DECEMBER 7, ¿007 justout
they aware that LBT women also live in or visit
Portland? Were they aware that working-class
queers, including students and artists, might live in
or visit Portland? I doubt such considerations
crossed their minds in their apparent rage that all
of Portland did not cower before their somehow
superior collective presence.
That these two then had the nerve to play the
manly man card by suggesting a local gay man in
a feather boa does not represent them (what, not
camp enough?) and the victim card by suggest
ing—1 think falsely—that CDs were stolen from
their car adds insult to injury. 1 find it highly
unlikely that any hardened Portland car thief
would strut down to Music Millennium attempt
ing to sell back Experience the Divine: Bette Midler’s
Greatest Hits to the hipster clerk behind the
counter. Besides, CDs have less a chance of disap
pearing if you choose to put the top up on the
Pride-sticker-covered red convertible I feel almost
certain these two clowns gallivant around in.
14. Your neighbor/friend/relative’s body weight j organization. His comments were self-serving and
isn’t any more your business than is bkxxl pressure
very narcissistic. As the former executive director
or cholesterol.
of the agency, it was his responsibility to manage
15. Worrying about weight causes stress.
the organization’s operations in a professional
16. Stress contributes to being overweight.
manner. Simply put, he apparently failed to do so.
17. Harassing, nagging, intimidating or revil
He should take responsibility for that failure or, at
the very least, the perception of that failure.
ing people who are fat does not improve their
health and is not a sign of love or compassion; it
As a former chairman of Brother to Brother’s
is harassment.
board of directors, 1 do know that policies were
developed to enhance the organization’s infrastruc
D eni S tarr
ture and to maintain the fiscal soundness of the
Portland Business & Professional Women
organization. If the executive director did not
implement the board’s policies, resulting in a “lax
Looking Back
structure,” then he should have been taken to task.
To the E ditor :
If the paid leader of the organization cannot discern
The holiday season is a gixxl time to kxik back
when his own behavior is inappropriate, whether
on the past year and reflect on what has transpired.
real or perceived, then he obviously will have
It is obvious that 2007 has been a fabulous year for
limited success at best. I can only say that Brother
the GLBT community. With the passing of the two
to Brother is much better off without Darryl Moch
Oregon equality acts at our state level and the pass at the helm.
ing of the Matthew Shepard hate crimes bill and
1 hope this experience does not taint Kourtni
the Employment Non-Discrimination Act at the
Dupree’s zest for working in this field. Portland
S ean C. H ayes
national level, we have made some great strides in
needs young, vibrant black men like him to work
Portland
our quest for full equality. The process was a strug with their same-gender-loving peers. These types of
gle to get through, and we will continue to be
episixles are unfortunate and should not be viewed
Fat Is a Feminist Issue
engaged in the process in 2008.
as the norm for Brother to Brother or any organiza
To the E ditor :
At this time we would like to thank Just Out for
tion serving same-gender-loving people.
I felt a need to respond to Mr. Jeffrey Smith’s
all of the great coverage you have had in your
Brother to Brother has done great work through
lesbophobic letter printed in your Nov. 2 issue with
newspaper concerning transgender events, work the years. It is disappointing that Darryl M<x:h was
some reality checks as follows [“Fat Is a Handicap”):
shops, movies, interviews and special articles on
not able to successfully lead the organization from
1. We in rhe United States are living in a patri our issues that can be overlooked by the general
an all-volunteer agency to an agency with paid staff
archal society, meaning one in which men oppress,
population. We feel your publication excels at
and a cohesive professional structure. 1 hope his
abuse and exploit women.
covering life in the GLBT community and is a very
failure does not negatively impact the needed
2. In patriarchal societies, men set “beauty”
fun read.
community support of the agency’s new leadership.
standards for women that are often injurious to
In addition, we would like to publicly thank
Financial support of Brother to Brother will
women’s health, such as:
organizations that have been helping and support enhance the agency’s ability to retain professional
a. The crushing of the ribcage by whalebone
ing us through the years—groups such as Basic
leadership of the caliber of Alisa Simmons. 1 will
corsets to create tiny waists.
Rights Oregon; Parents, Families and Friends of make a commitment to support the organization
b. The crushing of the feet by foot-binding to
Lesbians and Gays; the Human Rights Campaign;
financially. Will you?
create tiny feet.
the Imperial Sovereign Rose Court; and the
c. The elongation of the neck.
Community of Welcoming Congregations, to name
J erry W alker
d. The mutilation of the genitals.
a few. The names of individuals whom we consider
Former Brother to Brother Board Chairman
e. The consumption of arsenic to create a pale
our gixxl friends are too numerous to list in this
complexion.
letter, but I am sure you know who you are. We are
TRANSITIONS
f. The consumption of silicon to create large
grateful for your friendships, love and mutual
Henry Humm, 1954-2007
breasts.
respect. The Northwest Gender Alliiftice looks
Henry Humm died Nov. 26. He was born
3. Women who do not conform to these male-
forward to sharing more experiences with you all in
Aug. 30, 1954, in Harrisburg, 111.
created “beauty” standards are subjected to vicious
the years to come.
Humm started Henry’s Ceramics while in high
revilement, ostracized and subjected to discrimina
Best wishes to all of you this holiday season.
school. His love and mastery of ceramics led him
tion by societal institutions.
to a national career of instructing ceramics
4. Refusing to conform to beautify standards in
A lice L ynn , S heryl W ieller , L inda B rown ,
teachers.
a society where they are injurious to women liber
S usan L alone , J ackie S pratten , D ana
Humm later founded his own painting compa
ates women.
M c D onald
ny. He painted many of Portland’s most prestigious
5. My body weight is no one’s business but
Northwest Gender Alliance Board of Directors
homes.
mine.
Humm organized Starky's AIDS Walk Team
6. Obesity can be damaging to the health of Brotherly Support
and Collector Car Cruise-In. The annual event will
To the E ditor :
both men and women and is on the increase in
be known as the Henry Humm Cruise-In.
America society.
I found your recent article about the sexual
A memorial fund at Our House of Portland has
7. Fat can kill you.
harassment allegation at Brother to Brother
been established in Humm’s name. Donations
should
be sent to Henry Humm Fund, (5ur House,
8. Anorexia can kill you.
disturbing {“Brother vs. Brother,” Nov. 2).
9. TriMet buses can kill you.
Obviously, this is a very serious allegation that
2727 S.E. Alder St., Portland, OR 97214-
10. Fat is a feminist issue.
I am sure the current leadership of Brother to
A memorial celebration of Humm’s life will be
11. It has recently been discovered that people
Brother is addressing appropriately. To address the
held from 1 to 4 p.m. Dec. 8 at Starky’s, 2913 S.E.
who are 20 pounds “over” what used to be consid allegations in the press would be a disservice to all
Stark St. For details call 503-230-7980.
ered an “ideal body weight” live longer than people
involved, including Brother to Brother as an
who are below that standard body size.
agency. It is for that reason that I commend Alisa
CORRECTION
12. Good nutrition and exercise contribute
Simmons for declining to comment on the specifics
Just Out mistakenly reported the base fee for
more to good health than just changing body size.
of the allegation.
registering a domestic partnership in the Nov. 16
13. Women in our society today are being injured
On the other hand, 1 found the comments cover story, “01.01.08: The Comprehensive Guide
and killed by anorexia, the consumption of “weight
attributed to Darryl Moch deplorable. Not only
to Oregon’s Domestic Partnerships."
control” drugs such as nicotine, amphetamines and
did his comments dismiss the seriousness of the
The fee is $50 total, with $25 going to the
steroids, plastic surgery, silicone poisoning from breast
allegations, he failed to show any real concern
Oregon Domestic Violence Program fund and $25
toward his former staff or Brother to Brother as an
implants and medical malpractice.
going to the issuing county.
Sara Chinske
Broker
541-988-7358
schinskeiiTwindermere.com
Serving clients in the
Eugene, Springfield and
surrounding areas
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Windermere
Springfield, OR 97477
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W V
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