medical
Earthquake/Tsunami Relief
1919 Santa Monica Blvd. Suite 300
Santa Monica. CA 90404
800-481-4462
www.imcwor1dwide.org
Mercy Corps
Southeast Asia Earthquake Response
Department W
P.O. Box 2669
Portland. OR 97208
800-852-2100
www.mercycorps.org
Oxfam Amenca
Asian Earthquake Fund
P.O. Box 1211
Albert Lea, MN 56007-1211
800-77-OXFAM
www.oxfamamerica.org
Save the Children
Asia Earthquake/Tidal Wave Relief Fund
54 Wilton Road
Westport, CT 06880
800-728-3843
www. savethechildren org
Islamic Relief USA
Southeast Asia Earthquake Emergency
P.O. Box 6098
Burbank, CA 91610
888-479-4968
www irworg/asiaquak
U.S. Fund for UNICEF
General Emergency Fund
333 E. 38th St.
New York, NY 10016
800-4-UNICEF
www.unicefusa.org
Stop Hunger Now
Southeast Asia Crisis
2501 Clark Ave. Suite 200
Raleigh. NC 27607
888-501-8440
www.stophungernow.org
Woild Concern
Asia Earthquake and Tsunami
19303 Fremont Ave. N.
Seattle, WA 98133
800-755-5022
wwwworldconcem.org
World Emergency Relief
2270-D Camino Vida Roble
Carlsbad, CA 92009
760-930-8001
www.woridemergencyreitef org
Just Out is published on the first and third Friday of each month. Copyright C 2005 by Just Out. No part of Just Out may be reproduced without wntten permission from the publisher Editorial
guidelines: Letters to the editor should be limited to 500 words. Announcements regarding life transitions (births, deaths, unions, etc ) should be limited to 200 words: photos are welcome Deadline for
submissions to the editorial department and for the Calendar is the Thursday 15 days before the next publication date Just Out reserves the right to edit for grammar, punctuation, style, liability concerns
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37 JIM'S CLOSET
How I spent my winter vacation
38 THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO
A talent to amuse
PUBLISHER & MANAGING EDITQ
Marty Davis
NEWS EDITOR
Sarah Dougher
ARTS AND CULTURE EDITOR
Jim Radosta
STAFF WRITER
Meg Daly
ART DIRECTOR
Bonnie Barrett
PRODUCTION ASSISTANT
Zanne deJanvier
ADVERTISING DIRECTOR
Larry Lewis
ADVERTISING REPRESENTATIVES
Kari Tate, Ashley Austin, Cshea Wa
CONTRIBUTORS
Marc Acito, Stephen Blair. Meryl C<
Andy Mangels, Jenny Nguyen. Bob
Floyd Sklaver, Allen Whits, Rex Wo
Pat Young
DISTRIBUTION
Kristine Ashton. Allison Benn,
Lisa Benson. Brian Boucher