January 7.2005 • jUSt OUt 7
m?f7TTÜTTî1ne ws briefs
Multnomah County Commissioner Lisa Naito and
Both faced tough re-election bids last year
because of their decision to uphold the Oregon
Constitution and issue marriage licenses to same-
sex couples. Naito was sworn in by Multnomah
County Circuit Court Judge Dale Koch, and Rojo
was sworn in by Joe D’Alessandro, the openly gay
president and CEO of the Portkind Oregon Visi
tors Association.
A D own -H ome
M ayoral E vent
Portland Mayor Tom Potter showed his sup
port for queers by putting a few of them in the
lineup of performers at his inaugural party Jan. 3.
The Portland Gay Men’s Chorus was among
the acts to take the stage, along with an African
dance/drum troupe and a mariachi band. The
“stage” was actually the dimly lit north end of
the City Hall atrium, where a shoddy sound sys
tem and a few candles served as props for the
entertainment.
Still, they made the best of it.
The chonis lined the central staircase and
sang two songs, including “This Town Is Your
Town,” a version of Arlo Guthrie’s “This Land Is
Your Land,” rewritten for the occasion by Reed
College professor
Edward Segel.
“We all belong
here, we’ve all a
song here/This
town was made
for you and me,”
the men sang.
Openly gay
City Commis
sioner
Sam
Adams helped
direct traffic to
fill up the space
when it came
time for Potter
to speak. To pry
people
away
from their hob-
nobbing,
Adams b(K)med
out an official
sounding “Joe
D’Alessandro,
Circuit Court Judge Dale Koch you’re wanted
in the North
Atrium,” referring to the openly gay president
and CEO of the Portland Oregon Visitors
Association.
“1 understand you’re to do a dance interpre
tive number,” Adams said to Tom Potter.
Indeed, next up was a duet between Potter
and drag king Johnny Mozzarella, who led the
new mayor, as well as Adams and others, in a
heartfelt rendition of Queen’s “We Are the
Champions.”
Perhaps the most delighted audience mem
bers were Potter’s grandchildren, McKenzie and
Madison. They sat in rapt attention at Moz
zarella’s feet. Ever the gentleman, the Big
Cheese crooned directly to them.
The most transgressive queer moment of the
evening, however, occurred when a cheerleader
clad burlesque performer, Gigi Bang Bang, min
gled with the suits and skirts, handing out fliers
for her next performance with Mozzarella.
“Tonight is just a preview,” she said, batting
her blue-sparkled eyelids, then bouncing off,
foot-high blond afro bobbing above her. jM
T/tZ
y j/matneife Financial Group, LLC
♦ Retirement
♦ Life Insurance
♦ College Planning
♦ Long - Term Care
♦ Sustainable Investing
Floreid Walker
3529 NE Broadway?™
Portland, OR 97232
^503.445.9390 ext.101
floreidfaAvfgadvisors.com
Greg Look
3550 Liberty Rd.Sf™
Salem, OR 97302
503.566.7266 ext. 114
grcg(o> vvfgad vise > rs. com
Call one of us today
for more information!
www. wfgad vi sors .com
extraordinary flora
Compiled by S arah D ougher , M eg D aly
and J im R adosta
Save up to 80%
1019 nw 11th ave
p 503.228.1558
30-day Full Money Back Guarantee
www.pawntelk.com
2122 NE Sandy Blvd
503.813.9273
Don Valerio, MD
Board Certified Internal Medicine
Fanno Creek Clinic
2400 SW Vermont Portland
Sports injury • HIV Testing ■ HPV/STDs ■ Hepatitis ■ PSA/Prostate Cancer
Skin Problems - Physical Exams ■ General Adult Healthcare
"An annual checkup is the easiest step to preventing disease. "
New patients are always welcome.
Appointments are now available: (503) 452-0915
Three generations of Potters with Mayor Tom