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iustout
by Marty Davis
J
Wet Yet Committed
NEWSMAGAZINE
FEBRUARY 1, 2008
Oregonians brave the weather to rally for basic civil rights
hey came by car, by van and by big old bus from Eugene to get to Terry
Schrunk Plaza. They marched down from Portland State University.
They came in hats and coats and warm, fuzzy scarves. They braved the
mud and darkness to show that while we’ll stand in the rain and cold,
we will not stand for continued assault against our basic civil rights. Yes,
they came by the hundreds and hundreds to attend the Rally to Defend Equality.
Basic Rights Oregon put on a great display of organizational skill. There were
scores of volunteers, ASL interpreters and cordoned areas for media and bloggers.
Parking was even reserved for out-of-town vans and buses. The sound system was
top-notch, and the stage was well-positioned. The roster of speakers included
many familiar faces, but new voices also joined the chorus of support. The
Portland Gay Men’s Chorus stood huddled in the rain and cold and then, with
lowered umbrellas, turned and presented history in song to the soaked assembly.
A pack of soggy Salem legislators showed up to show their continued support
for the work that they created in the last legislative session. They’re sticking with
us through the thick and thin of this. Yes, many are running for re-election or
a new office, but damn, there are easier ways to get votes than standing in the rain
for 90 minutes. They were there out.of commitment. And yes, some people I
would have expected to be there weren’t, but you know, I wasn’t in charge of roll
call, and even the most supportive folks can’t be everywhere all the time.
T
on the way home?” But you can network; you can make referrals. When friends
talk of buying, steer them in the direction of a member of our community. We’ll
all be better for it in the long run. And our softball teams, our film festivals,
Pride events, theaters and choirs will receive the financial support they need
to keep our community vital and thriving.
s I’ve mentioned before, and will again, 2008 is the 25th anniversary of Just
Out. Plans are in the works for a series of changes and enhancements to the
paper, from design and layout to coverage, columnists and distribution. Today 1
have news in two of these areas. First, in this issue I’d like to introduce you to two
new columnists. Bringing gardening and the good life to the pages of Just Out is
renowned blogger and woman of many skills and talents LeAnn Locher. As the
“Sassy Gardener," she will be bringing you her own tips, designs, hints and
photographs on how to achieve gardening nirvana in the Pacific Northwest.
And then we have Stephen Marc Beaudoin, who will likely never be writing
about gardening. Stephen, who actually debuted in our last issue, is going to bring
a unique perspective to the social and cultural elements of urban gay male life.
And other things, I’m sure. Stephen will actually be wearing more than a colum­
nist hat at Just Out; he will also be joining us as our newest Staff Writer. He comes
to us brimming with story ideas and concepts. You’re going to like his work.
A
hile crowds at thè rally were standing in the cold rain and feeling the
ne of the most frequent complaints I hear about Just Out is lack of distribution
discomfort, a chilling of another nature is having an impact on a segment
points. I hear you, folks, and I’m taking action. At this very moment there are
of our community. In Washington, D.C., President Bush and Congress are 20 new bright purple outdoor boxes sitting in our carport. Starting this weekend
pondering an economic stimulus package as the newspapers and media bring they will be distributed throughout downtown Portland. They will look like no
daily talk of recession and woes. While Oregon, for the most part, still shows other paper rack in town and will easily stand out from the others. The goal is to
fiscal strength, the downturn In the housing market is starting to take its toll. have 50 of these out on the streets by the time our November anniversary rolls
Many fine Realtors and mortgage brokers who are a valued part of our commu­ around. Check our blog at www.justout.com for a picture.
nity are starting to feel the pinch.
Will this make it easier to find papers in Gresham, Beaverton, Tigard and
What’s the importance of mentioning this ? Well, for one thing, these fine Tualatin? Nope. Sorry. Vandalism, theft and lack of high-traffic areas still make
folks are usually the ones responsible for sponsorships and financial contribu­ for problems in these parts. I do have my eye on a few key light-rail stops and park-
tions to nearly all the events and activities that go on in our community. If and-ride lots, but these are not easy areas to access. TriMet is not friendly toward
there’s a banner, a program, a thank-you, it will likely include a logo from purveyors of free papers and their contrivances. While TriMet cannot control
a generous Realtor or mortgage broker. Self-serving, you say; they reap finan­ crime on its system, nor collect fares, it can dispatch a crew to remove an
cial rewards from this form of advertising. Not so much, trust me. There is no encroaching paper box in a heartbeat. My surviving old blue boxes, the ones that
sponsorship or donation that begins to pay back the cost of the original invest­ haven’t taken root of permanently joined a brotherhcxxJ of racks, will be moved
ment in these situations. These folks are doing it because for some reason they out to some areas outside downtown. Purple will mle in downtown Portland.
collectively are driven by a desire to build community. If they are hurting, we
Finally, the first-ever “women seeking women” Bunco night at Q Center was
as a community are going to feel the pain also.
an absolute success. Fun was had by all. We’ll be doing it again Feb. 24- Guys, I’d
The housing market will turn around. As home sales go down, the demand happily set up a night of games for you, too. Will you come? Let me know. ©
for rentals will go up. As that happens, rental rates will soar, people will real­
ize they’re better off owning homes, and buyers will return to the market. In Check the JUST OUT blog at www.justout.com for daily updates on the Feb. I
the meantime, what can you do to help? It’s true that buying a home isn’t like federal court hearings, which will determine the fate of Oregon’s domestic
grocery shopping: “Hey, honey, can you stop and pick up a two-garage ranch partnership law.
W
O
reflections
15 Years Ago in Just Out... volume 10 number 6, february 1,1993
• The National Organization to Halt the Abuse and Routine Mutilation of
Males was founded to give voice to men who feel victimized by routine
infant circumcision.
• The Leather Journal has announced the names of individuals and
organizations in the West Coast region who were nominated by readers for
thé Pantheon of Leather Awards in 1993. Notable candidates are Women
of the Year K.T. Chase, Sallee Huber and Susie Shepherd, all of Portland, and
Madonna, of Los Angeles.
• As President Clinton begins his term of office and his promise to end the
ban on "out” lesbians and gays in the military comes due, voices in
opposition and support are becoming louder and more numerous.
• Colorado's state constitutional amendment eradicating gays' civil rights
was blocked from taking effect as scheduled Jan. 15 by Denver District
Court Judge Jeffrey Bayless, who said there is a good chance the measure
will be found unconstitutional.
• An estimated 1 million people will be in the nation's capital April 25 for
the March on Washington for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Equal
Rights and Liberation.
iust out =
• The Bijou Cafe's First
Tuesday Coffeehouse
features D. Dines, Barbara
Bernstein, Karen Harding
and more.
• The Lesbian Community
Project presents The Red
Wing Roast, a benefit for
LCP Join Kathleen Saadat,
Linda Shirley, the Rev.
Gary Wilson and others
for a dinner and roast in
honor of The Advocate
magazine's Woman of the
Year.
FEATURE
22 COAST WITH THE MOST
Northern Oregon’s coastal cities come out
for Valentine’s Day
NEWS
6-17 NORTHWEST
Gay candidates emerge for City Council
race; registration open for queer youth
conference; conference held for queer
youth advocates; Latino Gay Pride
announces lineup; Darklady joins free
speech coalition board; Poison Waters
honored for community work; gay Dems
take office; preschool enrolls every family;
Supreme Court hears hate speech case;
hundreds rally for domestic partnerships;
inn’s struggle to keep history alive is
resolved
18-19 NATIONAL
NGLTF leader steps down; Illinois trans
woman fights for name change; New
Orleans offers partner benefits; Heath
Ledger dies
20-21 WORLD
South African AIDS leader marries;
homosexual convictions of six Moroccans
upheld; Brazilian gay activist murdered;
Dutch artist receives death threats over gay
Muslim photos; traveling government
exhibit celebrates Czech gay history;
protester found guilty in Riga Pride attack
ARTS & CULTURE
38 FILM
Woody Allen completes his trilogy of moral
fables
40-41 PEOPLE
Portland singer/songwriter adds animal
documentaries to
list of
.A
accomplishments
42 THEATER
Wedding bell
blues at Miracle
Theatre; the
Rocky road to
Sodom
47 NIGHTLIFE
Mardi Gras is
here
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• The Portland Area Business Association has announced that Oregon
Superintendent of Public Instruction Norma Paulus will address the group's
Feb. 8 lunch meeting. She will speak about the Oregon Education Act for
the 21st Century and how the state’s education system deals with gay and
lesbian issues.
COLUMNS
14 SASSY GARDENER
Keeping the Fire Lit
31 EPIQUEEREAN
Lettuce Leaf in Peas
33 MS. BEHAVIOR
Long-Distance Dilemma
36 CORNER VIEW
Love is in the Air
37 OUT GOING
Express Yourself
46 JIM'S CLOSET
And the Winner Isn’t...
fairness
SASIC RiSnt5