! 6 jUSt OUt ’ October 21.2005
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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
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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.