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About Just out. (Portland, OR) 1983-2013 | View Entire Issue (Sept. 15, 2006)
page 3 just out by Marty Davis J It's a Mystery VOL. 23 NO. 22 N ewsmagazine SEPTEMBER 15, 2006 Who will be the next leader of Basic Rights Oregon? t’s been a couple of months now since Roey Thorpe stepped down from her role as executive director of Basic Rights Oregon. The ensuing summer has been quiet, even peaceful, but with the November election looming on the horizon, there are questions as to the status of a replace ment for Thorpe. The last information I had was that the field had been narrowed to three finalists but one dropped out, leaving two in the running. Both candidates have been to Portland to meet with members of the BRO board and selected community leaders. At this time the names of the two final ists are not being publicized by the organization. According to spokeswoman Rebekah Orr, the board is continuing to deliberate with hopes for a month-end decision. States Orr, “It ira time to be cautious and thorough.” BRO hosts its annual fund-raising dinner event Oct. 7. Ideally an announcement would be made prior to the dinner—or perhaps they’ll wait and add drama and intrigue to the evening’s agenda. Drum roll, please. A quiet summer for the organization has also resulted in low energy output for its Web-based nemesis, BRO Watch, a blog that claims responsibility for being “a place to openly discuss Basic Rights Oregon and the LGBTQ civil rights movement in Oregon.” Archived entries indicate that this site started up in March. I didn’t dis cover it until a few months ago and have since been a frequent visitor to the site, even though contributions dropped off as the lull of summer inactivity took over. Past postings contain definite edgy, often snarky criticism while at the same time indicating a good depth of understanding of political activity within and about our community. The major flaw of this site is that its supporters all allow themselves the luxury of anonymity. While its “commitment statement” boasts, "Posts which are abusive and contain personal attacks won’t be tolerated and will be removed immediately," there is clearly present the luxury of boldness that comes from being verbal snipers hiding behind the camouflage of Web obscurity. BRO owes the community accountability. It has, and always will have, critics and dissenters. Critics who put a name and a face to their opinions and concerns are the ones who merit the respect of open forum and dissension. The voices presented in this site should step out from behind the curtain and face those they pelter, face to face. Until then, it’s unlikely that anyone will take the criticisms seriously, which is unfortunate, as many of the opinions expressed warrant discussion. Without the integrity of identity and disclosure, they're just spittin’ in the wind. I RO is not the only organization to have detractors. The officers of the Portland Area Business Association are taking heat from some members as to how policies and procedures are carried out within the organization. Criticisms from members are detailed in a story on Page 13 of this issue. Hopefully this will all be resolved quickly and amicably and the best interests B of PABA will be the objective of all. This month’s meeting reflected very low attendance and membership interest. This trend, if it is such, needs to be acknowledged and remedied immediately. This organization has 14 years of history, some of it just as troubled as today. Now is the time to resolve and set tle disputes and get PABA back on track. eptember is one of those treasured months with five Fridays. This means that most of the Just Out staff, including myself, will be on vacation the week of Sept. 18. I’ll be taking off on a great adventure to explore the eastern regions of our state. My journey will take me to such places as Owyee Canyon, Leslie Gulch, Succor Creek, the Alvord Desert and Steens Mountain. In a mere week, I’ll cover hundreds of miles, see some of the most beautiful scenery in America and never leave the state of Oregon. Pretty cool, huh? I’m guess ing I’ll encounter nary a rainbow flag on this trip, but my camera will be on the ready, just in case. When I return, 1’11 turn around and head east again for a Sept. 30 trip to Pendleton. This day will find me tagging along with the Portland Gay Men’s Chorus as it performs a concert in the home of the Pendleton Roundup. Leaving chaps and jeans at home, the performance will benefit the local chapter of Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays. The chorus has a rich his tory of doing musical outreach to rural areas. As stated on its Web site: “Community outreach is especially important to the Portland Gay Men’s Chorus. By using music as a medium to address philosophical and social barri ers, the chorus’ concerts become powerful tools in the effort to spread important messages. Through these concerts, patrons have learned about overcoming homophobia, made the life-changing decision to come out, developed positive personal identities and addressed issues relating to HIV prevention. The chorus has not hesitated to travel to small, rural communities where, in some cases, the performers may outnumber the audience.” My interest in going along with the chorus is twofold. One, doing outreach work for Just Out. Having the paper available to the audience will perhaps open dixirs for people not aware of all the resources available to them. Clearly there are gays and lesbians living throughout our state; in fact, this concert will be a home- coming, of a sort, for chorus member Michael Sanchez, who grew up in Milton- Freewater, north of Pendleton. Growing up gay, Michael devised an early escape plan and left for Portland immediately after high school. Not everyone who grows up gay, questioning, puzzled, confused, worried or hidden has the option, or the desire, to find life in the city. By coming to the people, the chorus—and Just Out— can bring powerful messages of community and camaraderie. And the second reason I'm going—that’s to capture images of the evening to present to you in the Oct. 6 issue of Just Out. The rain has returned to Portland. The air is crisp, clean and cool. Enjoy, and we'll see you in October. © S reflections 10 Years Ago in Just Out... volume 13 number 22, September 20, 1996 • Same-sex couples are now welcome to use the bridal registry at Australia's largest department store chain, Myer-Grace Brothers, Brother Sister newspaper reported. • Contrary to popular belief, unprotected oral sex is not safe sex. A study that appears in Annals of Internal Medicine reports that people with relatively few sexual partners whose riskiest sexual behavior was oral sex are becoming infected with HIV. • Gay men and lesbians rallied Sept. 14 in Washington, DC., against the Christian Coalition and the anti-gay Defense of Marriage Act. "Pride, Faith and Anger" brought together the communities of faith; Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays; the Lesbian Avengers; and the Sexual Minority Youth Assistance League. The Washington Post reported 600 protesters. • The gay and lesbian community suffered double defeats Sept. 10 in the U.S. Senate when the Defense of Marriage Act passed 85-14 and the workplace protections of the Employment Non- Discrimination Act narrowly lost 49-50. • The Urban League of Portland is making a concerted effort to prevent the spread of HIV/AIDS in the metropolitan area, particularly among the African American community. • Basic Rights Oregon was awarded a 1996 Public Justice Award during the Oregon Trial Lawyers Association's annual convention Aug. 11. BRO was formed as an outgrowth of the No on 13 campaign and is focusing on a program known as the Fair Workplace Project. • Country western dancing: Portland's gay men and lesbians find that it is fun, good exercise and can help mend a broken heart. Meet the Portland Power, Portland's new professional women's basketball team. The American Basketball League launches eight women's teams next month. FEATURE 24 GO OUT DANCING Daniel Hutchison teaches Ballroom Dance 101 NEWS 9-19 NORTHWEST Boys and girls can he girls; toting the past into the future; the sky’s the liihit; PSU takes on diversity; queer Buddhists practice; genders blend at TIRC; learn renters' rights; get political!; blessed stoles return; community member loses leg; shakedown at PABA; discussion with national activist; judicial candidate wants your vote; is your ID “real"? 20-21 NATIONAL “Don’t ask, don’t tell” hits women hardest; HRC promotes Coming Out Day; rejection of foster ban will stand; study quizzes Pride attendees; California governor nixes teaching measure, Department of Defense university elects gay student; gay youth denied right to enlist 22-23 WORLD WorldPride parade rescheduled; Amnesty concerned about killings of Iraqi gays; British MPs concerned about killing of Iranian gays; South African gov’t to introduce civil union law; Nepali gays lobby for constitutional protection; Moscow Pride organizers prepare Euro court case; Chinese gov’t launches gay Web site ARTS AND CULTURE 41 CULTURE Money and mass thought are the MPAA’s homophobic motives 42 MUSIC Portland Lesbian Choir is singing a new tunc 43 CULTURE It's time to play Extreme Family Feud! 44 ART Gay gallery owner founded First Thursday 20 years ago 46-47 FILM The Hloek Dahlia enters Hollywixxl’s lesbian underworld; Shirr thus boldly challenges taboos 48-49 THEATER Drag performer recounts redneck childhcxxl in his first one-man show COLUMNS 28 EPIQUEEREAN Eat in the 'Wixxls 37 MS. BEHAVIOR Rock On 38 OUT GOING Santa Fey 39 GET DIRTY WITH DAN Season of Change 50 JIM’S CLOSET Running with Scissors
