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About Just out. (Portland, OR) 1983-2013 | View Entire Issue (Feb. 17, 2006)
4 , JUStpUt FEBRUARY 17.2006 iustout J NEWSMAGAZINE Founded 1983 • Jay Brown and Renée LaChance 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 DESIGNER Cat Cheng ADVERTISING DIRECTOR Larry Lewis ADVERTISING REPRESENTATIVES Joseph Clark, Michael McDuffey, Melissa Morales, Kari Tate, Cshea Walker CONTRIBUTORS Yvonne P. Behrens, Stephen Blair, Maria Callahan, Meryl Cohn, Dave Kohl, Timothy Krause, Andy Mangels, Christopher McQuain, Jenny Nguyen, Rebecca Ragain, Aaron Scott, Floyd Sklaver, Glenn Scofield Williams, Rex Wockner DISTRIBUTION Allison Benn, Lisa Benson, Youme Inhofe, Pat Kilmer-Cramer, Chance Schwartz Just Out is published on the first and third Friday of each month. Copyright © 2006 by Just Out. No part of Just Out may be reproduced without written 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 editorial department and for the Calendar is the Thursday 15 days before the next publication date. Just Out reserves the right to edit for grammar, punctuation, style, liability concerns and length. Views expressed in letters to the editor, columns and features are not necessarily 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 right to reject or edit any advertisement. Compensation for errors in, or cancellation of, advertising wiH 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 authorized distributors. No person may, without prior written 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 criminal prosecution. Subscriptions are $22.50 for 12 issues. First Class (in an envelope) is $40 for 12 issues. Contact: Just Out at P.O. 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. letters Once Again, Oversensitive Homosexuals Overreact To the E ditor : Frankly, the management of Pirate’s Cove should he made to walk the plank for submitting to a complaint that any rational person who is familiar with the age-old joke about the un welcome holiday fruitcake would dismiss as simply that: a holiday joke! [“Fruitcakes OK with Pirates,” Jan. 20] It is plainly obvious that this was not an anti- gay slogan. Yet another sign that political correct ness has gotten out of hand. It simply astounds me that “fruitcake” can be more offensive than the terms “queer” and “fag” that are used in this very newspaper. And before the letters come gushing in about “taking back” those words, consider this: “Queer” and “fag” were never words that the gay community owned. They were thrust upon us by a closed-minded society. You cannot “take back" what was never yours. You cannot take derogatory words that are commonly regarded as negative and make the positives in the international lexicon. We blow a gasket whenever anyone uses them to describe us; why would we tolerate it when our own do? There were men and women in this coun try who I’m sure died with “queer” and “faggot" being the last words they ever heard. This is indeed no way to memorialize them. Use them if you wish, but don’t direct them at me; otherwise, you will be receiving a very cold shoulder. J on S auer Portland I'm Typing This with One Hand To the E ditor : Roller skating is fun. Gay Skate at Oaks Park is even better. But I’m typing this with one hand because I fell and broke my arm/shoulder at January’s Gay Skate. My arm is in a sling and unusable for three to six weeks. I’ll need physical therapy. The long-term damage to tendons and such is unclear. It really sucks. I, too, laughed derisively at the sign warning us to skate carefully and at our own risk. So keep on skating and supporting Just Out, but just go easy on the disco moves. P eter O vington Portland Where to Take Clothing Donations To the E ditor : Marcelino Perez, in his letter to the editor in the Feb. 3 edition, describes the difficulty of donat ing clothing to Tod’s Comer (“Donation Hell”]. Although he doesn’t say so in his letter, he might be under the impression that Tod’s Comer is run by Cascade AIDS Project. That is not true. Although CAP is kind enough to refer clients and donors (like Mr. Perez) to Tod’s Comer, Tod’s has been a service of the Friends of People with AIDS Foundation since its inception in 1990. Friends of PWAs is a small, independent, vol unteer-run organization, so’the hours are limited. We receive donated space from Providence Health Systems, so our location is in Milwaukie. However, if Mr. Perez, or any other donor, would call Friends of PWAs directly, we’re usual ly glad to make arrangements for a volunteer to meet you at a more convenient place and time to accept your donation. 1 can be reached by telephone at 971-244-3525 or by e-mail at chair@friendspwa.org. Our Web site contains more information about us and our programs. We can be found at www.friendspwa.org. Mr. Perez: if you still have those clothes to give, we’d be happy to receive them. Give us a call. important in my entire life. Diane deserves our sup port. She has earned it. Let’s send the message that this is a community where real leaders are wanted and supported. Diane will be on the primary ballot in May, so the time to lend your support is now. For more information please check out www.dianelinn.com. A lisa A. S immons Re-elect Diane, Our County Chair TRANSITION K evin F riends Friends of People with AIDS Foundafiona Why I Am Working for Diane Linn To the E ditor : I met Diane Linn because of her extraordinary leadership in the struggle for marriage equality. Diane’s role as one of rhe leading civil rights lead ers of our time is enough for me to support her. But 1 am working for Diane’s re-election because she has rolled up her sleeves, made tough decisions and provided the real leadership that produces real results for Multnomah County. 1 served on the County’s Citizen Involvement Committee and worked for a county-supported nonprofit that helps homeless and lower-income families. 1 know how our county works, and I know that our county works because of Diane’s ability to balance the budget and make the tough decisions needed to provide critical services to people in need and people in trouble. Diane has proven leadership on a range of issues, including schools and kids, public safety and basic rights. Her leadership on GLBT rights has been extraordinary. Diane has always made it clear that she believes Multnomah County is a place for all citizens and has embraced the GLBT communi ty in all of her work. During Diane’s first term as chair, the county added a nondiscrimination ordi nance that includes sexual orientation and gender identity. In addition, Diane’s administration has also taken the lead when it comes to HIV/AIDS prevention and treatment, offering cutting-edge delivery of primary care medical services to people with HIV and AIDS. Diane has rolled up her sleeves, made tough decisions and defended our rights. As a community, we (GLBT people) deserve to have the leadership Diane provides. We are too often disappointed by our elected officials. Diane has been with us all the way and has the experience and results to prove it. We are well-served by Diane, our county chair. As a longtime advocate for civil rights, 1 can honestly say I have never done anything more Maston Simmons, 1966-2006 Maston Simmons died of heart failure Jan. 14 at Providence Memorial Hospital in Portland. He was 39. A popular, indeed infamous, fixture at the Acropolis, Space Room and Slow Bar, Simmons was well-known in the Southeast Portland bar community both as an owner and as a patron. He was the proprietor of Vic’s Tavern in Milwaukie until its demolition in 2005 and more recently owned and operated Big Bertha’s, the gyro shop at Sabala’s Mount Tabor. Simmons will always be most closely associated with Vic’s, his ultimate labor of love. With his part ner, Eric, he transformed the former workingman’s tap room into a punkedelic parlor of kitschy esoter- ica, filled to the rafters with Cupie dolls, religious icons, Hamm’s bears and Elvis memorabilia. Together, they produced many memorable shows, and Vic’s quickly became a favorite showcase for local bands, such as Floater and the Dry County Crooks. Simmons was most often seen accompanied by his aging shepherd, Victor, to whom he remained devoted despite the dog’s failing health. He was a true iconoclast—a unique, charismatic individual. He was always true to his own imperative and always sought to make his own rules. He relished the fact that his belligerent, howling wit and take- no-prisoners, gonzo lifestyle made him beloved by most, reviled by some and remembered by all. And just how would Simmons like to be remembered? He told his good friend and employee Tommy Ilk, “When 1 die, tell people I was 2 inches taller than David Lee Roth.” So be it. Simmons is survived by his mother and nephew. A memorial of sorts has been spontaneously creat ed in the doorway of the gyro shop at 4801 S.E. Hawthorne Blvd. Send us your Letters to the Editor Transitions • *-> ¡og y ■ lit O/ c . ■■ ■' Weddings & Commitments online at www.justout.com kOUT Weddings Commitmer Life Transi Upcoming Ever or