ge 3
iustout
by Marty Davis
J
OWL Connection
N ewsmagazine
VOL. 23 NO. 17
JULY 7, 2006
Portland Pride's powerful moments
id you participate and celebrate Portland Pride this year? Many did,
eted gay city commissioner. Who? What am 1 missing, and why has it taken me so
many more seemingly didn’t. Truthfully, if it weren’t a work function
long to ask? I know 1 should know this, but 1 don’t. Historians, Sam, help me out.
for me, 1 don’t know that 1 would continue to go. This is not meant
What’s the rest*of the story? Come out, come out, whoever you were.
to convey anything negative about the organization or spirit of the
event. It’s just that after a few years, the booths, the crowd, the
une celebrations were more far-reaching than Pride events. June 24 found
parade—they all take on a sameness. In memory, and t’n actuality, the years women
are
from across the region heading to Canyonville to celebrate the 30th
becoming one. I think 1 am not alone in these thoughts; my observations of
anniversary of Oregon Women’s Land. And 1 was one of them. This was my sec
the crowds were that they get younger and younger and that those “of a cer
ond visit to OWL, having previously overcome my misconceptions and trepi
tain age’’ seem to no longer participate. It’s not unlike the “Christmas is for
dation about "those strange women” who live on the land. As it turns out, part
children” phenomenon. After a certain point, try though you might, you can of the 30th anniversary story is about the fact that no one actually does live
not recapture the excitement.
there anymore, except during summer months. The property is becoming
That said, Pride 2006 was not without its moments. Sunday’s parade kept a
increasingly difficult to maintain and keep safe. Buildings are crumbling, the
good pace, and participants and viewers were energetic and playful. Derek Hartley
garden grows wild, the road is suffering from the impact of nearby logging, and
and Romaine Patterson, hosts of Sirius Radio’s “OutQ," did an outstanding job
the laclc of electricity, water and basic services no longer holds the appeal that
with announcing the parade entries. Truthfully, 1 had never heard of these people
it once did. Overseen by the Oregon Women’s Land Trust, there are now dis
before, but you’d have thought they were bom and raised in Portland for all the
cussions about selling the property. But before decisions for the future are made,
wisecracking and quips they were able to pull off. Their presence at the parade and
first the celebration of the past and beginning. About history, or her story, about
on stage greatly increased audience participation and enjoyment.
stories of women and the land they loved and shared. And the women they
Parade highlights for me included watching Nancy Sellers, former execu
loved and shared. Oh, the stories these women have to tell.
tive director of Our House of Portland, walking the parade route wiih her friends
On this same day The Oregonian featured a front-page story about a study show
and former co-workers. What a powerful battle against cancer she has fought.
ing that Americans are lacking in close friendships and support groups. Not these
My second "ah” moment came when I was delightfully caught off guard by the
women, who came together to celebrate 30 years of camaraderie, friendship and
family. Which is not to say there’s no bickering and quarreling, as that was abun
sight of Multnomah County Chair Diane Linn walking side by side with Chair
elect Ted Wheeler as they led the contingent for the Human Rights Campaign.
dant also, along with small tussles over leadership anil control. These are women
with powerful backgrounds of leadership and resource. No PC wishy-washiness
1 have to admit to becoming a little teary there for a moment. It was probably
here. Pages of names were drawn up, founders were honored, gaps were filled in.
leftover emotion from the color guard. Those flags always get to me. It could be
Stories started by one were finished by another.
the Hamburger Relish Pride Parade and the color guard would still make me
I didn’t stay for the evening campfire, feeling somewhat of an interloper. It’s
cry. That’s just the way it is.
their history, not mine. Whereas 30 years ago the campfire evenings likely
With 2006 being an election year, candidates were seen everywhere. Oregon
included the ritual of mind-altering drugs, 1 suspect this anniversary more like
Gov. Ted Kulongoski and Independent rival Ben Westlund brought their guber
ly brought shared tales of Centrum Silver and calcium supplements. The times
natorial race to our party, while Ron Saxton, to no one’s surprise, didn’t. Jeff Cogen
they are a-changin’.
and Lew Frederick, candidates for Multnomah County commissioner, were spot
And the times will continue to change at OWL. The elders will grow yet
ted riding in cars, surrounded by supporters. Perhaps it was {he sun in my eyes, but
more elder. The need will continue for younger women to follow the path and
1 swear Frederick was carrying some sort of smallish dog all decked out in butch
carry the torch. Will the land be sold? Will there be a new Oregon Women’s
leather attire? Huh, projection Lew? Linn aside, none of the other Multnomah
Land? Is there still a need, a desire? Will there always be women to seek out
County commissioners were spotted during the weekend. None of them is running
women’s space? Only time will tell. ©
for office right now, which is probably a good thing.
D
I have a question for Sam Adams, or anyone else who might know. His parade
sign proclaims him to be “Portland’s First Openly Gay City Commissioner," a
tagline he uses often. The “openly” seems to imply there’s previously been a clos
J
To view additional photos of Portland Pride and the 30th anniversary of Oregon
Women's Land, please visit www.justout.com.
• K0IN Cinemas' first big hit, Desert Hearts, has set a record
in audience attendance at the new multiscreen complex.
Desert Hearts, the story of a love affair between two women in Reno, Nev.,
during the late 1950s, drew sellout crowds during the first three weeks of
its extended run. Attendance was "25 percent over its nearest competitor,"
reported a spokesman for the Seven Gables chain, owners of the KOIN
Center complex.
• A New York state court, in a unanimous decision, recently ordered Roy
M. Cohn disbarred, calling his conduct in four legal matters "unethical,"
"unprofessional" and "reprehensible." Cohn, who rose to prominence and
political influence with his work for Sen. Joseph R. McCarthy in the
1950s, can no longer practice law before state courts or provide clients
NEWS
7-15 NORTHWEST
Celebrating Bill Hancock; curious about
personal safety?; discussing hate crimes;
Our House redux; unstructured getaway
under way; marriage equality profitable;
ReUnion Party planned; Men’s Wellness
Center unveiled; Pride president bids
farewell; Portland approves symbolic
resolution: former Just Out intern honored;
BRO and HRC join forces; hate group
threatens twice, flakes; equality on task
18-19 NATIONAL
Pentagon confirms spying on “don’t ask,
don’t tell” foe»; half of Fortune 500 now
offer partner benefits; gay-targeted
marketing draws yawns; advocacy group
embraces new anti-HIV drug; activist and
teacher mourned; Arkansas Supreme Court
rejects foster parent ban; test measures
genetic resistance to HIV
20-21 WORLD
Warsaw gays march legally; civil unions
not popular in Northern Ireland; Estonia
increases gay protections; life sentences in
gay-bash murder; 10,000 march in Zurich;
Camerwn men guilty of sodomy; gays
march in Mauritius; Australian
government kills capital’s civil unions;
2.4 million at Sao Paulo Pride
41 THEATER
For theater artist John Ellingson, coming
out was an important step in connecting
with the integrity of his craft
20 Years Ago in Just Out...
Vol. 3 No. 9, July 1986
• Approximately 40 gays and lesbians from Portland have
joined various teams and are in training for the upcoming
Gay Games II to be held Aug. 9 to 17 in San Francisco.
22 GETTING IT ON
Portlanders celebrate Pride 2006
ARTS AND CULTURE
reflections
• Whether we can call it groundswell of support for a
boycott is debatable, but we do keep hearing that more
businesses are canceling their Alpenrose accounts, the
latest being Nature's and Earthquake Ethel's. Both
businesses canceled for the same reason that compelled the
people at Food Front to do so: Carl Cadonau's homophobia.
FEATURE
with legal advice about matters before New York
state courts.
• The 13th annual Mr. Hunky pageant, sponsored
by Sanford Director and Darcelle XV, was held
June 1
and 8. The seven impressive
contestants—Carlos Ramirez, Tim Grimes, Tom
Williams, Doug Bob, John Appleby, Brian Day and
Bob Gonzales—were introduced to the audience
in formal wear, casual wear and swim wear both
evenings, and on the final evening each performed
a talent number and acted out his fantasy.
• Feminist gay men: Here's a chance to meet men like yourself and to discuss
issues relating to the gay male experience from a feminist perspective. Our
potluck and discussion group meets every third Friday at 7 p.m.
• Billed as the gay film of this year, My Beautiful Laundrette is a vivid, rude,
wise social comedy about Pakistan immigrants. It is playing at the Movie
House.
• Motherlode will be performing July 10 and 11 at East Avenue Tavern. The
July 10 concert is a benefit for Educators for Social Responsibility, and
donations beyond the $4 cover charge will gladly be accepted.
42, 45 MUSIC
Lucie Blue Tremblay travels the country
promoting breast cancer awareness;
Morrisey sounds more confident than ever
on his latest album
48 FILM
Superman Returns avoids homo nuances
COLUMNS
37 MS. BEHAVIOR
Buyer Beware
38 OUT GOING
An American in
Paris
43 EPIQUEEREAN
Get Baked, Part
Two: Show Me the
Dough
47 DEAR ETHEL
Tri Sexual
Minorities
50 JIM'S CLOSET
Perfect Strangers