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