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About Just out. (Portland, OR) 1983-2013 | View Entire Issue (March 18, 2005)
» à by just rm M arty D avis newsmagazine the in publication for the out population Founded 1983 • Jay Brown and Renée LaChance Brothers, sing on! Vol. 22 No. 10 FEATURE Portland Gay Men’s Chorus marks a quarter century of survival hat a week of festive celebrations the gay, lesbian, bi and trans community has just had! Portland Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays bring together a nx>m chock full of proud parents and families sharing love and pride for gay sons and daughters and toasting the sentiments of wedding memories. Equity Foundation takes over the Governor Hotel ballrtxim for its annual Investments in Dignity Awards and shows our community and the city the power and scope of giving and sharing. Basic Rights Oregon throws a festive anniversary party for celebrants of last year’s historic same-sex weddings, and the Portland Gay Men’s Chorus cele brates its 25th anniversary with a concert simply unsurpassed in memo ries, music and moments. Pixir planning almost kept me from PGMC’s Brothers, Sing On!, and 1 shudder at the thought of what 1 might have missed. The evening was well planned and executed from beginning to end. The handsome tuxe do-clad chorus was brought to rhe stage in order of the year each mem ber joined, starting with 2005 and working back to 1980. As the count down reached rhe founding year, the audience took to their feet in proud and rousing celebration at the presence of original and founding members Steve Fulmer and Gary Coleman. The concert was a memorable visual journey as well as a musical cel ebration. News file footage from 1980 showed the power of Mount St. Helens and her devastation, while old photos flashed back to the fresh and youthful faces of gay men teetering on the brink of an equally dev astating AIDS epidemic. To date, AIDS has claimed the lives of more than 100 members of the Portland Gay Men’s Chorus. The comparisons between “now and then” were evident in many ways throughout the evening. Paragraphs could be written on hairstyles alone. Flairstyles and facial hair, that is. Clearly at one period, a Tom Selleck look-alike thing was going on. In an ironic moment, a cell phone was heard chiming away in the audience during hxitage of the chorus founding—a time prior to the invention of the now-omnipresent and ever-noisy device. 1 deeply appreciated the sentiment and strength of the leadership of Fulmer and Coleman as pictured in old photos and news files. At the same time, it’s evident that while the chorus is rich in history and tradition, the future of the organization is also looking strong and secure. As Fulmer and Coleman anchor the beginnings of the chorus, the future lies in the hands, and voices, of new and young members like Class of 2005 tenor Andrew Dyer. 1 was lucky enough to sit behind the W March 18. 2005 family of this young man, and it was an extra bonus of the evening to share their pride and joy in their son’s musical accomplishment. There’s nothing like watching a proud mom as her son steps up for his solo number. His solo in the Portland Gay Men’s Chorus. As a side note to the overview of the concert, it was interesting to observe the presence of beleaguered Multnomah County Circuit Court Judge Sid Galton. Galton, a lifetime chorus member who is facing disci plinary prixzeedings for violating state judiciary conduct axles, was recently the subject of a Willamette Week cover story. Barraging the openly gay judge with reports of being vindictive, retaliatory and a “nar cissistic hothead,” the article labeled him “Sid Vicious.” Galton was a jaunty participant in the concert’s opening choreographed number, Cole Porter’s “Anything Goes.” Anything goes, huh? Apparently not, Sid. 22 ONE YEAR LATER Just Out celebrates the first anniversary of same-sex marriage NEWS 7-15 NORTHWEST Guest commentary by Bonnie Tinker and Cecil Charles Prescod of Love Makes a Family; photo flap follow-up; queer schixil board candidate emerges; Washington Supreme Court weighs marriage equality; new treats, old digs 17-19 NATIONAL Repeal of “don’t ask, don’t tell” launched; Cali fornia court strikes down same-sex marriage ban as unconstitutional; AFL-CIO against Federal Marriage Amendment s we mark the first anniversary of Multnomah County same-sex 20-21 WORLD marriages and remain in limbo as to the legal status of these unions, we kxik south and join our comrades in California as they cele Mexican government runs pro-gay radio ad; brate judicial rulings paving the way for legal same-sex marriage in their Argentine TV broadcasts gay dating show; state. Meanwhile, a year of marriage has left Massachusetts no worse for Romanian airline discriminated against gays; wear. The state, the first to recognize legal same-sex marriage, has not Sweden to OK lesbian insemination been descended upon by plague nor pestilence, nor kxzusts, nor famine. ARTS AND CULTURE Back here at home, Oregon—a state whose judicial and legislative 34-35 ART leaders slowly, slowly sift and sort—has been hit with the old biblical Art for Life: “It’s the gay event of the year” favorite, drought. Worse yet, we now also have to suffer through an 37 DANCE accompanying pestilence of cheerful, dim-witted television personalities chirpily heralding, “It’s another beautiful summer-like day.” I’d rather Australian Dance Theatre takes flight with have the famine. Birdbrain A 39 MUSIC losing on a note of utter insignificance, 1’11 add my voice to the Erasure’s Andy Bell bravely comes out as poz, chorus of those heralding the improvement of the second season of while Moby voluntarily goes in the cloz The L Word. The dialogue is much improved, and now and then the sit 41 DIVERSIONS uations encountered border on real life. Oregon Bears turn 10; The Adventures of Who couldn’t identify with Bette—who’s being very naughty, and Barrio Grrrll; DanceAbility; The Ditty Bops having very bad days in turn—when, after her you-could-see-it-coming- 42 FILM for-miles car wreck, she made the situation worse by physically attack Conspiracy of Silence exposes hypocrisy within ing the obnoxious male driver of the car she t<x>k out. This was a fine the Catholic Church; Wixxly succeeds with fantasy anger management moment. Remember, ladies, do not try this Melinda and Melinda at home. In real life, such behavior would be followed with an arrest for assault. Gotta say, though, the sex scenes are kinda boring. You seen one 43 CULTURE skinny naked girl ’n’ you’ve pretty much seen them all. Come on, • Everything’s cornin’ up roses at the Red Dress L Word, bring on the real women. jM Party C COLUMNS 33 MS. BEHAVIOR Fiancés fret about wedding registry 36 EPIQUEEREAN After-party appetite? 44 OUT LOUD Drag kings go to Slovenia 45 JIM'S CLOSET Private parts Just Out congratulates Taylor West, Ann Hubard and a host of others on their first wedding anniversaries. May you all share many more. Just Out is published on the first and third Friday of each month. Copyright © 2005 by Just Out No part of Just Out may be reproduced without written 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 editonal department and for the Calendar is the Thursday 15 days before the next publication date Just Out reserves the nght to edit for grammar, punctuation, style, liability concerns and length Views expressed in letters to the editor, columns and features are not necessanly those of the publisher Advertising policy: The display advertising deadline is the Monday 12 days before the next publication date Classified ads must be received at the Just Out office by 5 p m on the Sunday five days before the next publication date, along with payment Classifieds may be placed via wwwjustout.com, by mail or in person at our office Just Out reserves the right to reject or edit any advertisement Compensation for errors in, or cancellation of, advertising will be made with credit toward future advertising Advertising rates available upon request Distribution policy: Just Out is available free of charge Just Out is delivered only to authorized distributors No person may. without pnor written permission, take more than one copy. Any person who takes more than one copy may be held liable for theft, including but not limited to civil damages and/or cnminal prosecution Subscriptions are $22 50 for 12 issues First Class (in an envelope) is $40 for 12 issues Contact Just Out at PO Box 14400. Portland. OR 97293-0400. 503-236-1252. advertising 503-236-1253. fax 503-236-1257; e mail justout@justout com. Visit us on the web at www.justout.com. PUBLISHER & MANAGING EDITOR Marty Davis NEWS EDITOR Sarah Dougher ARTS AND CULTURE EDITOR Jim Radosta STAFF WRITER Jaymee R. Cuti ART DIRECTOR Bonnie Barrett PRODUCTION ASSISTANT Katy Maehl ADVERTISING DIRECTOR Larry Lewis ADVERTISING REPRESENTATIVES Ashley Austin, Kari Tate, Cshea Walker CONTRIBUTORS Stephen Blair, Michael Burdick, Meryl Cohn, Loree Hyde. Lisa McCormack, Gary Morris, Johnny Mozzarella, Jenny Nguyen, Cecil Charles Prescod. Rebecca Ragain, Bob Roehr, Floyd Sklaver, Ricky Z. Starr, Cori Taratoot, Jim Thompson, Roey Thorpe, Bonnie Tinker, Rex Wockner DISTRIBUTION Kristine Ashton, Allison Benn, Lisa Benson. Pat Kilmer-Cramer
