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.
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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