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About Just out. (Portland, OR) 1983-2013 | View Entire Issue (Sept. 16, 2005)
by just nm * M arty D avis newsmagazine the in publication for the out population Founded 1983 • Jay Brown and Renée LaChance Reeling in the years Vol. 22 No. 22 FEATURE Conference brings together women to discuss pressing and problematic issues aming! This column contains the words “lesbians over 50.” If you’re a gay man or a woman under 50, do not turn the page, do not turn up your nose, do not stop reading. This column is about aging, and guess what? It’s all about you, too. Aging is not just for the old, and it’s not just for women. One of the first things I learned at the recent “First WestCoast Gathering and Conference for Lesbians Over 50” was that every single one of us is aging and we’re all aging at the same pace—one day at a time. This conference, promoted as “a time of celebration and empower ment for who we are and how old we are, whatever our ages,” was a well-organized and well-attended gathering of powerful women from across the United States and Canada. Located in beautiful downtown Vancouver, British Columbia, the conference brought together women in their 50s, 60s, 70s, 80s and, for all I know, their 90s. There were workshops and discussions groups. There was music, dancing, flirting and, unsurprisingly, joyful and abounding sexual energy. There were profoundly emotional moments, the most stunning of which was the spontaneous circle of women who rose to the dance floor in swaying unison during an emotional performance by Cris Williamson of her signature masterpiece, “Song of the Soul.” The powerful joining of the performer and the audience in a song that has jointly touched their lives for years and years was magnificent and touching. As noted, the conference was in downtown Vancouver, in facilities appropriate for women of “a certain age.” This was a gathering of women of strength, power and accomplishment, and we need not be apologists for our success and our achievement. While lakeside camp grounds, sliding-scale fees and rustic hot springs have their appeal and their draw, we have also earned our place in spacious suites on the top floors of luxury hotels. Aging is an issue we all face, today, tomorrow—stxiner than most expect. And with your aging will come the issues that we discussed in Canada, issues that we identified as pressing and problematic. Isolation, internalized ageism, homophobia, loss of visibility, diminished stature within our own community, loss of sexual identity, housing issues, physi cal disabilities, emotional loss these are just a few of the topics dis- cussed. Whatever your age tixlay, you will one day face these same issues and questions. And when it’s time for the second annual conference, I encourage all women to attend. he gathering I attended was for lesbians, but gay men will certainly also face their own aging difficulties. 1 found evidence and a cer tain irony in a recent reminder e-mail from the local Human Rights Campaign chapter encouraging Portlanders to attend its monthly f Salon Q social event. Under the auspices of the “Emerging Communi ty” program, the local goals of HRC are to create a strong presence in Portland, expand the number of volunteers doing HRC activities and improve communication and building relationships among the area’s gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender and straight community leaders and organizations. So I was a little surprised to receive an invitation that read, “Show off that summer tan...find that eye-catching outfit and work that body for your best presentation.” Sounds to me like HRC is fishing in the shallow pcx)l. As regards aging, fellas, there will come a day when your “best presentation” will simply no longer meet gay male standards. You will age, you will not be pretty, you will not be buff. While lesbians over 50 are meeting and organizing and sharing and planning, gay men would be well served to do the same. Let’s not set aside, either, the notion of joint discussions of mutual concerns. n the topic of men and women coming together, 1 have an idea to toss out, one that I suspect will he tossed right hack at me. While in Vancouver I visited Little Sister’s, a bookstore serving the gay, les bian, bi and trans community and long noted for its ongoing battles with Canadian customs and censorship. Little Sisters appears to thrive and maintain because it serves the entire community. In Portland we are constantly kept aware of rhe precarious financial position of In Other Words, a feminist women’s bookstore. With the demise of Gai-Pied, there is no gay men’s bookstore in Portland. If dual marketing can work in Canada, why not here? Why can’t In Other Words expand to include men’s hxiks and prixJucts? More often than not, innovative change needs to be a tixil of creative and successful management. I’m not advcxrating that In Other Words become an out let for gay male pom, but there is a wealth of hxiks and literature that could bring in a new segment of shoppers. Little Sister’s was well-designed, with sections clearly designating which aisles contained books for men and which for women. And—sur prise, surprise—there are even those hx)ks and items that can appeal to us all. And in between the men and women’s sections, well, that’s where all the rainbow crap goes. Perhaps with aging comes marketing maturity? t’s happening again: Just Out staff will scatter about the week of Sept. 19 as we take fall holiday. We’ll return and ramp up in prepara tion for our 22nd anniversary in November, at which time we present readers with a new logo, a new kx)k and that brand new Web site that 1 keep talking about. Enjoy the wonderful start of fall. We’ll see you Oct. 7 with our next issue. n I 10 years ago in jUSt Ollt... vol. 12 no. 22, September 15, 1995 • It huffed and puffed, but Hurncane Felix was no match for the power of televangelist-cum-Republican presidential candidate Pat Robertson. According to his Christian Broadcasting Network, the August storm bypassed the East Coast in answer to the prayers of him and his supporters. 39 year-old, who is pastor of Portland's Metropolitan Community Church, is heading up an ambitious three- year campaign to raise $400,000 to renovate the 86 year-old structure, which is located at 2400 N.E, Broadway. • Attendees at this year's Michigan Womyn s Music Festival included three postoperative transsexual women, who came to protest its “womyn born womyn "only policy. Transsexual activists have conducted some type of protest/educational action against that policy every year since 1991, when transsexual Nancy Jean Burkholder was expelled from the festival. • Through the years. Stark Street has been the site of altercations and violence prompted by people—often young men—who specifically come to the district to harass people perceived as gay and lesbian. • Supporters of sexual minority rights made their presence felt during the recent Oregon State Fair in Salem. Parents from Love Makes a Family, a group that advocates for the rights and recognition of gay and lesbian families, showcased memorabilia including family portraits and snapshots of Pride celebrations and the mass wedding held during the 1993 national gay and lesbian rights march in Washington. D C • A national organization of teachers and celebrities that fight homophobia in schools is organizing the second Lesbian, Gay and Bisexual History Month this October. • After three terms tn Salem, Gail Shibley is looking toward a position on the Portland City Council. She believes her job has given her insights into local government that will make her an effective commissioner. TALK BACK I Ä fttvrv »rvt/xrM, trtiht fa M (Jul L-... .. *<**/«'r * fUfMfy fh, ,f .t, f <er A'< -, • The Rev. Roy Cole, a spiritual leader within the sexual minorities community, has earthly comforts on his mind. The L ièi September 16, 2005 ............................. . ............. VW.,'".________________ > .| ■ • The delicious Darcelle XV presides over "A Gala Evening" at Eastern Oregon State Colleges McKenzie Theater in La Grande Local talent, an all-local art auction and door prizes are featured at the event, which is a benefit for the Eaglecap AIDS Support Team. 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 wntten 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 www justout.com, by mail or in person at our office. Just Out reserves the nght 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 authonzed distnbutors No person may. without pnor wntten 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 cnmmal 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. 24 FEEL THE LOVE Queer bicyclists roam the roads, trails and tracks of Portland and beyond NEWS 8-19 NORTHWEST Camp Starlight; Washington County Pride Project; AIDSWalkO5 preview; Lavender Womyn form state chapters; drama in Beaver ton; City Club to discuss meth use; welcome to the Order of Benevolent Bliss; Campaign to End AIDS Caravan send-off Sept. 22; COLAGE relaunches Portland chapter; study searching for women who have experienced intimate partner violence 20-21 NATIONAL Hurricane Katrina’s aftermath; California governor will veto important civil rights legislation 22-23 WORLD Liverpool seeks to create gay village; Fiji gay sex convictions overturned; gays picket Iran Air; gay Mexican sues Coca-Cola ARTS AND CULTURE 37 MUSIC For gypsy-torch-punk-chanteuse Myshkin, there’s no place like home 38 FILM A decent film shot in Oregon! 41 THEATER Queer picks waiting in the wings of Portland’s upcoming theater season 42-43 DIVERSIONS Portland Taiko and Minh Tran &. Company; Confluence; Portland Open Studios; Joni Lau rence; TransGeneraticnv, lesbian marriage quilt takes top prize at Oregon State Fair COLUMNS 18 GET DIRTY WITH DAN Fall start 33 MS. BEHAVIOR Fix it 35 OUT GOING The other cheek 36 EPIQUEEREAN A foreign tongue not hard to swallow 45 JIM’S CLOSET Katrina and the waves PUBLISHER & MANAGING EDITOR Marty Davis NEWS EDITOR Sarah Dougher ARTS AND CULTURE EDITOR Jim Radosta STAFF WRITER Jaymee R. Cuti DESIGN DIRECTOR Anabel Ramirez AD PRODUCTION DIRECTOR Ramey Holsman ADVERTISING DIRECTOR Larry Lewis ADVERTISING REPRESENTATIVES Kari Tate, Cshea Walker CONTRIBUTORS Yvonne P. Behrens. Stephen Blair, Meryl Cohn, Jodi Darby. André Hagestedt, Timothy Krause, Andy Mangels, Christopher McQuain, Gary Morris, Jenny Nguyen, Rebecca Ragain, Floyd Sklaver, Rex Wockner, Dan Young DISTRIBUTION Allison Benn, Lisa Benson. Youme Inhofe, Pat Kilmer-Cramer, Chance Schwartz -
