4
jUStOUt
OCTOBER 19. 2007
out
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letters
Openly Annoyed
To the E ditor : '
1 think we should come out of the Dark Ages
and stop saying “openly gay"—at least in our
newspaper, if not in other mainstream media—as
a descriptive clause to identify certain candidates
such as “openly gay” candidate Sam Adams or
“openly gay” Supreme Court Justice Rives Kistler.
With this logic, should we say “openly straight"
Amanda Fritz, for example? Or “openly straight”
Tom Potter with an “openly gay" daughter? Or
“openly straight" Rock Hudson Before we all real
ized he had been a fairly successful closeted gay
most of his ljfe?
How long do the media have to say “openly
gay” before it becomes so generally known that the
phrase becomes annoying? 1 hope we’re not going
to be assaulted by “openly gay” for the rest of the
mayoral campaign.
Imagine this in today’s headlines: “openly
Mexican,” “openly Mormon," “openly female can
didate Hillary Clinton.” Ridiculous. Is “openly gay”
any different?
Is there an implied intent behind the use of this
phrase—conscious or not? By adding “openly gay,”
does the writer really mean “gay and proud”? Or is
there the implication, “How dare gays be so bold
and ‘openly’ in our face, flying in the face of all
moral convention”?
I think it’s the latter, and I think the continued
use of this superfluous phrase makes us unwitting
participants in the continuation of homophobia.
First, it’s redundant to say “openly gay.” If the
distinction is truly worth noting, 1 suggest that we
just say “gay candidate." And maybe it’s not worth
noting, since the sexual orientation of straight peo
ple is never tagged onto rhe mention of their names.
Maybe at this critical junction in our history, we
should all come out of the closet in droves and all
be “openly gay” so that the distinction loses its
impact altogether. Maybe we should use “gay and
proud.” Or maybe nothing at all, because to contin
ue to highlight this difference, as we know, can
sometimes be a dangerous thing. Some of us have
lost our jobs, our children, even our lives for that
difference.
I would like to hear your reasoning for using the
phrase. Maybe it’s tune to start some discussion
around this topic.
N ell W agenaar
Portkind
Be Who You Are
To the E ditor :
1 have spent several years as a bias crime police
detective.
Throughout my tenure, I have witnessed
disturbing trends concerning hate crimes legisla
tion. My concern is Sen. Gordon Smith's proposal
to add sexual orientation to the federal hate crimes
law.
The addition would be outstanding, but Smith
has got to realize the law will never pass to the
extent of overriding a veto. I am confused as to why
he continually attempts passing this law when he
knows it doesn’t stand a chance.
I am cynical enough to surmise that Smith is
perhaps attempting to bolster his election chances
in the Portland area.
He could have helped the community in real
ways many times in the recent past. If he had not
voted for a constitutional ban on gay marriage, it
t I
would have certainly helped the community. If he
had included gay youth as a specific group in his
teen suicide bill, it would have also helped. (By
some estimations, gay youth are three times more
likely to kill themselves as straight youth).
I testified at the Oregon Legislature in support of
adding the trans community to the state hare crimes
law. I didn’t hear a peep out of Smith during the
process. (He is rhe ranking Republican from the
state.)
I don’t know how he can reconcile supporting
divisive laws and at the same time call himself a sup
porter of the gay community. 1 dread watching the
upcoming commercials with Smith touting his
hate crimes law while talking about all he has
tried to do for the community. I don’t know for
sure, but I would guess Smith will run the com
mercials in the Portland area and not other parts
of the state.
Smith also got an 83 percent rating from the
Christian Coalition, an organization that Pm fairly
sure is not overly progressive when it comes to gay
rights.
Be who you are, Senator. Do realistic deeds for
the community. If you do win re-election and a pro
gressive becomes president, please bring up rhe anti
hate law again. Prove me wrong and reverse your
support for a gay marriage constitutional ban. Add
gay youth to the suicide prevention law you passed.
Be a maverick and not a player.
B rian G rose
Beaverton
Playground Language
To the E ditor :
As a gay man, 1 feel compelled to speak up
when I hear or read things that disrespect people
who are considered “different.” And so I felt
especially obligated to speak up when blatantly
offensive language was printed in Just Out [“Casey’s
Causes Ruckus," Sept. 7|.
To make matters worse, the derogatory words
printed on the Just Out nightlife page were attrib
uted to a young man who is presumably a double
minority—gay and Latino. “It’s a naughty, retarded
dance party," he was quoted as saying. “You know,
g<x>d retarded.”
No, 1 don’t know. What I do know is that
people with developmental disabilities find the “r”
word—even when spoken in jest—as disgusting
and as hurtful as the “n” word and other slang that
label and deride minority groups.
For some perverted reason, use of the words
“retarded” and “retard”—once restricted mainly to
school playgrounds—are now heard everywhere.
Usually the people who use them are trying to
be cute or funny. But even when the intent is to
amuse, the net result is hurtful to people with
developmental disabilities, their families and their
friends.
Help stamp out the “r” word. Think before you
speak (or publish). Some words do hurt.
B ill L ynch
Oregon Council on Developmental Disabilities
Measure 50 Mystery
To the E ditor :
I cannot seem to even begin to understand the
linkage of higher tobacco taxes and health care pro
visions for our children. Who thought up this idea?
The logic of this notion is indeed a mystery to me.
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