by
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M arty D avis
newsmagazine
newsmagazii
the in publication for the out population
Can I get a witness?
Founded 1983 • Jay Brown and Renée LaChance
Vol. 22 No. 13
May 6. 2005
FEATURE
Oregon Legislature hears testimony on Senate Bill 1000
24 A PLACE IN THE MOVEMENT
Is Love Makes a Family serving its purpose?
earings for Senate Bill 1000 convened May 4 in Salem. This
hill, if passed, will provide civil unions for same-sex couples
in Oregon and put into place protections against discrimina-
JL
JL tion based on sexual orientation and gender identity. Preced
ed by a rally on the Capitol steps led by the ever-dynamic Roey Thorpe
of Basic Rights Oregon, a contingent of supporters gave voice to the call
for passage of progressive legislation.
Portland City Commissioner Sam Adams was one of many placing
himself in the bright light of personal scrutiny as he addressed rhe hear
ing. 1 lere is the text of his remarks:
“Thank you for providing me the opportunity to testify before you
this evening. My comments will be brief, as 1 understand you have
many people hoping to have your ear.
“My name is Sam Adams. 1 grew up in Newport and Eugene, Oregon.
1 am a resident of North Portland. As the first openly gay member of rhe
Portland City Council, 1 find myself in the unique position of being both
publicly in charge and privately restricted. I will tell you what I mean.
“As a member of the City Council, I am charged to make decisions
that affect over 100,000 families in Portland. But 1 cannot make deci
sions with a family of my own making.
“1 am entrusted to spend $1.9 billion wisely, but I am not misted to
manage the benefits of a partner who has passed on.
“I make multimillion-dollar decisions about the health care of 5,400
city employees, bur I’m hindered in making lifesaving medical decisions
for a life partner.
“1 will help build thousands of homes for families who need it, but I
can be denied a hotel room in my hometown of Newport. I cannot see
the logic in these contradictions. 1 hope rhe Legislature cannot as well.
“Portland has had a civil rights ordinance, much like the non
discrimination provision of rhe hill before you for 1 J years. It has
worked. Senate Bill 1000 asks you to extend these protections, as Port
land cannot protect all Oregonians from being denied rights because of
their sexual orientation. With two-thirds of Oregon voters supporting
civil unions and 80 percent of Oregonians supporting a ban on discrimi
nation, you have the support of our state behind you. 1 know you have
my support.
“Thank you for your leadership, your advocacy and your belief in the
rights of every Oregonian to a fair and prosperous life. GtxxJ evening.”
NEWS
ust Out is not making candidate endorsements in any of the up
coming school board elections. We encourage you to study the
candidates in your district closely and, if possible, attend a neighbor-
J
hood forum where you can meet and question those running for office.
People elected to school boards have enormous responsibilities, and
they make decisions that ultimately affect all of us. In this issue we
introduce you to Dan Ryan, an openly gay man running for Zone 4 of
the Portland Public Schools board. He was endorsed in his race May 2
by The Oregonian.
he cover of this issue of Just Out reflects on “ftKus." As individuals
and as organizations, we are all eventually faced with a need to
stop, shake it off and refiK'us. Refocus our energies, our commitment
and our desire to live and work to our fullest potential.
For more than a year now, the focus of our community has been on
securing equal rights via rhe legalization of same-sex marriage. During
this year of intense work, we have lost, or perhaps shifted, focus from
other goals and initiatives. It is now time to broaden our focus and kxik
more clearly at where we find ourselves.
Our cover story focuses on Love Makes a Family and community
perceptions of the effectiveness of this organization. Bonnie Tinker’s
group is not alone in its lack of focus and viability. The Portland Gay
Men’s Chorus is struggling with leadership issues and changes in staffing
and is wisely turning to outside assistance as it restructures and refocuses
the organization. Members of the Lesbian Community Project continue
to struggle to find their way in a community that’s seemingly gone
ahead without them.
As a photographer, albeit amateur, I’m aware of the consequences of
being out of focus. Vision, viewpoint and ability to see clearly become
blurry. No action, however, yields more power than that of refusal to
accept criticism, accept change and rake steps that lead you back to a
clear vision of the path you should be on.
T
ar hx> frequently, my e-mail brings a riotice from the governor’s
office. The heading is always the same: “A Statement by Governor
Ted Kulongoski on Death of Oregon Soldier.” The first line always
reads: “Governor Theodore R. Kulongoski asked that all flags at public
institutions be flown at half-staff in memory and honor of (insert most
recent victim’s name here).”
After seeing far tix> many of these e-mails, 1 suggest that we now
simply leave the flags down continuously until this war is over and this
meaningless loss of life ends. This is the most fitting tribute at this time.
This is my first public anti-war statement. It’s time that 1, too, adjust
my ftKus.
I can see clearly now. jH
F
9-19 NORTHWEST
SHARE plans retirement housing to meet needs
of sexual minorities; Michigan Womyn's Music
Festival convenes local participants; Dan Ryan,
school hoard candidate; Cascade AIDS Project
nets $600,000 at Art for Life; Oregonian lands
NPR fellowship; Rural Organizing Project holds
Walk for Truth, Justice and Community from
Jtme 12 to 18; OSU celebrates Queer Pride from
May 9 to 1 3; Washington Senate fails to protect
queer citizens
20-21 NATIONAL
Conservative homophobe Joseph Ratzinger
elected Pope Benedict XVI; United Church of
Christ to consider marriage resolution in July;
Soulforce protests Focus on the Family
22-23 WORLD
Spanish Parliament OKs same-sex marriage;
Televisa network to get gay-sensitivity training;
gay harassment increases in Copenhagen; gays
protest at Charles and Camillas wedding; Slove
nia considers same-sex partnerships; Austrian
MP sues gay organization
ARTS AND CULTURE
35 THEATER
Actor Michael Mendelson muses on life in Port
land theater
36-37 FILM
Global Super 8 Anniversary Celebration screens
Bruce LaBruce’s daring No Skin Off My Ass
39 PEOPLE
PDX man featured in his first pom film
40-41 DIVERSIONS
Curve 15th Anniversary Takeover; Pendulum
Aerial Dance Theatre; Tamaras; Amy Ray
42-43 BOOKS
Authors explore vast viewpoints on the fantasy
and reality of black gay male sexuality
COLUMNS
». ♦
Vol. 17 No. 13. May 5. 2000
• The Lesbian Community Project has been without a full-
time staff organizer since Deke Law departed last fall.
Longtime community activist Kristan Aspen just completed
a stint as interim staff organizer for the 13-year-old organi
zation. She has been retained on a contract basis until fall.
and benefits of marriage. He signed the bill pri
vately, because he did not want the ceremony to
be a triumphal party for supporters of the law.
Instead, he said, it was time for the state to begin
healing.
• After a six-year stmt on Equity Foundation’s board of
directors. Matthew Nelson was hired as the organization's
executive director in April.
• Empress XXXVIII Misha Rockafeller is one of
the hosts of Drag WhipCream 2000 on May 7 at
the Brig.
• The Apnl 27 Des Moines Register reports that Seattle
based sex columnist Dan. Savage, who allegedly cast a vote
earlier this year in the Iowa presidential caucuses, has been
charged with felony voter fraud.
• Encore Theater, a group of senior citizens in
Eugene, talks to youth about their life experi
ences, including the perspective of a lesbian.
Because of the inclusion of a lesbian viewpoint,
they have been targeted by the Oregon Citizens
Alliance
• In April, Mississippi became the second state in 2000 to
pass legislation banning gay and lesbian couples from adopt
ing. Utah passed a similar law earlier this year. Previously,
Florida had been the only state to forbid adoptions by gay
and lesbian couples.
• Gov. Howard Dean signed a bill into law April 26 that makes
Vermont the first state to give same-sex couples the rights
• The Portland Bisexual Alliance plays host to
Oregon Bi Conference 2000 with co-sponsor
Queers and Allies, a student group at Portland
State University, May 13. Oregon now has six
bi-specific organizations, and additional groups
are beginning to emerge.
Just Out is published on the first and third Friday of each month. Copynght © 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
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33 MS. BEHAVIOR
Measure of a man
34 EPIQUEEREAN
Harnessing your veggie might
45 JIM’S CLOSET
Fore play
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
Yvonne P. Behrens, Kathy Beige,
Stephen Blair, Meryl Cohn. Jemiah
Jefferson. Timothy Krause. Andy Mangels,
Christopher McQuain, Gary Morris,
Jenny Nguyen, Rebecca Ragain,
Bob Roehr, Floyd Sklaver, Rex Wockner
DISTRIBUTION
Kristine Ashton, Allison Benn.
Lisa Benson. Pat Kilmer-Cramer