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About Just out. (Portland, OR) 1983-2013 | View Entire Issue (June 15, 2007)
JWEtt.MW juStpUt, 5 letters Bruner even said, “Lesbians can give blood, so To T he E ditor : they can give twice as often to make up for their gay 1 just finished reading Glenn Scofield Williams’ boyfriends who can’t." Unfortunately, that’s not piece about the death of Jerry Falwell [“My Wish for true. Falwell,” June 1J. Anyone with a gay boyfriend, even lesbians, I though it was a wonderful piece that put would be barred from donating blood. As a dyke a human face on a man who many in the LGBTQ with a fag fuckbuddy, walking in to donate bkxxl is community have simply seen as a symbol of hate no easy process for me. Of course, trying to deter and fear that is so often emitted from the evangeli- i mine someone’s gender makes things more difficult. cal Christian community. 1 admit that there was Would 1 still be turned away if 1 revealed that he’s a part of me that rejoiced in the death of trans? That I’m trans? That brings up another Mr. Falwell, but there was a greater part that felt bad question of whether I’d rather have my gender for my feelings of celebration at the death of a fel- I violated and be allowed to donate blood, or keep low human being. my gender intact and be turned away. I don’t have I hope that, like Mr. Williams, others will be a clue what would happen when 1 tell them about able to find forgiveness in their hearts for a man who one of my genderqueer partners. found little tolerance and forgiveness in his. I know The silliness of it all is that when ze identifies that, like myself, many in our community have been as a boy one day and a girl the next, that doesn’t hurt by rhe words of Jerry Falwell and others in the change my risk of HIV exposure from one day to evangelical community, perhaps including members the next. That really highlights one of the major of their own families. It is my hope that we as a com problems with the Fixxl and Drug Administration munity can begin to heal those wounds and begin to regulation of blood donors—it’s not based on forgive, regardless of our spiritual affiliation. behaviors but on demographics. It is time that members of the LGBTQ commu One friend of mine cannot donate bkxxl because nity come to understand that we cannot allow the she visited England for a few days longer than the cut hate and fear of others to imbue us with similar feel off amount, and that puts her in a high-risk category ings. It is time that we also realize the importance for mad cow disease. Of course, that doesn’t take into of spirituality for those who choose it and stopping account the fact that she’s vegan. looking upon those who reclaim Christian spiritu Considering there’s been a big push for a harm ality as weak or self-hating. Spirituality and religion j reduction approach to disease prevention, it’s do not belong to bigots and the intolerant. It is time ludicrous to ignore the difference between protect for those of us who think of ourselves as progressive ed and unprotected sex or between penetrative and . to stand up and take back rhe right to worship and oral sex. The logic that allows the FDA to tell pray if that is the path we seek. It will always be a couple of gay hoys who just had sex for the first better to find love and peace in our hearts than to time with protection that they are at higher risk let our pain and anger turn to hatred for those who than a straight serial monogamist who has un have hurt us. protected sex is the same logic that allows the FDA to tell a vegan that she is at higher risk for mad B rent A. L ank cow disease than someone who eats burgers daily North Portland hut only stayed in England for a week and a half. And that logic is what needs to be challenged as Challenging Logic much as the inherent homophobia. To the E ditor : T obi H ill -M eyer 1 was glad to see the interview with Thomas Bruner, the new CEO of the Oregon Trail Chapter Eugene « of the Red Cross |“BkxxJ Ban,’’ June 1 J. It was great to see how his chapter is discussing CORRECTION the controversial ban on MSM [men who have sex Just Out mistakenly printed the wrong date for with men) bkxxl donors. And while it makes sense North Portland Pride in the June 1 article “Statewide that such a conversation fcxuses on gay men, I was Pride.” North Portland Pride is from noon to 4 p.m. somewhat disappointed that there was no mention Aug. 12 at University Park United Methodist of the impact this policy has on other members of Church, 4475 N. Lombard St. For more informa the queer community. tion visit www.upumc.net. Just Out regrets the error. Great Healthcare... Happy People! Bridge City... Your Clinic That Cares! F amily I A i Hy Appointment B ridge C ity M edical C linic , PC 503.460.0405 282 j N£ 58(h Avcnuc . port|and, OftgOn 97213 (Cross Street is Sandy Houletard) www.bridgecitymcdical.com Monday Friday 8:30 - 5:00pm TRANSITIONS David James Hamilton, 1935-2007 “Open a new window, open a new door, travel a new highway, that’s never been tried before" is a line from the theme song of Portland’s beloved Rose Empress VI Marne. Born David James Hamilton on Jan. 2, 1935, in Oregon City, Marne went on to become one of Portland’s most legendary gay icons. Hamilton suffered a massive stroke June 4 while watching the Starlight Parade. It seems only right that a man who led such a colorful and light-filled life would go out with rhe twinkling lights of the parade as his backdrop. As a young man, Hamilton served his country as a sergeant first class in the U.S. Army before returning to Portland to become a buyer for Stevens &. Sons Jewelers and finally a customer service representative for Abbott &. Rinehart Jewelers downtown. One of the founding members of rhe Pruitts of Portland, Marne was crowned Rose Queen VI in 1967. In 1970, all the Rose Queens were priKlaimed Rose Empresses, and eventually the Pnntts of Portland evolved into the Imperial Sovereign Rose Court we know today. During his more than 40 years as the Minister of Madness and Mayhem, “Auntie Marne” was the City of Roses’ most notorious and flamboyant ambassador. Always the life of any party, Marne loved to show guests and residents alike a great time. Hamilton helped raise hun dreds of thousands of dollars for countless charities over nearly half a century. As Maine, he conceived Christmas in July, co-hosted the San Francisco Portland Party and, for the past 24 years, hosted Valentines from Hell. The Pride of the Rose and Audria M. Edw'ards scholarship funds, Esther’s Pantry, the Friends of People with AIDS Foundation, the Brinker Fund, the Oregon Bears and Camp Starlight are just a few of the organizations that have benefited from Hamilton’s work. He never turned down an opportunity to help. Hamilton traveled extensively and was especially fond of Mardi Gras, Southern Decadence and the lights of Broadway. However, San Francisco held his heart, and he fondly referred to the “city by the bay" as his Oz. A community memorial will be held 3 p.m. June 24 at Darcelle XV Showplace, 208 N.W. Third Ave. Remembrances may be made to the Pride of the Rose Scholarship Fund by writing to Equity Foundation, P.O. Box 5696, Portland, OR 97228; calling 503-231-5759; or e-mailing info@equity foundation.org. —Kimberlee Van Patten _____ Taking Back Religion
