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About Just out. (Portland, OR) 1983-2013 | View Entire Issue (Oct. 21, 2005)
! 6 jUSt OUt ’ October 21.2005 ,'l’.Mi!WIWJnews Century Richard Voss, gri abr Principal Broker / Owner Peninsula Realty 6110 N. Lombard St. Portland, OR 97203 Business (503) 286-5826 Cell (503) 804-9424 •Full Service Real Estate Office •On Site Real Estate School •Full Service Property Management Se habla Español •Notary Services •Fax Machine Services •In-office Closings •On-site Mortgage Broker See < mz cuOMted ad etc ¿¿¿ae richardvossf" century21 com www. century21 peninsula. com Each office is independently owned and operated H omelessness Is N ot a C rime In the wake of mayoral decrees targeting the homeless, Just Out talks to three queer street folks by Jaymee R. Cuti • Photos by Marty Davis arlier this month Portland Mayor Tom Potter announced a multifold plan to cut down on crime some times associated with homelessness such as trespassing, loitering, drug possession and prostitution. Although he said unequivocally that home lessness is not a crime, leaders in the down town business community have urged elected officials to crack down on what they call “aggressive panhandling”—a catchphrase that has come to denote an array of activities they say are bad for business. Potter is pursuing what some social service providers call a holistic approach, addressing addiction and crimes of survival. The City Council’s response is a $500,000 investment to offer the homeless immediate admission into a treatment program to avoid jail if they are arrested for drug-related charges. The city will spend another $1.3 mil lion on 57 beds at the Multnomah County Jail for crimes including burglary, trespassing, auto theft and prostitution. Queer folks on the street often blend in with other homeless people, invisible to the main stream sexual minorities community. Gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender peo ple are overrepresented among the homeless, constituting an estimated 30 percent of the 1,500 to 4,000 people sleeping outside on an average night in Portland. Though they may not fit the stereotypes of gays and lesbians frequenting queer dance nights, political meetings and singer/song- writer performances, their struggles with marginalization, homophobia and classism are familiar. The experiences of queer homeless Port E zazm www.Dharma-Rain.Org it positive peopLe to -fmd better hiv trentmei/vts If you are positive and HIV-positive, you are just the type of person we need for our research study. The 20-year quest for new HIV/AIDS treatments continues on behalf of the 930,000 Americans living with HIV and the 40,000 additional Americans who are infected each year. You may qualify to participate in a clinical research study to test the safety and effectiveness of two newly FDA-approved, combination once- daily HIV medications in combination with another FDA-approved HIV drug if you: landers are as varied as their housed brothers and sisters, sometimes including struggles with drug depen dence, mental illness and clashes with auth ority. At the same time, for some, home lessness affords the embrace of freedom and nonconformity. Just Out spoke with three people who identi fy as queer and have spent time living on the street. They preferred to withhold their full names for reasons of safety and privacy. Their stories offer perspectives about inclusion, class divides and quality of life faced by the whole queer community, not just those without a roof over their heads. Surrounded by Family ebb can hold his own in any conversa tion. He is friendly with most police officers, feels accepted among several communities such as the queers, tramps and junkies, and keeps up with kxzal and national news. Yet because of his graying and fraying clothes and natural odor, he says few members of the mainstream sexual minorities communi ty will return his smile or meet his gaze. Webb and his companion, Jed, enjoy travel ing together and spending time at parks with their dogs and one day would like to live in a secluded area in the woods. Webb sleeps in a doorway on Southwest Morrison Street and plans his day around focxl lines at various hunger relief agencies. Though Portland has a vivid gay night life, W • are at least 18 years of age • are infected with HIV • have never taken medication to treat your HIV • are willing and able to understand and provide written informed consent Webb says he and Jed, who have been together for two years, feel they don’t exist in the eyes of mainstream gays. “We are the forgotten part of the gay com munity,” said Webb. Even at Portland Pride, Webb says he felt out of place, leading him to believe it is not his sex uality that draws prejudice, but his bedraggled appearance. Webb says that he has gotten job offers but that it’s difficult to maintain employment with out a place to clean up every day. He also says drugs are major factor contributing to his home lessness. street Webb, 44, came to Oregon 10 years ago to live closer to his parents in Woodhum. He worked as a truck driver in northern California for 18 years and lived in a house. According to Webb, life on the street is often more desirable than functioning within the system. “It’s much harder to have a place to live and pay the bills. It’s much easier to live out here,” he said. He says the homeless community knows he is queer and treats him better than the men he passes along Stark Street. “I walk by Scandals every day with my dogs and people say, ‘Get away from that nasty tramp dog,’ ” he said. “Straight street people are more accepting of me than the mainstream queers.” Webb says he earns a living by recycling cans and bottles and does not panhandle. “We sur vive off this country’s waste, and tmst me, there’s plenty of that,” he said. He and Jed are taking steps to increase their mobility. They have bikes and are working on getting trailers to travel with their dogs. Webb had this to say to Just Out readers: “1 think the gay community needs to be reminded not to stereotype, because the person you are scowling at might be family.” Access Denied All study-related office visits, medical exams, and study medications are provided at no cost to qualified participants. ate in the summer, April was so fed up wMi getting hassled by cops and being kicked out of yet another public place, she dreamed aloud of owning all the businesses that rejected her as a patron. Since arriving in Portland in June, the 28- year-old has been arrested for drug possession and threatened with criminal trespassing charges and is searched regularly by police when moving about the city. “Police are supposed to protect and serve. All L For more information, please contact : at Creete ô L î - fvîo ext. 30 Webb (left) and Jed are forgotten members of the gay community.
