JVNE.L2M7 juSt|OUti g
letters
TRANSITIONS
Katy Eaton, 1954-2007
Church of Man
To the E ditor :
On May 24 I attended Jack Malebranche’s
Androphilia reading at Powell’s on Hawthorne. He
certainly comes off more likable in person, and by
the end of the talk, I felt a sense of relief that came
from the defused tension of expecting a showdown
of sorts between injured sissies and Mr. Drill
Sergeant. And to some extent that did happen, but
it was relatively civilized and peaceful.
Although it wasn’t discussed during the Q & A,
Malebranche has made no secret of the fact that
he’s an ordained priest in the Church of Satan. He
speaks in Androphilia of manhood as a religion, and
I’ve seen posts of his promoting essays with titles
like “Satanism and Fascism.” This is the one linger
ing doubt 1 have about the possibly dark underlying
motives of his masculine-purist philosophy. There
seem to be covert gleams of admiration for the
accomplishments of fascist regimes in the book.
Toward the beginning of the reading, he respond
ed to a question about whether he was really out to
get effeminates, “I don’t have the guns or the man
power to take them out.” It was said in a jestful spir
it, but after mulling it over, 1 can’t help wondering,
“What if you did have the guns and manpower to
take them out?” But he clearly states in the book, “1
don’t adv<x:ate p<x>r treatment of effeminates.” Since
he seems an honorable man, I’ll take him at his word.
Malebranche spends a lot of time in Androphilia
building up a straw man argument against “gay
liberal feminists,” but 1 don’t think he understands
what a feminist really is. Undoubtedly there have
been some shrill quasi-separatist feminists in-the
past who have entirely vilified men and masculin
ity, but respected writers like bell hooks have
promoted feminism that is neither incompatible
with, nor opposed to, masculinity and men.
1 also see Malebranche as a hypocrite when he
derides the way “gays tend to portray straight men
as a one-dimensional bunch,” then turns around
and does the same thing to gays, painting them all
as rainbow-flag-waving, diva-worshipping, “sad,
damaged clowns.” What Malebranche doesn’t take
into account is that many semi-effeminate homo
guys, myself included, are also fed up with the more
annoying aspects of gay culture, and have been for
some time.
What it boils down to for me is the age-old
mantra “live and let live.” If you’re really into mas
culinity and want it to define your life, have at it.
Regardless, much of what Malebranche says in
Androphilia about the desirability of masculine traits
such as honor and dignity is refreshingly true, and
his critique of the excesses of gay culture is in many
ways incisive and insightful. Even if I’m not ready
to subscribe wholeheartedly to his masculine reli
gion—or any religion—1 think he does deserve the
applause he received for being the one to start a dia
logue on this very touchy, and very timely, topic.
T ony L e T igre
Portland
Incredible Masculinity
To the E ditor :
Jack Malebranche’s bwk, Androphilia: Rejecting
the Gay Identity, Reclaiming Masculinity, was recent
ly written up in Just Out [“Being a Man,” May 18].
As a gender scholar, I would like to offer some
ideas on Malebranche’s work. This self-proclaimed
manifesto is based on the constructs of gender and,
Portland resident Kathryn Elizabeth Eaton died May 26 at Providence Portland Medical Center after
a brief illness. She was 53.
Eaton was bom Jan. 20, 1954, to Elizabeth B. Eaton and the late Walter G. Eaton of Schoharie, N.Y.
She graduated summa cum laude from State University of New York at Oneonta in 1976 with a bache
lor s in psychology and earned a master’s in psychology at Clark University in Worcester, Mass., in 1978.
After embarking on a banking career and moving to Portland, Eaton attended Willamette University
College of Law and earned her juris doctor degree in 2003. She specialized in tax law and volunteered profes
sional services for elderly and legal groups. Her last position was with M. Caroline Cantrell & Associates.
Eaton enjoyed reading, music, knitting, travel, debate, yoga, swimming, cycling and socializing. She
volunteered on legal committees and was co-chairwoman of the Oregon Gay and Lesbian Law
Association. She loved babies and animals; her dog, Mindy, and cat, Pookie, were her constant compan
ions and brought her much joy.
Eaton is survived by her mother; brothers, Walter Jr. of Schoharie, N.Y., and Richard of Warrensburg, N.Y.;
and sisters, Margaret Eaton Yara of Woodside, Calif., Patricia Lewis of Hartwick, N.Y., Frances Gilday of
Rockville, Va., Marianne Eaton Murphy of Bristol, Vt., and Virginia Paton of Piedmont, Calif.
A private family memorial service is planned for June 2 in Schoharie. A community memorial service
will be held 5:30 p.m. June 8 at The Old Church, 1422 S.W. 11th Ave.
Remembrances may be made to The Nature Conservancy.
specifically, masculinity. However, Malebranche
seems to possess one masculinity: his own. Without
accounting for the boundaries of culture, race or
class, he prescribes a new kind of internalized
homophobia to a community already struggling
with its own diversity.
This interpretation of masculinity is to some
degree anchored in the text by a reference to histor
ical representations of male-male relationships. Had
Malebranche bothered to actually do his own histor
ical work, he might have realized how inaccurate
and carefully selected his literary portrait is.
Malebranche himself also does a p<x>r job of
defending his work. Regarding “queer theory,
women’s studies, gender studies, cultural studies, etc.,”
he said, “You are more often than not propagandists
posing as intellectuals who are given a veneer of
authority by the fact that your indoctrination pro
grams are accredited.” The last time I checked, a per
sonal attack was not a valid logical argument.
Malebranche is local, and spouting off without
much basis. His arguments are weak, and drawn to
favor himself above all others. Read his book, to be
sure. It is almost as amusing as Fred Phelps’ rabid
insanity, and about as credible.
C ameron L ee V ogt
Portland
CORRECTION
The May 18 article “Center Celebrates 18 Years”
incorrectly reported the number of clients who annu
ally visit the HIV Day Center. The facility saw 250
unduplicated clients and 7,340 total visits in 2006.
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