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LMAF in the past, but I stopped volunteering
with BRO because it was becoming nasty to me
To the E ditor :
because it knew I was also volunteering with
s a Christian and a gay man, I have a com LMAF It was during the marriages in Multno
pliment, a criticism and a suggestion mah County last year when BRO staff became
regarding the confrontation Sunday morning of
v<x:ally belligerent with me and another LMAF
Pride weekend between the two Bible thumpers volunteer down at the county building. We were
and the performers and audience in front of trying to assist couples wanting to get a license,
Embers.
and the BRO staff ripped into us. We were not
Considering the rudeness of the thumpers, fighting some turf war; we were doing our best to
I thought the individuals who passively and make this whole experience as snuxith and
peacefully surrounded these misguided men did enjoyable as possible for the happy couples. The
an excellent job of taking the high road in not BRO staff, however, saw and treated the LMAF
lowering ourselves to the kind of irrational volunteers worse than it did the homophobic
shouting used by these guys. A tense situation protesters outside. I thought we were all sup
was made less volatile with our chant of “We posed to be “family”?
love you.”
Shame on Just Out for its unprofessional
It would have been even better if the M.C. attempt to smear Bonnie Tinker and LMAF, and
had not launched into “We’re going to hell, and shame on BRO for alienating individuals and
it’ll be better than this.” At least that’s what I other LGBT organizations. How dare BRO
heard. I think we can diffuse the angry and mis believe it is the only correct voice of the LGBT
informed critics with less inflammatory remarks, community? As far as Just Out goes, it is now
such as “Thank you for sharing your beliefs... we nothing more than a rag of mostly advertising
have ours, too.”
with pathetic attempts at journalism sprinkled
Compliments to the Pride Northwest organ in.
izers who apparently had prepared some of their
people to deal with the intniders. I know they K urt D. K oester
started the shouting match. I hope we can show Portland
them we can be more civilized, rational and
committed.
Pride 2005
Taking the high road
806 SW BROADWAY, STE.80O
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a resounding success!
To the E ditor :
wanted to personally commend Pride North
west for its extraordinary efforts, hard work
Club kids should take
and positive changes to Pride this year. I have
accountability
been attending Pride in Portland for more than
To the E ditor :
12 years, and this is by far the best one yet, in my
am writing in response to the recently pub opinion.
lished articles in Just Out spotlighting the
Not only did we get beautiful weather the
club kids of the Escape nightclub (“Club Kids whole weekend, the entertainment was great,
and Club Life” and “First Person,” June 17].
rhe selection of vendors and booths was diverse
Hear ye martyrs of club land: Please spare me and interesting, the board members and volun
your pain.
teers were helpful and attentive, and the crowds
The gay youth of Portland do have an oppor of people were amazing! I was thinking to myself
tunity to make a change, but they must learn throughout the weekend, “What made it more
that although “talk” is great, false accusations spectacular this year?” The fact that half the
will do them no gixxl. The old cliche holds true: crowd wasn’t corralled into the beer garden the
Actions do speak louder than words. The upper whole weekend and was able to walk around was
court does not have help organizing its events, the best idea. I have never seen so many people
so why should it be responsible for others? interacting and surrounding the stage area to
I agree that all the courts and titles should be a actually cheer on the performers and speakers!
collective force working together, hence Pride
I was disappointed, of course, to see the pro
weekend, but by no means should one be testers leading the parade and yelling their hate
accountable for the other. I can only hope the ful remarks inside the festivities, but security
upper court and “older people” know that not all handled everything so smoothly. I was
of Portland’s gay youth blame them for their impressed.
inadequacies.
So, Tobin Britton, Nicole Browning, Stef-
Anie Wells and Patrick Olson, the four of you
M arsha A ndrews
deserve a standing ovation from the community
Portland
for all of your hard work and dedication to pro
vide a wonderful Pride weekend to us all! Thank
you. For those of you who complained: Step up
A pathetic rag
and help next year! These four did it all on their
To the E ditor :
own!
need to express my voice regarding the article
(smear campaign) on Bonnie Tinker and D ebbie C aselton
Love Makes a Family printed in Just Out [“Is Sponsorship Director, Portland Lesbian &. Gay
Love Makes a Family Still Effective?” May 6|.
Film Festival
I have waited this long to write in because Vice President, Portland Area Business
I’m still waiting to read about Just Out’s “un Association
biased” expose on other local LGBT organiza Co-Chairwoman, Lesbian Community Project
tions that it promised to examine, but no such
exposés have been published. I don’t believe I
can denounce Just Out and its transparent moti An open letter to OPB
vations any better than previous concerned cit To the E ditor :
izens or editors of other local publications (The
agree that OPB has produced many great pro
Mercury and The Alliance). I do believe I can
grams and has aired many more. Therefore,
give a bit of a comparison of my personal deal I was saddened when 1 read in Just Out that
ings with both Roey Thorpe and Basic Rights there was yet another OPB member who decid
Oregon and also Bonnie Tinker and Love ed not to continue his membership due to the
Makes a Family.
lack of coverage and recognition of Gay Pride in
I have volunteered with kith BRO and the June issue of OPB Member Guide and very
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