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About Just out. (Portland, OR) 1983-2013 | View Entire Issue (Oct. 6, 2006)
iustout by Marty Davis J History Lesson VOL. 23 NO. 23 Why did Portland stop celebrating National Coming Out Day? ctober marks the arrival of GLBT History Month. Back in the 1990s, Needs Some Press, Any Press Will Do” Award? Maybe Bass will sing "Fly Me teachers and community leaders believed a month should be dedi to the Moon”? cated to the celebration and teaching of GLBT history. October was I recognize that his appearance and partnership also bring celebrity value to selected to coincide with National Goming Out Day, commemorat HRC and its event. It’s a mutual suck-up affair. Nonetheless, our overzealous ed on Oct. 11. In Portland, we have a mixed history with Coming quest to bestow honors upon the not-ready-yet diminishes the credibility of the Out Day. In the mid-1990s there were very large rallies in Pioneer Courthouse hundreds, the thousands of activists and volunteers who have labored to get this Square. Hundreds, if not maybe a few thousand, would be in attendance. At movement to the place where celebrities like Lance Bass can feel safe enough one of the last large events, then executive director of Cascade AIDS Project to finally venture out of the closet and accept their awards. Where are the damn Thomas Bruner spoke eloquently of how he looked forward to the day when awards for gay and lesbian schoolteachers who bring positive affirmation as role there’s no longer be a need for National Coming Out Day—and that on models and leaders to thousands of students across the country? When do they Oct. 11 we’d just go about our daily lives as everyday people who happen to be get invited to Washington, D.C.? gay or lesbian. Well, his wish sorta came true. Indeed, we no longer have a Speaking of getting some press, no doubt you’ve heard of the misadventures Coming Out Day in Portland, but it’s due more to lack of organization than of one U.S. Rep. Mark Foley, R-Fla. His story, his face, his damn instant meeting the goal of reaching the promised land. It’s been several years since message texts are everywhere. It’s a real head-shaker. The media are playing out anyone stepped up to take on the event. In many cities across the country, the this mess faster than we can possibly keep up. Aside from the bad jokes, the Human Rights Campaign coordinates activities, but not here. Many local annoyance, there is a very serious component to this “scandal." We will not, college campus groups stage small events, but there are no more crowds, no must not, allow our opponents to turn this into “blame the gays.” We can’t more rallies, no more eloquent speakers. 1 think we’re missing an opportunity.- follow this story in a timely fashion in the pages of Just Out, not with a biweek Looking ahead to 2007, how about a coalition of organizations that gather us ly publishing schedule. However, again, turn to the Web site and the blog for together again in Pioneer Square? Our city and our state need to see who we daily, if not hourly, updates and additions to this ever-changing scenario. are. They need to see us in number, and they need to see us in unity. Whatever happens, 1 do not want to see this man on Oprah promoting his new In Oregon, Gov. John Kitzhaber was successfully petitioned to proclaim book and seeking absolution. October 1995 to be Lesbian and Gay History Month. This was a big to-do for a couple of years, and then it sorta went away. Apparently the governor does asic Rights Oregon is continuing its search for a new executive director. not proclaim unless the people ask, and I think that we, the people, might not I think it should take all the time that it needs to ensure hiring the best pos have stepped up to ask for our annual proclamation. If the proclamations have sible candidate. It speaks well for the organization that it has structure in place continued, they have been low-key to the point of muffled silence. that allows it to continue working forward. 1 must admit that my eyebrows were Now, under the guidance and direction of the Equality Forum, the goals of raised when I Googled the name of one of its two finalists and came up with GLBT History Month are to teach GLBT history, to provide inspiring role nothing. Toiling in obscurity might have its place, but that doesn’t bode well for models and to highlight the GLBT community’s important worldwide contri filling this position. butions. For October, Equality Forum has selected 31 leaders, presented on a daily basis. To view each daily selection, please visit www.justout.com and click t Just Out we love our blog. Well, OK, 1 love it. It’s like adding an addition on “Blog Out.” to an overcrowded house. We now have room for everything. We have Its criteria, the forum states, are based on selecting “individuals, living or space for trivia, opinion, the mundane and the weird. 1 blogged about spinach. dead, who have distinguished themselves within their field of endeavor, as Why? Because the spinach scare had potential for a negative impact upon the national heroes or in the GLBT civil rights movement.” The list will raise eye economy of our region and our state. And that affects us all. It’s all better now, brows. Sheryl Swixrpes? Uh-huh. so head off to Starky’s for its excellent chicken sesame salad with spinach. Our fascination with “celebrity gays” is, at best, amusing. Why on earth If you haven’t been to Q Center, or haven’t been in some time, go check it do we give such validation to people who have done little or nothing to earn out. The place is really coming together. There’s art, comfortable furniture, it? Lance Bass has been out now for what, 45 minutes. For this lifetime reading materials and a growing list of events and activities. Portland has spent achievement, HRC is bestowing upon him a “Visibility Award” next month decades trying to build a community center. It’s here. It belongs to you, to all of us. Use it well. © at its 10th annual National Dinner. 1 wonder who gets the “Fading Pop Star O B A reflections ' newsmagazine OCTOBER 6, 2006 FEATURE 24 A DECADE OF DARING Portland film festival celebrates 10 years of queer cinema NEWS 8-19 NORTHWEST Stark sale unclear; The Funky Door is open; recycled time; AlDSWalk breaks record; hate crime investigated at Urge; Pride of the Rose payout; learn about queer parenting; changes in HIV testing; pastor’s departure marked with award, song; BRO takes action; September to remember; become aware; old lesbians organize; commissioner addresses gay Mormons; TIRC future in question; making Oregon schools safe; get busy at Q Center; no tern like the pro tern; PABA embroiled in conflict; Transforming Faith; reproductive rights 20-21 NATIONAL Florida congressman resigns amid scandal; HIV testing plan worries ACLU; support grows for “don’t ask, don’t tejl” repeal; CARE Act moves forward in House; Out in America celebrates Gay History Month 22-23 WORLD Polish PM says nation is gay-friendly; gay adoption OK’d at Scottish Parliament; Quebec might get gay premier; Uruguay to legalize same-sex unions; Ugandan lesbians outed ARTS 8 CULTURE 44-45 DANCE Women choreographers from four countries bring their work to Portland 47 BOOKS Former governor’s autobiography disappoints; trashy memoirs take us inside the world of pom 49 FILM Jackass: Number Two cranks up the homoeroticism 50 PEOPLE Fallen nun makes the transition from kneeling to standup 15 Years Ago in Just Out... volume 8 number 12, October 1991 • AIDS activists inflated a giant "reservoir-tipped condom" over U.S. Sen. Jesse Helms' house Sept. 5 in Arlington, Va., a suburb of Washington, D.C. The inflated rubber extended 15 feet into the air and covered most of the North Carolina Republican's roof. Large printing on the section that covered the front of the house read: "A condom to stop unsafe politics. Helms is deadlier than a virus." iiist out • U.S. Rep. Les AuCoin, D-Ore., and 27 other members of Congress sent a letter to Mexico's ambassador to the United States condemning the behavior of officials who forced the cancellation of the International Gay and Lesbian Conference in Guadalajara. • The 10th annual Lucille Hart Dinner is Oct. 12 at the Oregon Convention Center. The Right to Privacy PAC is bringing comedian Sandra Bernhard for its biggest fund-raiser of the year. » There's a new newspaper in Portland with its eye on the gay community. Alternative Connection is being published by Elwood Johnson, also known as Lady Elaine Peacock. Johnson has hired Robert Thomas, previously with The Oregon Gay News, as the editor. Writers from The Cascade Voice and Eagle News magazine are also on board. The paper will be a monthly about the size of Willamette Week and is planning to cover community news, events and activities. • The Oregon Commission for Women has awarded state Rep. Gail Shibley, D-Portland, the 1991 Woman of Achievement Award. She and science fiction writer and lecturer Ursula Le Guin were honored for professional excellence, commitment to women's equality and inspiration as role models for women. • The Portland premiere of Gus Van's Sant’s film My Own Private Idaho will benefit Outside In and Transition Projects. • Celebrate National Coming Out Day at Pioneer Courthouse Square. Come out and hear speakers including Donna Redwing, Marge Work and John Baker with music by Bridges. There will be booths and an open mike for you to tell your story. Promote gay and lesbian visibility. 52 CULTURE Portland Gay Men’s Chorus visits Eastern Oregon 54-55 MUSIC Get to know these up-and-coming queer artists COLUMNS 41 MS. BEHAVIOR Strange Bedfellows 42 OUT GOING Cherchez La Femme 53 EPIQUEEREAN Hawthorne Reborn • The Village People will be the entertainment at Fears, Phobias and Fantasies, a Halloween Costume Party benefiting Cascade AIDS Project. You can expect wild and outrageous costumes vying for great prizes and a stellar panel of celebrity judges making the final determination. 57 DEAR ETHEL Gixxl Form 58 JIM'S CLOSET Rosie vs. Ellen
