iustiout
by Marty Davis
J
Northern Exposure
'NEWSMAGAZINE
VOL. 24 NO. 20
AUGUST 17, 2007
Just Out prepares to move into a new office
hanks for picking up and reading this issue of Just Out. White we cher
for garage sales, car washes, barbecues and socials. Inside the building there’s
ish and treasure each and every publication that we produce, this one
a large reception area that holds promise for monthly art exhibits and possibly
is of special significance to myself and the Just Out staff. You see, this
for utilizing as space for meetings and gatherings. The past few years have seen
issue is the last paper that we write from our Northeast Portland office,
a large migration of gays and lesbians into North Portland, and now Just Out is
a space we have enjoyed for the past 14 years. As this paper heads off
going to be right in rhe heart of this burgeoning neighborhood community.
T
to press, we break out the moving boxes and prepare to set up shop in our new
While we are, for the most part, excited about the move and our new loca
North Portland digs.
tion, we will miss some of our neighbors here in the Central Eastside. The skate
Even though this move has been imminent for months, it is startling to
boarders, not so much. Sheridan Fruit Company, a whole lot. But on a bright
realize that it is actually, finally happening. 1 keep waiting for waves of senti
note, at the new place we’ll he right down the street from Interstate New
mentality to waft over me, but so far the only thing wafting is in the form of dust
Seasons Market, and that’s a very fine thing.
clouds and piles of paper. This is slightly disheartening to me, as for some time
I, for one, will leave this area wondering just how long the couple living in
now I had planned to use this column to discuss the emotional aspects, the trau
the van across the street will continue to do so. They’ve been there for weeks
ma, the tearful toil of moving. I’ve waited as late as the editorial staff will toler
now and seem to have found a comfortable home for themselves. The parking
ate, searching my soul for deep thoughts and teary sentiment, but all I dredge
situation here, and the idiosyncrasies of the Portland Department of
up are to-do lists about phone lines, computer networks, address change forms,
Transportation, will not be missed. On our side of the street it's two-hour-only
paint colors, smoke alarms, locks and keys and spraying the dandelions.
parking, enforced with absurd enthusiasm by the parking patrol officers. Across
Spraying the dandelions? Yup, we’ve got grass and yard at the new place.
the street, 15 feet or so to the other side, you’ll find abandoned, stolen vehicles
Located at the corner of North Greeley Avenue and Holman Street, the new
that sit for months with nary a ticket or notice—and, of course, the aforemen
Just Out headquarters is a former medical office that sits on a large corner lot.
tioned couple who live in their vehicle where, from their windows, they can
FEATURE
We’ve got lawn on two sides, now seasonably brown, with the exception of the
watch people on the other side of the street be ticketed for overtime parking.
22 WOMEN ON THE VERGE
dandelions, which thrive in the summer and dot the grass with their unwelcome
I do know that 1 will find thoughtful and personal aspects to this move with
greenness. Ah, but not for long, my weed/tenants. Trust me, 1 am not an advo
in myself. There will he a last closing of the door and a final look at empty
cate of chemical warfare as a component of gardening, but 1 am making an
rooms, rooms that hold years of very gtxxl and very had experiences. There will
exception for these dandelions. They have got to go.
he still-painful memories and hard lessons learned left behind. No need for them
Our new facility will offer Just Out many more opportunities to partner with
in a new place. They had their time, they had their moment. Now let’s move
community groups and organizations than we’ve had in the past. We’ll he able
on. There will he a sad look down the hall knowing that we’re leaving behind
to host myriad outdixir events and fund-raisers. We’re in an excellent location
Linda Traeger and her staff at Equity Foundation. It would have been a best-case
scenario to have found shared space with Equity, but
it was not meant to be.
1 suspect that I’ll glance into my office one last time
and recall the day, nine years ago now, when 1 first
walked into here as the new owner of Just Out, the
very paper that 1 had recently vowed to never become
emotionally attached to. Many gray hairs, many tears,
many pounds later, I have never—wait, make that
seldom
regretted my late-life decision to finally come
out and, of course, buy a gay newspaper. I will tell you,
there are still days when I’ll say to myself, “I did what?”
ur move comes as Just Out approaches our 24th
O
anniversary of publishing in November. From
there we enter our milestone 25th year of publishing.
While many gay publications across the country
flounder and fail in the face of changing technology,
Queer Oregon authors dip into the pink ink
NEWS
9-16 NORTHWEST
Nike tapped for Outie award; columnists
launch blog; racing raises AIDS relief funds;
new leadership at feminist bookstore;
Portland bkxxJ czar promoted; Lutherans
take partial step forward; hundreds of
lesbians play softball; Portland hosts tennis
tourney; Quality Pictures will show at
Jupiter; drag star goes Hollywood; kinder,
gentler bigotry revealed; Portland man tells
about identity and faith; checking in with
Ted Wheeler
18-19 NATIONAL
Bush vows to veto hate crime law; support
for “don’t ask, don’t tell" repeal grows;
Feinstein in hot water over nominee;
Florida leaders put pressure on commission;
restrictive Oklahoma adoption law struck
down
21 WORLD
Georgian rally canceled over gay rumors;
key Russian activist charged with slander;
La Cage aux Folles star dies; Outgames to
give it another go
cultural mores and the mainstreaming of the gay and
lesbian community, Just Out continues to grow and
change. This is not to say that we take our place for
granted. Trust me, we are constantly aware of the
nipping at our heels. This striving for survival makes
us work harder and work better. You’ll hear much
more from me on this topic as we draw closer to our
anniversary date and reaffirm our desire and need to
increase our outreach to all of our community-based
groups, organizations and business owners.
ARTS AND CULTURE
38-39 THEATER
Queer stage report from Lindon and New
York City
41 FILM
Robert De Niro plays a closeted gay pirate
in Stardust
44 NIGHTLIFE
Two great events at Starky’s in August
In the meantime, keep your eyes on the paper
and the Web site and you’ll find an invitation to join
COLUMNS
us for an open house and tour of our new offices.
31 EPIQUEEREAN
I don’t have a date set yet, hut sometime in late
September is likely. Come join us in a toast to new
beginnings. •
Not Just a Man’s World Anymore
35 MS. BEHAVIOR
The L Word
36 OUT OF MY MIND
P lease NOTE: There will be a change in the date of
Gay Skate Night in September. The rink will be closed
for resurfacing on our regular third Monday, so for
September only we'll move to the fourth Monday,
Sept. 24
Blackout Leather Productions crowned its 2007 titleholders, Ben "Bear" Brown Jr. and Coral
Mallow, during the 11th annual Mr. fr Ms. Oregon State Leather Contest Aug. 4 at Embers Avenue.
August has five Fridays, thus an extra week for us to
move. We’ll see you back in print Sept. 7.
My Way and the Bi Way
37 OUT GOING
Can't Stop the Music
43 GET DIRTY WITH DAN
All About Hydrangeas
46 JIM'S CLOSET
Jill of All Trades