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About Just out. (Portland, OR) 1983-2013 | View Entire Issue (Feb. 16, 2007)
X ;e 3 lUStlOUt by Marty Davis J Slam Dunk VOL. 24 NO. 8 NEWSMAGAZINE FEBRUARY 16, 2007 iSY OF WHITE BIRD i Ex-NBA player comes out, confronts "deeply ingrained homophobia... within our sports culture" t’s been a rollercoaster week for the Human Rights Commission and for National Basketball Association players. Early in the week HRC announced that former NBA player John Amaechi will serve as a nation al spokesman for the organization’s Coming Out Project, a program designed to help gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender people come out and live openly. “John is making history this week, becoming the first NBA player to ever come out and talk about his life and experiences as an athlete and a gay man,” said HRC president Joe Solmonese. “In sharing his story, our great hope is that John will pave the way for more ______________________ GLBT and straight athletes to openly support fairness and respect on and off the playing field.” The embracing of Amaechi follows a pattern of celebrity validation that HRC seems to seek. A few months ago Lance Bass was the hot newbie to follow. Now it’s a basketball player. I bet that a few weeks ago this NBA star had no idea of who or what HRC and National Coming Out Day are, and look, now he’s a national spokesman. While one basketball player outs himself as gay, another blows the door off the idiot’s closet. Following Amaechi’s announcement, former Miami Heat player Tim Hardaway commented in a radio interview: “Well, you know, 1 hate gay people. 1 let it be known, I don’t like gay people. I don’t like to be around gay people. Yeah, I’m homophobic. I don’t like it. It shouldn’t be in the world, or in the United States. So, yeah, I don’t like it.” The Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation was quick to respond: “Hardaway’s comments are vile, repulsive and indicative of the climate of ignorance, hostility and prejudice that continues to pervade sports culture. And by apologizing not for his bigotry but rather for giving voice to it, he’s reminding us that this ugly display is only the tip of a very large iceberg. “It would be a mistake to assume that since such prejudice is rarely aired so blatantly and so publicly that it is in fact rare. It is not. And the media that are now doing a commendable job holding Hardaway accountable for his intoler ance also need to turn their attention to the deeply ingrained homophobia that continues to thrive within our sports culture at all levels.” All of the factors noted here are indicative of a morass of problems that extend far beyond the mouth of one basketball player. GLBT. Self-identified trans activists have toiled with passion and with tears as they struggle with efforts to make hate crimes legislation and non discrimination laws inclusive of trans-identified people. And now, you find this reviling? So, writer, are you asking that the entire movement drop the “trans” from our coalition identity as the gay, lesbian, bi and trans community? You ask for a different, kinder view. What do you suggest? How about considering that if you’re not trans any longer, perhaps someone else is? Maybe what we’re writing is about them, and not about you? To our other “trans-identified” readers, does this writer speak for all of you? How do you wish to see yourselves viewed in our pages, in our community? Is the “trans” movement ready to move on? ords, speech, language, these have garnered a lot of attention lately. Tensions heightened, perspective becomes cloudy. Sensitivities take on a sharper edge. While deep-seated issues must be handled with serious regard and respect, it’s equally important to learn when to shift the load and lighten up a little. Portlanders are lucky to have a great com munity treasure; we have among us the wit and wisdom of the wonderful Darcelle XV. Now is a very gœd time to reflect upon the words with which Darcelle doses each of her * shows: “First we learn to laugh at ourselves, then we can learn to laugh at each other.” y the way, I was wrong when in the last issue of Just Out 1 speculated that former Basic Rights Oregon executive director Roey Thorpe, already departing from Freedom to Marry, would be joining up with the Gill Action Fund. Turns out that’s not the case at all. Thorpe instead has joined Equality Federation, a national network of state-based gay, lesbian, bisexual and trans gender advocacy organizations. She will join the federation March 5 as its first director of advocacy services. I must admit to having no familiarity with Equality Federation. According to its not- very-current Web site, this organization is a national alliance of statewide sexual minor ity advocacy organizations, working together and with national allies to achieve full civil rights by building a strong, state-based move ment for justice. It appears that its focus is more on working with states’ rights issues rather than seeking change at federal levels. ports and TV celebrities are not the only The listed partner organization of Equality ones accused of hate speech. Just Out has Federation in Oregon is Basic Rights Oregon. also been tagged with that label. An anonymous Back to local politics: A recent article in writer questions why we use the words “trans, The Oregonian writes of Multnomah County trannys, etc.” The writer continues: “All these Commissioner Maria Rojo de Steffey and her sisters that I know of, none of us wants that announcement that she plans to run for re Former NBA star John Amaechi (top) came out as gay label. Even those of us you can ‘read’ a mile jection to her seat in 2008. The article states days before Tim Hardaway came out as homophobic. away—it doesn’t matter. We’ve put too much that her strategy for victory is in place. Work into what we are and, really, always were. We are men or we are women. We’re hard, play nice and hope voters let history lie. not ‘trans’ anything.” Will that work for you? If you're in the commissioner’s district, do you see In one way I can completely see this writer’s perspective. It’s logical that yourself voting for her? A lot of work can be done in two years. I’ll ask the “trans” is a temporary, or transitioning, period in a person’s life. You start in question again as the election draws near. one place and finish in another. You are a man, you are a woman. However, Hope to see you all Feb. 19 at Gay Skate. Check our Web site daily for news updates, calendar announcements, humor, wit and fish evictions. © at the same time, activists for years have fought to proudly put the “T” in S FEATURE 20 THE LONG ROAD TO SUCCESS Minh Tran collaborates with fellow Vietnamese choreographer for cross-cultural artist residency NEWS 6-15 NORTHWEST Wonder Ballroom here to stay; Stereotypes moves; homestyle cooking arrives; Portland celebrates women; Brother to Brother expands; Darcelle breaks ground; Bartlett, Highhouse receive Silver Awards; Lambda Awards given; Hispanic films cover queer topics; Brother to Brother holds first fund raiser; organizations reach out to domestic violence victims; crisis team responds; welcoming a new pastor 16-17 NATIONAL Ex-NBA player comes out; freedom to marry observed; self-hating reverend “cured”; retirement benefits lawsuit filed; gay learning institute opens; court rules against public employer benefits 18-19 WORLD Moscow mayor calls Gay Pride “satanic”; Portuguese gays gain rights; French MP fined for anti-gay remark; Polish Pride case accepted; Catholic leader threatens to close adoption agencies; Canadian gay newspapers stolen; gays make splash at World Forum; Iraq unhappy that U.N. highlights gay killings ARTS & CULTURE 34-35 CULTURE Gay men’s wellness movement takes off in Portland 37 FILM Anthony Minghella squanders cast’s considerable talents in Breaking and Entering 38-39 MUSIC Cazwell comes to Portland for a one-night stand 40 NIGHTLIFE What is I.T.? COLUMNS 14 GET DIRTY WITH DAN Coming Chit Too Soon 33 MS. BEHAVIOR Basement Mold 36 EPIQUEEREAN The Culinary Cupid 42 JIM'S CLOSET For Your Consideration
