SEPTEM^" 7. zog? jciStjQUt. g
letters
Cuts Both Ways
discussions and action the board took in this matter.
right to hypocritical rabid “family values" voting
Craig’s real crime was cooperating with a law
To the E ditor :
The information you presented indicated that
record. He accurately represented his conservative
officer who misrepresented the facts and entrapped
It was not so much that Marty Davis left the
MCC had issue with Roger’s positions and campaigns
Idaho constituency, and the governor will appoint,
him into losing his career over something that was
man with the broken-down truck by the side of the
for animal rights. That assessment is incorrect, and
and voters sustain, similar ilk.
supposed to be a minor fine and walk-away matter.
road in rural Oregon (albeit while she went for
1 want to clarify your records.
Craig’s offense was not bad bathroom etiquette,
Craig was promised and convinced that pleading
help, although he managed to a ride on his own),
The problem with Roger at that time was not
or lewd public sex, but rather being gay. The bath-
guilty would “make this go away." Instead, he fell
but her feelings afterward that these people might
with what Roger was saying but his choice of method.
nx>m sting cop of the Minneapolis Airport Police,
prey to gay-bashing built into the system.
now become friends and allies of GLBT folk around
The board had to deal with the continual
m the widely circulated audio tape, claimed routine
disnipting of our worship services with inappropri
success with nabbing gays. Presumably this cop was
Avi F euer
Seems to me we can’t expect someone to want
ate actions. No one can be allowed to interfere
dressed, and behaved, in an appropriate manner to
Portland
to understand and support us in our time of need
with our worship to campaign for any cause. Our
garner solicitations. Indeed, Craig said, “You solicit- '
(Senate Bill 2 and House Bill 2007 on the ballot in
worship service is not a venue for unplanned
ed me” and called the event “entrapment.” The
Outing Bigots
November 2008) if we also allow our own fears and
campaigning for any public or political cause.
actual actions of Craig were so subtle that the
To the E ditor :
the state (“Road Trip,” Aug. 3|.
stereotypes and possible previous negative experi- '
As a matter of fact, many of our members, includ
officer had to question Craig in derail as to the
1 just learned about the Web site KnowThy
ences to keep us from offering assistance in “their"
ing myself, agree with and support Mr. Troen’s work
position of his hand, palm up or down. This hardly
NeighborOregon.com. Initially, I thought simply,
time of need.
in the field of animal rights.
sounds like overtly lewd behavior.
“Great, that ought to help.” Then 1 read the opening
1th as to work both ways; If GLBT Oregonians
want the respect and cooperation of straight and
If you refer to this event in the future, please
correct the details.
unaware/misinformed/homophobic Oregonians in
Are gays not allowed to make subtle advances
page about responsibility and it got me thinking.
in public? Would this be a crime in a bar or on the
1 am gay and I am out, really out. I am a local
street? Surely a bathnxim is more private. With law
businessperson, and if you search my name on the
next year’s election, we need to do some work as
K elly M c F arland
enforcement budgets strained, especially in airports, | Web you will find many links to gay business
well in breaking down those walls, showing
Portland
do we want cops lurking in bathroom stalls trying
directories. I am also a PTA mom, neighbor and
to solicit advances to bust gays?
consumer.
ourselves as valuable and worthy in their eyes, and
demonstrating that we can support them and their
In Denial
lives/needs at the same time.
To the E ditor :
E sther G riffin
Beaverton
A Matter of Fact
Metropolitan Qimmunity Church with Roger Troen.
1 don’t know who is anti-gay. This Web site has me
“1 don’t*care about sexual preferences or anything
wondering who among the many folks I encounter
Larry Craig had no friends. His quiet resignation was
like that,” said bathrcxim cop to Craig. “There’ll be
would like to limit my rights and legal protections.
• designed to end the story and bury controversy.
a fine.” This he said before reading his Miranda rights.
I never really considered the public nature of the
While 1 don’t bemoan the loss of a hypocrite anti-gay
The cop said: “You’re gonna get out of here. You’re
signatures on all the many anti-gay initiatives that
senator, his demise is simply systemic gay-bashing.
gonna have to pay a fine, and that will be it. I don’t
have coursed divisively across our state since my
call media, 1 don’t do any of that type of crap.”
arrival in 1990. I could have gone to rhe court
What was his crime, and did it warrant loss of
So Craig pleaded to a lesser charge, disorderly
house but never thought of it. I will, however, go
Craig denied any wrongdoing. Moreover, he
conduct, to make this go away. The cop engaged in
online. And I will have to decide how to responsi
denied being gay, as if that was the crime. “I am not
a form of plea bargain with Craig but then violated
bly handle the information.
gay. I have never been gay.”
his end of the deal. They released the tape to the
It may tear people apart. How painful it would be
media. Is the officer, and/or the city of Minneapolis,
to find signers who smile at you at the water cooler or
guilty of fraud?
when they drop their child off at your home for a play
career?
Ago in Just Out" [July 6|.
This entry was regarding a situation at the
of career? Is that included in the sentencing?
While everyone knows 1 am gay, I realize that
After news of a bathroom sting arrest, suddenly
To the E ditor :
I am writing in regard to a listing in “5 Years
What penalty did this public servant serve? Loss
I was a member of the board of directors at the time
Unfortunately simply being gay was the crime.
of this incident and remember quite clearly the
Craig has the right to closet life. He even has the
date? I hope my peek at the signatures will not
Submit your
letters,
wedding announcements,
transitions,
or list your events
online at
www.justout.com
present me with the tough situation of finding those
JUStjOUt
I work with and live among and from whom I buy
goods and services. Sadly, I expect to find names
I know. I can figure out no other way to process that
but to understand that those people who sign to over
justoutpersonals
turn our newly won, and still less-than-equal, rights
Business Directory
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Just Asking
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• Call to Action from GLAAD
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1 will have to challenge anyone 1 know who has
signed to discuss the issue. I will have to ask direct
ly why they believe 1 am less worthy of basic legal
Resources
News Headlines
believe some of us are less equal than others.
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" II
• Bring on the rain. Err
• NOI More sun, more
• Summer was here?
• Fall is the best seaso
• Yeah, we're that muc
Potter's birthday.
• As always use comm
your seasonal thougt
protections than they are. I will have to vote with
my dollars. I cannot in gixxl conscience be insured,
doctored, fed and clothed by those who would
undermine my basic rights.
B onnie R oseman
Portland
Wrongful Death • Medical Malpractice • Serious Accidents • Brain Injuries
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