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About Just out. (Portland, OR) 1983-2013 | View Entire Issue (May 18, 2007)
— s * MAY 1ft. 2007 justout 5 letters Mother's Day Shout-Out To the E ditor : Blessed be those with moms who love. My mother is a lovely person with a grand heart who loves me, her gay son, and supports me very much. 1 want to give a shout-out to all the loving moms (and dads) out there who accept their kids the way they are. K en S chram Portland tid in many ways. He has crossed party lines to sponsor Ryan White extensions and federal hate crimes legislation. He may even support a federal domestic partnership statute, which, if passed, could be the biggest breakthrough in American GLRT1Q history! Surely his “measured” support deserves the same in return. He’s gotten just such a “measure" from HRC and Mr. Bean. Politics in America (or any other pluralistic democracy) is not an all-or-nothing game. The zealots among us need to understand that if real, lasting progress is to be achieved. A Little Respect To the E ditor : As a local community leader in the ’70s through '90s, 1 had to routinely ask people for money. Some of them were rich but stingy, and it made me feel sick at heart. But Bill Griesar’s letter bashing Terry Bean made me sicker (“Gordon in Denial," April 20]. Any fund-raiser knows that there are many wealthy people who are incredibly generous with their money, as well as their time and talents. Terry is the epitome of such folk. No one works harder for sexual minority people in Oregon or this nation. Without Terry, Basic Rights Oregon, the Human Rights Campaign, the Victory Fund, even the Democratic Party of Oregon could not be as strong as they have grown to be. Terry is 200 percent supportive of our families and GLBTIQ youth. It’s OK to disagree with things our leaders say and do, but we need to be fair and respectful in the process. Mr. Griesar was neither. As for Sen. Gordon Smith, no one needs to vote for him to understand that he has been help- S teve F ulmer Portland Outnumbered To the E ditor : So maybe I should be picking some other sort of occupation now that I’m nearly 61 and I need a T-shirt that says, “Oh my God, 1 forgot to have a career.” Nonetheless, I have chosen, at least for the time being, home care work. I have jumped through all the necessary hoops, becoming “oriented” with the county and getting a criminal background check and driving record. 1 now have a provider number to add to all my other num bers. I am ready to go to work assisting someone who wishes to stay in her home and avoid the grueling life of a rest home. Mary’s daughter called and asked it I would be available to do respite for her while she goes on vacation for a week. Her mother has a number of physical problems and needs someone to do basic things for her, like cooking and cleaning. It’s Tuesday morning, and I’m going to meet Mary on this gorgeous day when 1 would much rather be in my garden. I am greeted by a rather deranged-looking spaniel who will not stop barking at me and looks like she may want to bite me. Maybe this should have been a clue. Mary's house has a lot of "Jesus” knickknacks, little plaster things like Jesus with a lamb. I also notice a Bible on the table and a copy of the Ten Commandments on the wall. Most of this is to be expected here in the Bible Belt of western Washington County. The interview proceeds in an easy vein. Mary seems fairly intelligent, albeit uneducated. She says she reads and used to like to cixik, and when I men tion that I am also an artist, she is very excited about that and says maybe I can help her out. She used to be an artist, she says, but has quit doing it. Can I iron? Yes. Do 1 have a son? Yes. Where do I live? Gaston. What hours could 1 work? etc. etc. “OK,” she says. “I’m going to ask one thing that they don’t want me to ask, but I’m going to ask it anyway. At least 50 percent of the population are homosexual or lesbian. Are you anything like that?” “Would that bother you?” I ask. “Well, yes, it would, yes, it would," she replies. “Well, then I am not the person for you," I say. U' Do you really think that 50 percent of the popula tion is homosexual?” “Why, yes," she says. “That’s what one of the pastors said last year.” “It’s actually one in 10,” I say. “So usually there is at least one person in someone’s family who is gay your home on the market so J you can be moved and settled before school starts! Call Celia for all your real estate needs! Reliable, Relentless, Restorative & Reachable! •j ’ * Hardwood*. new paint, new porch steps, charming Craftsman. 3 bedrms. 1 bath, built ins. alcoves, crown moulding, cute yard, nice kitchen, spacious rm». 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Your loss, I’m thinking as 1 get up to leave. Outside, her daughter apologizes and says she and her mother disagree about this. At least she was honest, I say, and didn’t hire me and then treat me bad later. By the time I get to my van, there are rears running down my cheeks. Fifty percent of the population, I’m thinking. Now wouldn’t that be a different world. Just think about it, yes. Half and half, now those are some numbers 1 could live with! ARTIST GALLERY ORLEANS CANDLE CO. GIFTS, HAND CRAFTED JEWELRY, ■RifaDcto SOY CANDLES, SPIRITUAL PRODUCTS Affordable Bungalow in St Johns 9706 N. ( )swego @ $229,000 Cute, hardwood«, tile, eating nook. 2 bed*. 1 bath. bonus rm basement, yard, garage. Some newer window« Patio. www.orleanscandleco.com 7817 NE PRESCOTT ST. Great Townhome in Northeast 1407 Ne 69th @ $ 299.950 Nearly new, really pretty, open kitchen plan. deck. view*. 3 beds. 2 5 bath*. Great street appeal, large family room. ■5036 N. 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