page 3
lust out
by Marty Davis
J
What's the Fuss?
FEBRUARY 2, 2007
MODEL BLAKE CEDRIC • C XIUA FAYE
VOL. 24 NO. 7
NEWSMAGAZINE
Let's pick our battles wisely
ueer. Faggot. Queer. Faggot. Queer. Faggot. Queer. Faggot. Queer.
obscenities about profusely. In the wonderful world of coincidences, the day
Faggot. Queer. Faggot. Queer. Faggot. Queer. Queer. Faggot. Queer.
after encountering her brand of humor, I received a press release announcing
Faggot. Queer. Faggot. Queer. Faggot. Queer. Faggot. Queer. Queer.
the sale of her newest video. In this release she’s described as “one of the hottest
Faggot. Queer. Faggot. Queer. Faggot. Queer. Faggot. Queer. Faggot.
comedians in America; she makes people laugh at their own stereotypes and
Queer. Queer. Faggot. Queer. Faggot. Queer. Faggot. Queer. Faggot.
differences.” Trust me, faggot would be one of the kinder, gentler words that
Queer. Faggot. Queer. Queer. Faggot. Queer. Faggot. Queer. Faggot.
she would use. 1 couldn’t listen to her. 1 only lasted long enough to ponder the
Q
Queer. Faggot. Queer. Faggot. Queer.
difference between this show and Queer as Folk, which, over on the Logo
Two words. One, once the most reviled, feared and hated, yet now “reclaimed.”
network, is censored, sanitized and spewed out as a sterilized version of the
The other, faggot, perhaps not as painfully powerful or subject to the oppression
original. What’s with censoring the gay content and yet allowing this foul-
as queer? Both words now come with varying levels of acceptance within our own
mouthed woman to use words that would make most sane people cringe?
community. While many still wince upon hearing either, others celebrate their
Different networks, yes. But Logo is part of the MTV family, not The 700 Club.
liberation from the ability for words to afflict wounds. No one, however, ever has
I find it insulting that American viewers are not allowed to be as offended by
the right to use either word as a weapon of anger, malice or hate.
Queer as Folk as they are by Lampanelli’s potty mouth.
So, what’s the fuss about one actor and one national gay and lesbian activist
organization and the word faggot? Much ado over nothing perhaps?
ast week our Just Out blog, “Blog Out,” featured a segment on former Basic
bore, but let’s not allow the Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation, on
L
our behalf, to best him in an endeavor to look foolish. Our predilection for
announced that she is now leaving that organization also. Ah, but she won’t
political correctness in this incident is an insult to those who have suffered real
tell us where she’s headed off to. So let’s play “Where’s Roey Thorpe working
and serious abuse as victims of hate language. From where 1 sit, GLAAD has
next?” My guess—and that’s all it is, simply a guess—is that she’ll be joining
jumped on the “let’s milk this for all it’s worth” bandwagon and is guilty of
a new organization called Gill Action. The stated mission of this group: "The
exploiting the situation for its own gain.
Gill Action Team looks forward to working with a broad base of people from
The Grey’s Anatomy actor, Isaiah Washington, might well be a dolt and a
What has gotten sloughed over in this brouhaha is the fact that the second
Rights Oregon executive director Roey Thorpe. Some six months after
leaving BRO to join up with the Freedom to Marry Coalition, she has
diverse backgrounds to achieve equal rights through the political process.”
usage of the word faggot was merely a denial that he’d used it the first time. The
Gill Action will have an office in Washington, D.C. Perhaps down the
timing was absurdly inappropriate, but the word was neither flung with hatred
street from the spiffy new headquarters of the Human Rights Campaign? It will
nor with menace. I think that indeed the man is guilty of idiocy. But if we all were
be interesting to see how these two national organizations divvy up the chores
sent to rehab for stupidity, there’d be quite a waiting list at the old Betty Ford.
and the money, with or without Thorpe.
This incident speaks to me of why so many Americans fear gay marriage.
It’s not over religious concerns. It’s not fear of threat to their own vows. Hell
no, they’re worried that some tight-ass gays or lesbians are going to marry, move
t’s not every day that finds me ringing the doorbell at Lon Mahon’s house. But
I
a recent Friday affemcx>n found me doing exactly that. The door opened, and
next door and suck the life and joy out of the neighborhixxl The gays are here.
in I went. But not too far and for not too long. I was there on a stated purpose.
Ah hell, cancel the damn block party.
Take a photo. Take it quick and haul ass out. And Bonnie Mahon was clearly in
While not undervaluing the complexity of hateful words and the fears, the
charge of making sure that that’s exactly what happened. This woman knows
potential of escalated behaviors, let’s consider picking our battles more wisely
how to set boundaries. To my mind, she wears the pants in that family, and quite
than demonstrated in this incident.
possibly sets the tone and direction of the oh-great-they’re-back Oregon Citizens
Alliance. To find out what they’re up to now, go to Page 12 to read Jaymee R.
o then, what about words—hateful words, ugly words—and their usage in
S
Cutis interview with Mabon. Just Out might be the only place you’ll find a direct
comedy? Are there different rules, guidelines and sensitivities? 1 ask because
interview with Mabon. He doesn’t talk to the other newspapers.
ing out of my television. Yup, 1 had a major Republican moment.
Once there, you’re a mere click away from our new and improved Just Out
I recently found myself sitting in shock and amazement at what I heard com
Are any of you familiar with one Lisa Lampanelli? She pops up now and
then on Comedy Central and pretty much earns her living by spewing filth and
Don’t forget to check in with us daily at “Blog Out” at www.justout.com.
personals site. Bigger, better and, what’s more, still free. Get moving. Go find
that Valentine’s Day date. ©
reflections
• The Lesbian Community Project board of directors held
two special meetings that resulted in a new look and
direction for the volunteer-based organization.
• Metropolitan Community Church of Portland's new
year's resolution is to begin the search for a new pastor.
The Rev. Roy Cole left in October after tenure of seven
years to further his education. A pastoral search
committee has been selected to guide the membership
through what might be a lengthy process.
• U.S. Sens. Gordon Smith, R-Ore., and Ted Kennedy,
D-Mass., joined a bipartisan group of colleagues Jan. 24
in sending a letter to Majority Leader Tom Daschle,
D-S.D., urging him to bring hate crimes legislation to the
floor for a vote as soon as possible.
• The Northwest Gender Alliance honored Portland
Mayor Vera Katz with the Ellen Summers Lifetime
Achievement Award on Jan. 26.
22 MOST ELIGIBLE
Portland’s queer singles come out for
Valentine’s Day
NEWS
8-16 NORTHWEST
Home finder displaced; pets handled with
care; birth specialist delivers options; BRO
seeks leadership; Foundation celebrates
justice; PABA treasurer resigns; legal
workshop offered; singing the blues;
building a coalition; Lon Mabon exclusive;
crisis team responds; open and affirming
church celebrates 15 years
18-19 NATIONAL
Transgender religious summit breaks ground;
safe bathrooms sought; star apologizes for
slur; California’s first trans judge sworn in;
complaint filed against ex-gays; more
newspapers acknowledge gay unions
20-21 WORLD
Queen’s composer denied civil partnership;
Kylie Minogue is top British gay icon;
Czech gay group shuts down; gays protest at
Vatican; Mexican state passes civil unions;
Mexican gay leader murdered; trouble for
Scottsdale/Marrakech sister-city plan
ARTS & CULTURE
39 CULTURE
Independent Lens focuses on Black History
Month
40-41 BOOKS
Acclaimed author Armistead Maupin reads
at Equity Foundation benefit
5 Years Ago in Just Out... volume 19 number 7. february 1, 2002
• Melissa Arnold and Anne Seelye became the 10th
couple to register as domestic partners in Multnomah
County this year.
FEATURE
• Renowned comedian Lily Tomlin
will entertain during Equity
Foundation's inaugural Investments
in Dignity Awards Gala on Feb. 25
at the Nike World Headquarters
Campus.
• It looks like Rosie O'Donnell is
finally doing it. Her new memoir,
Find Me, due April 23, reportedly
includes a discussion about her
relationships with women. There
is no guarantee she'll say the "L"
word out loud on the air, but hey,
it’s something.
•
Wild Abandon restaurant
celebrates its seventh anniversary
with a benefit for Our House of
Portland. From Feb. 5 to 7 the gay-
owned eatery will be open for
business as usual but will donate
40 percent of all proceeds to the
residential care facility.
42 FILM
Portland International Film Festival
screens “the Korean Brokeback Mountain”
43 DANCE
Spend Valentine’s
Day with men in
tutus
44 NIGHTLIFE
Not Your Typical
Valentine Show
COLUMNS
17 DEAR ETHEL
No Pain, No Gain
35 MS. BEHAVIOR
New Kid on the Bkx:k
37 OUTGOING
Hat Trick
38 EPIQUEEREAN
Chip Off the Old Block
46 JIM'S CLOSET
Through a Lens Darkly