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About Just out. (Portland, OR) 1983-2013 | View Entire Issue (Jan. 5, 2007)
42 , jUStOUt JANUARY 5. 200 7 books WINNER! BEST OFF-BROADWAY MUSICAL 2005 OUTER CRITICS CIRCLE AWARD WINNER! Longtime lesbian activist reflects on her rich life FAVORITE LONG-RUNNING OFF-BROADWAY SHOW 2006 BROADWAY.COM AUDIENCE AWARD “HOLY HIT!” THE LAUGH-PACKED AWARD-WINNING MUSICAL COMEDY ROCKS INTO PORTLAND. FredMeyer B roadway A cross A merica PORTLAND JAN 30-FEB 4 • NEWMARK THEATRE 503-790-ARTS • BroadwayAcrossAmerica.com • 503-241-1802 fctetm&ST M-F/9-5 Groups 10* 503-321-5251 K103*. Tickets subject to agency convenience charges Hand-Whistling and Community l lx-l lilt<rt> I .llllils be hospitable by Patricia L. MacAodha n a Saturday night during the annual Irish Weekend in Heppner, a group of family and musical friends sat in John Dougherty’s kitchen listening to Sally Cohn hand-whistle a well-known classi cal tune. When she finished, Dougherty, deeply moved hy the performance, remarked, “Guess we don’t need to go to church tomorrow.” That’s the way Cohn’s hand-whistling often strikes people, whether it’s a small gathering of friends or an audience of more than 1,000 at one of the many whistling competitions she’s entered. Portland’s sexual minorities community, however, also knows Cohn as a longtime and active mem- her of the local scene. During her childhood in Morrow County, Cohn watched hoys cup their hands and whistle to make noise at sports events. She discovered she could make music using the same technique. She recalls a bucolic childhood, a life that was “fine until my mid-teens. Then 1 got bored. My peers were all dating boys, but the boys avoided me.” Desiring acceptance, she tried to date boys Sally Cohn hopes the Lesbian Community Project but wasn’t really interested. Frequent teasing by will remain to serve Portlanders. classmates created more problems. Cohn’s primary teen rebellion was smoking, drug and alcohol agency. She kept that job until and she hung out with girls who also smoked, retirement 25 years later. which led to problems because “Mom didn’t Cohn discovered an active and growing queer approve of my schexd friends.” community and became unwilling to continue the During this time, she began getting crushes on closeted life. The relationship ended, and in 1975 girls. Continually unhappy, she convinced her she bought a house that she still owns. Cohn got parents to send her to a Portland school. They involved with her community: entering talent chose a private school, St. Helen’s Hall (now shows and attending Portland Community Church Oregon Episcopal Schools). The social atmos (forerunner of Metropolitan Community Church phere wasn’t ideal, but Cohn found a few friends of Portland) as well as rap groups at the Women’s and enjoyed the academic atmosphere. Ongoing Place Resource Center. Once isolated, she finally crushes on girls led her to come out to herself, but discovered the community she’d been seeking. these feelings conflicted with her religious beliefs. In 1988, going half-time at work, she began to She graduated in 1952 and attended Lewis & volunteer more with the Lesbian Community Clark College for two years before transferring to Project. She became volunteer coordinator for University of Oregon. Donna Red Wing, then for Laverne Lewis. Cohn Although history was her greatest interest, she eventually joined the LCP board. These days she’s decided to major in education. (Her mother had still part of LCP and hopes it will remain to serve been a teacher.) She was still closeted, still strug Portland’s lesbians. She also volunteers with Start gling with beliefs and reality. She returned to Making a Reader Today and helps out in the office Portland in 1958, discovering the queer bar scene. at Nativity Schexd. In addition to continuing to In 1962, a desire to leave everything familiar led hand-whistle, she sings in the choir at St. Andrew her to the East Coast. She lived in Massachusetts Catholic Church, where she is a member. for a year, then moved to New York, where she Buoyed by publishing efforts by housemates, resided until 1972. and realizing she had a gcxxl story, Cohn decided to Cohn’s first long-term relationship, with a write an autobiography, A Hand-Whistler: Memories woman who was also closeted, began in New York. of Creativity and Activism, reflecting the roads she There were a few opportunities for community, has traveled and how projects and hobbies have including writing for The Ladder under an assumed often moved her forward. At 72, her life just gets name. more interesting, with more things to enjoy in her widening community. © Cohn’s mother died in 1964. Unable to attend the funeral, she felt trapped between community and family. As her father’s health declined and SALLY C ohn reads selections from A Hand- New York became “the city that didn’t work” for Whistler: Memories of Creativity and Activism her, she decided to take her recently earned 6:30 p.m. Jan. 18 at In Other Words, 8 N.E. master’s degree and return to Oregon. The couple Killingsworth St. moved to Portland in 1972 and rented a house. Getting Oregon teaching credentials proved almost P atricia L. M ac A odha is a Portland freelance impossible, so Cohn found clerical work with a writer. E-mail her at patmac3l@juno.com.
