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by
just rm a
M arty D avis
newsmagazine
the in publication for the out population
Founded 1983 • Jay Brown and Renée LaChance
We are Everyday People
Vol. 22 No. 16
FEATURE
Make a connection with community this year
veryday People.
That’s the theme of the 35th annual
Gay/Leshian/Bisexual/Transgender Pride Festival & Parade
being held in Portland on the weekend of June 18 and 19.
Everyday People has a nice ring to it. It’s basic, it’s simple. We are, after
all, for the most part, just that, Everyday People.
Acknowledging us as Everyday People is what The Oregonian does in
a June 16 editorial encouraging the Oregon Senate to pass Senate Bill
1073, creating “Vermont-style” civil unions for gays and lesbians. The
editorial states that passage of this bill, with no mention of action
required by the House, “will be a victory for Oregonians who unequivo
cally cherish fair treatment of their neighbors, sons and daughters who
are gay.”
Hmm...unequivocally cherish? In November Oregonians passed Bal
lot Measure 36, an amendment to the state constitution banning same-
sex marriage. Did these election results make you feel unequivocally
cherished? I think we’re pulling the Band-Aid off the wound a little too
soon here.
The editorial concludes with: “If legislators approve this legislation,
we’ll be able to say that, way back in 2005, Oregonians had already fig
ured out what fairness means. Our state already knew that gays and les
bians deserved to be treated equally [my italics], as full Oregonians and
full human beings.”
Excuse me, sirs, if we’re to be treated equally, why are you pushing
for “Vermont-style” civil unions? Wouldn’t “treated equally” warrant
“Massachusetts-style” same-sex marriage rights?
Back to the theme of Everyday People, let’s pause and ponder who
we celebrate as the Everyday People in our lives. As individuals we have
our cherished partners, lovers and friends. As a community we have
activists, politicians, business leaders, entertainers and performers.
We have Sam Adams, who I hope does not falter from the burden of
being a city’s Great Gay Hope. At some point we’re going to have to
cut him kxise and accept the fact that he’s a mere mortal who cannot
be faulted if and when he’s unable to make an appearance at every gay
event in the city.
As a rising star on the horizon we have Cascade AIDS Project exec
utive director Thomas Bruner, who says he is considering a run for a
seat on the Multnomah County Commission. 1 think Bruner would be
an excellent fit for this position. His passion for his work and for provid
ing services to those in need makes him an ideal march for the county.
We won’t be able to label him as the first openly gay Multnomah Coun
ty commissioner, however. Thar title, 1 believe, goes to Dick Levy, who
was blazing political trails for gay and lesbian civil rights years ago.
Scott Jensen is someone I’ve recently met who is a shining Everyday
June 17, 2005
Person. His fruitful efforts at organizing the first-ever North Portland
Pride event resulted in a delightful gathering of neighbors, business
people, church folk and gays and lesbians from across North Portland.
This regional event should be viewed by others as an opportunity wor
thy of emulating in your own neighhorhtxxJs. As Everyday People, get
ting involved in our neighborhtxxls is an excellent way of forging per
sonal bonds, and for those so inclined, neighborhtxxl asstxziations are a
tried-and-true stepping stone for progressive folks who might harbor
greater political ambitions.
Everyday People will be all over the place at the Pride Waterfront
Festival. Tucked away among the tents and canopies you’ll find hiking
groups and animal rights activists and social service providers and
Everyday People hoping to be able to share their dreams, their ambi
tions, their hopes with you. Stop by and visit with Maria Callahan,
a woman with a vision and a passion for owning her own gym and being
able to provide a safe place for all gay, lesbian, bi and trans folks to work
on achieving and maintaining gtxxl physical well-being. Maria, and
others like her, are all Everyday People hoping to make a connection
with you, a connection with community.
There’s been a bit of grumbling and muttering about Pride events
and activities this year. That would make this year quite similar to all
those prior. There are those unhappy with the parade route, unhappy
with the parade being on Father’s I>ay, unhappy with the beer and food
vendors, unhappy with the lineup of performers and probably unhappy
with the weather.
I’ll hold my thoughts and comments until after the event and in the
meantime make the best of what I’ve been given. I didn’t do a damn
thing to help; I have no right to complain.
I understand the ire of the Stark Street business owners who will
not be on the parade route. Next year we’ll start early to work out a
better plan. Business owners need to step up and take a place at the
planning table. A whole bunch of Everyday People need to step up and
create a new mtxlel that reflects rhe changing times and the changing
community.
This is the 35th year for Pride events nationwide. In these 35 years,
a cultural and social revolution has taken place. While acknowledging
that the work is far from finished, it’s also time to pause and ponder the
need and reason for Pride celebrations. Are we now “post-Pride”? Is it
time to hang up the parades, the parties, the alcohol and the nudity and
offer a citywide series of parenting classes instead?
Finally, should you find yourself dissatisfied with any or all of this
year’s celebration and feel the need to lob blame in someone’s direction,
I suggest that rather than direct your ire at rhe very few who worked to
organize this event, aim instead at all those who didn’t. JH
REFLECTIONS
Scott Jensen (far right) enjoys a successful North Portland Pride, 4he event he helped organize.
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
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34 BACK ROADS OF COURAGE,
BACKWATERS OF FEAR
Finding pride in rural Oregon
NEWS
7-25 NORTHWEST
Updated Pride calendar; Rural Organizing
Project Walk; When Pigs Fly; Eric Sten speaks;
Addison’s Market; two Dyke Marches this year!
26-31 NATIONAL
Gay rights groups denounce U.S. Senate confir
mation of William H. Pryor Jr. to the federal
bench
32-33 WORLD
Swiss voters OK partner law; 2 million attend
S8o Paulo Pride
ARTS AND CULTURE
46 FILM
The best Bat-film ever done
49 SPORTS
Play hall!
51 MUSIC
Concert discs put queer fans in the front row
55 DANCE
Latest edition of Ten Tiny Dances brings
together artists from Seattle and Portland
56-57 DIVERSIONS
Stonewall; Drammy Awards; Scratch Pad; TX 2
PDX QueerMusicFest; The Education of Shelby
Knox; Nadine in Dateland
58 BOOKS
Author bridges class divides
61 TELEVISION
Jim J. Bullock reflects on the sitcom that
launched his career
62-63 FILM
After years of medi<x:rity, Gregg Araki finally
comes into his own as a major artist
64-65 BOOKS
Photographers capture pleasure and pain with
their queer eyes
67 CULTURE
Ballnxim blitz hits Northeast Portland
COLUMNS
45 MS. BEHAVIOR
Lesbian outraged at proposed threesome
50 EPIQUEEREAN
Lez hears it for the boys
69 JIM’S CLOSET
Objection overruled
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, Stephen Blair, Lisa
Bradshaw, Meryl Cohn, Lawrence Ferber,
Timothy Krause. Andy Mangels.
Christopher McQuain. Gary Morris, Jenny
Nguyen. JB Rabin, Rebecca Ragain, Bob
Roehr, Aaron Scott, Clair Shannon, Glenn
Scofield Williams, Rex Wockner, Pat Young
DISTRIBUTION
Kristine Ashton. Allison Benn.
Lisa Benson, Pat Kilmer-Cramer