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About Just out. (Portland, OR) 1983-2013 | View Entire Issue (June 15, 2007)
•* 4 by Marty Davis I Hope You're Proud of Yourself * -t. lustout J • NEWSMAGAZINE JUNE 15, 2007 Are Pride haters suffering from internalized homophobia? I t’s June. It’s Pride. Portland, Oregon, everywhere. Pride, a time for merri ment and mirth. And unfortunately, also a time that signals the arrival of the season for pissiness and pettiness on the parts of many. The good warm weather that immediately follows the soggy Rose Festival sprouts out a full bloom of hatemongers. And when 1 say that, I do not refer only to the Bible-toting, sign-carrying, in-your-face fanatics who walk the Pride parade route, flaunting their disapproval while preaching of Christ’s love and salvation. Nope, while these folks are certainly annoying enough, I find it even more irritating when members of our own community feel it their duty, their need, to flaunt their disapproval, while letting everyone know how meaningless all of Pride is. For many of these “I’m above it all” intellectuals, it has now become cool to hate Pride. This is similar, of course, to all those people who have to remind everyone for months and months and months how much they “hate the holidays.” Some people are simply bom to disparage. I’m especially intrigued by this quote, which appears in a recent issue of one of Portland’s alternative weeklies: “I find any excuse to leave town during Pride. I hate it. I find the self-congratulatory nature of it unbelievable, and 1 don’t feel like it’s my world at all. Even though it’s supposed to show this wide breadth of the queer community, or whatever. Just because you’re queer doesn’t mean you’re a cool person, just because people are queer doesn’t mean we have to have a party about it.” So, what do you think? Is being “queer” reason enough to have a party? Is that all that Pride is, a party? Has Pride lost all historical context? Does hating Pride now make you a cool person? Are Pride haters suffering from internalized homophobia? Who in the hell gets to decide who is or isn’t cool anyway ? The uncoolest people of all are those who think they have the right to decide who is and isn’t cool. Should, or can, Pride be viewed as more than a party, more than a parade? Could it also be seen as a celebration of rights and victories, of achievement and merit? Can Pride be viewed as a celebration of family and unity, or are all the gays and lesbians who proudly and lovingly march with their PFLAG parents simply people not cool enough to know that they aren’t even cool at all? Now I myself must admit to years of questions about Pride-related behaviors. In this very column, at this same time of the year, I’ve questioned the need for nudity and over-the-top public sexual behaviors. I still question the need for this, but as the years go by, 1 accept it also. We are who we are. I myself will not be getting naked in public, and really now, aren’t I the only person 1 should be concerned about? ride, to paraphrase, is in the eyes of the beholder. At Just Out, when we think of Pride, we think of all you who steadfastly bring canned food items to our monthly Gay Skate Night. We feel pride when we pile boxes of your donated food in our cars to take to Esther’s Pantry. We felt and shared your pride when our office was piled high with Christmas/holiday toys to share with the children of families affected by HIV/A1DS. With your help, we worked together as a proud community, and in a very short period of time, we accom plished a great deal. We are proud to know that you’ll be there to help again this fall, and we will make a positive impact on people’s lives. Just Out is proud to contribute to the enrichment of community mem bers via our Just Out Scholarship Fund. The deadline for the 2007 cycle is rapidly approaching. For information on how to apply, please visit our Web site at www.justout.com. Again, thank you gay skaters: A portion of your entry fees makes its way back to the scholarship fund, and you enable us to help others. For Just (Jut, Pride marks the return of our annual photo contest. This year we take pride in the partnership we’re growing with Q Center as we create an art exhibit displaying the combined works of the hundreds and hundreds of photos you sent us. Pride is in the creation of a project that brings us all togeth er and showcases vision and beauty. Pride is not a party, Pride is not a parade. Pride is how you live your life. Pride is not about being a cool person; it’s about being the best person you can be. Pride is taking ownership of weakness and celebration of strengths. Pride is looking beyond being gay and understanding that we are all part of a greater community. Pride is caring about our schools, our neighborhixxJs, our homes and our families. Pride is caring about our city, our nation and our planet. Pride can be an opportunity for introspection and analysis. Am I where 1 want to be? Am I doing what 1 should be doing? Can 1 expect others to take pride in me? Am I proud of myself? There you have it. More questions than answers. We’ve got an entire week end to talk about this and anything else that’s on our minds. The Just Out staff will be at Waterfront Park all weekend, except during the parade. You’ll find us in booth E-1, proudly handing out papers. Come on by. We’ll be proud to meet you. © P FEATURE 28 OUT LOOK Photo contest winners hit us with their best shots NEWS 9-23 NORTHWEST Men’s Wellness Center turns one; PFLAG presents trans panel; first trans march forms; Dalton’s Law denied hearing; Lutherans struggle toward equality; Independence Day party benefits BRO; TriMet driver suspended for ejecting queer youth 24-25 NATIONAL Dem candidates polled; marriage bill passes in Assembly; exhibit on Anita Bryant opens; Family Pride expands; health benefits reversed; GOP candidates support discrimination; marriage equality pays ARTS AND CULTURE 51 CULTURE PLEASE NOTE: June has five Fridays, so the next issue of Just Out won't hit the streets until July 6—an interval of three weeks rather than two. Two government officials are the grand marshals for Portland Pride 2007 52 NIGHTLIFE Have gay noons at Zaytoon 55-57 FILM The first Platform International Animation Festival gets a little gay; French documentary explores a grieving family’s journey to move Beyond Hatred; Unconscious can stand with the best of Pedro Almod6var 61 CULTURE Titleholders will keep Portland queer all year long 63-65 BOOKS Trans author joins his mother for a spectacular conversation about maleness and femaleness; Portland author asks some profound, disturbing and important questions about the effects of sexual abuse 67 PEOPLE Film documents range of male couples COLUMNS 43 EPIQUEEREAN A Japanese Garden 47 MS. BEHAVIOR Pop Quiz 48 OUT GOING Junket Junkie Have a fabulous Pride weekend! We'll be in booth E-1 at Waterfront Park Saturday and Sunday. Stop by and say hello! I 49 OUT OF MY MIND Baby Talk 59 GET DIRTY WITH DAN Progressive Gardening 70 JIM'S CLOSET The Last Word
