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About Just out. (Portland, OR) 1983-2013 | View Entire Issue (May 18, 2007)
42 , JUStjOUt MAY 18. 2007 film Coming of Age Standing°ntheSideofLove Portland makes history with the country's first queer documentary film festival AURORA CHORUS by Gary Morris With Claudia Schmidt, Kate Power & Steve Einhorn and Steven Walters Sunday, June 3, 2OO73: oo &7: oopm Newmark Theater, PCPA, 1111 SW Broadway Tickets: 503.287.6721, Ticketmaster, PCPA Box Office, aurorachorus.org and through chorus members PATRICK WOLF PLUS GUESTS ^RENAISSANCE HOMES CONCERTS ON THE LAWN k.d. LYLE ‘ Lane 5 lovett L x C5 and his large band / on X EDGEFIELD < b > WWW.LYLELOVETT.COMWWW.KDLANG.COM SPONSORED BY COMCAST ANO GENTLEMAN'S JACK RUFUS WAINWRIGHT AND BAND with special guest SEAN LENNON ueer documentaries have had a special place in our history at least since 1978’s Word Is Out, a pioneering showcase for rhe kind of articulate, appealing lesbians, gay men and trannies whose struggles (and existence, for that matter) the main stream had spent decades denying. The genre has come a long way since then. Much of the focus today remains on the fight for rights as we set the bar ever higher, merrily pushing that famous “agenda” (read: equality) that so unhinges the haters. But increasing ly there’s cause for celebration, tix>, and the docs are reflecting that. Even sad stories have their balancing smiles as we air out those musty closets and pay Eye on the Guy contains lots of fetching flesh. tribute to our queer brethren and heroes, both famous and little-known, present and past. ly invented the lesbian rights movement in the Programmers Russ Gage and David Weissman 1950s with their organization the Daughters of have scored a coup in this area with QD0C: Bilitis. That was only the first of a dizzying list of Portland Queer Documentary Film Festival, the groups they founded to hammer the homophobes first in the country. Spread over a single weekend, and sexists. The d<x:umentary includes rare photos the fest comprises nine varied works along with a and home movies of early, secret dyke meetings, but host of guests, panels and parties. Together these what’s most fun is the couple’s droll sense of humor. films create an inspiring group portrait of a complex On their relationship: “We were determined to last queer community coming of age. at least one year, even if it killed us! We couldn’t Opening night entry Red Without Blue paints figure out how to divide the cat.” No Secret Anymore an unforgettable picture of Mark and Alex (aka is a sheer delight—a casual history of the lesbian lib Clair), beautiful identical twins dealing with the movement and a ripping bio of two of queerdom’s after-effects of a joint childhtxxl shattered by drugs, goddesses. (2 p.m. June 2. Director Joan E. Biren will suicide attempts, rape and virtual exile in their appear at the screening.) small Montana town. Shot in a lyrical, impression “Every city has a hot spot for the DL scene,” istic style that befits its subject, the film blends says one of the men in the intriguing On the family photos, old home movies and in-depth Downlow. The “hot spot” in this film is Cleveland, interviews—most movingly with the twins them where four gorgeous young African-American men selves—to capture the life and times of this reveal the many ways they interact with queemess, complex, charismatic pair. Now in their 20s, both bisexuality and “straight” men. The director creates are trying to carve out separate identities and an atmosphere of intimacy and trust with these other relationships, while remaining deeply men, who turn a bright light on how they’ve connected. One of the most fascinating aspects of customized their sexual identities without bowing this dark but ultimately hopeful film is the to the usual social pressures. Like Red Without Blue, evolution of the parents; particularly poignant is the film shows how far we’ve come from the clos their emotional father’s interplay with Clair, whose et in the men’s dealings with family and friends. transition he not only supports but pays for. (4:30 p.m. June 2. Director Abigail Child will attend.) (7:30 p.m. June I. Mark and Clair will attend the In Boy I Am, three female-to-male trannies from screening, along with two of the directors.) New York struggle with who they are and what it Another pair of heroes, albeit more famous ones, means, in the widest sense, to transition. The film are the stars of No Secret Anymore: The Times of tracks Nico, Norrie and Keegan through each step of Del Martin & Phyllis Lyon, a lively, loving tribute the process. Along the way, it addresses some expect to the fearless duo, now in their 80s, who practical- ed questions, such as the possibility of future regret, hut also examines some of the trio’s less often heard fears, such as how much of their wish to change is based on “female self-hate” or their desire for male privilege. Activists, theorists, dykes and other trannies thoughtful ly weigh in, hut ultimately it’s the magnetic personalities of Nico, Norrie and Keegan that make Boy 1 Am a success. (6:30 p.m. June 2. Co director Sam Feder will attend.) Equally successful, hut very differ ent indeed, is Jack Smith and the Destruction of Atlantis. Smith (1932-1989) was an extraordinarily influential figure in the New York art and film scene starting in the late A dying police detective fights for her partner's financial future in Freehold. 1950s. A gay anarchist/artist who Q
