iustiout
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by Marty Davis
J
Foot in Mouth, Head Up Ass
I NEWSMAGAZINE
VOL. 25 NO. 10
MARCH 21, 2008
Just Out is doing its part to help voters make informed choices
conducted by Just Out reporter Stephen Marc Beaudoin with state
E
’m writing this column on the morning of the first full day of spring. To
Portlanders, the arrival of spring indicates that the rain will now become
the cover of this issue, managed to totally stick his head up his ass with his
I
24 THE ESSENCE OF GAY
SPIRITUALITY
personal trainer to the publisher. My days, and nights, are now filled with
remarks about gays and “special rights.” (Details of the interview can be
found on Page 16 of this issue.) Readers vented their outrage in a long series
joyous movement and slurpy tennis balls.
In the past few years, as my previous dog had aged, we walked less and
NEWS
of comments, most of which can still be found on the main page of our Web
less, and I realize that I had lost touch with my immediate neighborhood.
Now, with Shasta, we walk in increasingly large circles, and I’m seeing again
the part of Portland that has been my home for many years. Within these
Sen. Gary George, R-Newberg. Posted on “Blog Out” at www.
justout.com, his incendiary words quickly spread among the elec
tronic world of news media, bloggers and readers.
warmer. Such was the case today. As most of you probably know by‘
now—I’ve been somewhat chatty on the topic—I have a new dog.
A recent trip to the Oregon Humane Society saw me returning home with
Shasta, a burly and genial Australian shepherd. This type of dog requires agreat
George, one of two elected officials co-sponsoring initiatives to repeal
the recently enacted Oregon Equality Act, the text of which is featured on
deal of exercise, which is why Shasta is now listed on the Web site staff box as
site. Are these comments ever deleted, censored or edited, you might ask?
Not often, but on occasion it will happen. In the case of this post, I will ad
mit that 1 did pull down one comment that could have been viewed as cross
ing several lines of cultural and racial sensitivity. Censorship or restraining
opinion is the last thing that I want to be held accountable for. That said,
new larger circles I see much change, some enveloped in sadness, some in
positive change, all becoming linked in my circles of thought.
there are certain sentiments and expressions that will not find a place of
Homes that once had been tended lovingly by elders now house
college students or have otherwise fallen prey to neglect and careless
welcome in Just Out. This applies to both sides of any issue.
ness. Cherished rosebushes and yards no longer receive the love and
Many readers asked what can be done with an elected politician whose
attention that only the retired can provide. As elderly folks age and pass
personal belief system is not reflective of the citizens he represents. The
away, their property is often left to the care, or lack thereof, of distant
first thing to consider is that this man did manage to get himself elected for
relatives. The fact is, though, that as we age, more than our homes become
several terms. Is he actually speaking for his district? Is anyone in Newberg
vulnerable. Our personal care, too, often faces neglect in the hands of the
standing up and telling him to “shut up”? If not, it would seem that our
indifferent or the distant.
problem, and it’s not an unfamiliar one, extends beyond this one state sena
The aging of gays and lesbians is a topic to be taken seriously. When we
tor. We know this, right? He is not the only person in Oregon who feels the
can no longer take care of ourselves, to whom will we turn? I find it reason
way he does. He’s just the most recent one to launch into a foolish tirade.
able to say that aging and elder care should be considered one of the most
This is why it’s so important that we all work together to assure the
'election of fair-minded, progressive candidates to local, state and federal
pressing issues of the day facing the gay and lesbian community. More
so than marriage equality? The two go hand in hand. Marriage equality,
elected offices. At Just Out we are doing our part to keep the flow of infor
domestic partnerships, these are necessary steps to provide the rights needed
mation coming in a manner designed to help you, the voter, make informed
for us to make decisions for ourselves and our partners and loved ones as
choices. For the 2008 election Just Out will be providing a higher level of
we go into the later years of our-life. We’re fortunate in Portland to have
election coverage than ever before. We are polling candidates for office on
an organization, Senior Housing and Retirement Enterprises, advocating
their experience, values and commitment to civil rights for our community.
for care and housing for gay, lesbian, bi and trans seniors. Look them up at
It’s all at a special elections coverage blog, “Vote Out 2008,” which can be
www.sharepdx.org. Get educated, get involved. Don’t wait until you’re
found on the main page of our Web site. Information from candidates will
old. Youthful energy is welcome now.
be posted there and available 24/7 for you to read and study. The April 18
Finally, it’s great to see expansion and growth at Q Center (see
issue of Just Out will then carry endorsements for all local and many state
Page 10). It seems like only a while ago that Sam Adams was holding
positions. Are we going to appear to be totally Portland-centric? Yes, I’m
exploratory meetings at City Hall to determine if there was need and
afraid that we are. What can be done about other races across the state? You
interest in Portland for our own community center. And now look at
can write letters to the editor in support of your candidate. You can e-mail
us information that might be used on our daily blog. You can help keep us
informed of races and candidates who might deserve more scrutiny than
what we’ve got: a wealth of ongoing activities and events. One of these
JustOutPersonals.com. Our next evening is March 30. We’ll meet 5:30 p.m.
initially seen from here.
at Q Center. See you there.
events happens to be women-seeking-women Bunco night, sponsored by
reflections
15 Years Ago In Just Out... volume 10 number 9, march 15,1993
• People .invited to Queen Elizabeth's garden
parties may now bring unmarried male or fe
male partners, Buckingham Palace said Feb. 11.
Gay couples will be as free to roam the estate
or queue for the royal handshake as straight
couples.
• A chapter of Citizens for Excellence in Educa
tion, a far-right group, has formed in Beaverton.
Director Lauren C. Lilly sent a 23-question sur
vey to 69 candidates in the Beaverton area ask
ing for their views on gay teachers, sex educa
tion, abortion, evolution and school prayer.
• Dorothy Allison, National Book Award final
ist last year for Bastard Out of Carolina, was to
appear at a writing workshop at the Oklahoma
Center for the Book, until the arrangement was
canceled because of her sexual orientation.
• Are Portland theaters racist, sexist and homo-
phobic? The Portland Area Theatre Alliance is
sponsoring a forum on diversity in the perform
ing arts community featuring guest panelists
and audience participation.
• The District of Columbia Council is consider
ing a bill called "The District of Columbia Crimi
nal Code Right to Privacy Amendment Act of
1993," which would decriminalize sodomy
between consenting adults. Anal and oral sex
are still illegal in D.C., with penalties of up to 10
years in prison and a $10,000 fine.
• The Club EX Network, an international gay
and lesbian home exchange club, recently es
tablished a base in the United States. Club EX
Network encourages cultural exchange be
tween gays and lesbians of different countries
and was founded as an alternative to "straight"
home exchange programs.
• The Snickers
LaBarr Show is
a talk show for
gays, lesbians
and
bisexu
als. Shown on
MCTV Chan
nel 21.
This
month features designer Kurt Schultz and enter
tainer Lauren Andrews.
• The City Nightclub is once again hosting its
annual teenage female impersonation pageant.
Celebrating 16 years of teenage gender-bend
ing, hundreds of gay youth and their friends are
expected to gather for the pageant and coro
nation. The Rosebud and Thorn Pageant is the
longest-running teenage female impersonation
pageant in the United States and perhaps the
world.
FEATURE
Acclaimed author believes we possess the
ability to lead society’s next phase of
cultural revolution
8-19 NORTHWEST
State Sen. Gary George roils equal rights
activists; play about bullying banned from
Sherwood; trans couples find legal loophole;
health department launches STD prevention
Web site; alliance bestows awards for service;
“A Class Act” benefits future lawyers; story
telling event at Q Center focuses on AIDS;
arts auction benefits people with AIDS;
Samaritan Counseling Center has gay-specific
program; Portland Human Rights Campaign
bowls for equality; Q Center expands
20-21 NATIONAL
Repeal of HIV travel ban moves to Senate
floor; New York’s new governor an ally of
gays; Oklahoma lawmaker spreads anti-gay
hate; Washington domestic partnership law
expands
22-23 WORLD
Iranian Nobel laureate denounces treatment
of gays; HIV cases set record in Japan; Swed
ish government to sell dildos; Venezuelan
Supremes nix same-sex marriage; Argentine
president said to support gay marriage
ARTS AND CULTURE
40-42 PEOPLE
Extreme perform
ance artist Ron
Athey comes
to Portland
46-47 FILM
1975’s Dog Day
Afternoon dem
onstrates rare
understanding
of ideals of gay
liberation; The
Witnesses presents
disturbingly realistic picture of confu
sion and trauma of early years of AIDS
48 NIGHTLIFE
Show your team spirit at gay athletic social
49 BOOKS
Recent titles examine butch identity,
family-of-origin disputes
COLUMNS
33 EPIQUEEREAN
March Modness
39 OUT GOING
The Seven-Year Itch
43 CORNER VIEW
Bright Lights, Big City
45 SASSY GARDENER
Sucker-Free Gardening
50 JIM'S CLOSET
Boys Do Cry
PAGE 24
xplosive.That’sthewordbestusedtodescribetheMarch 11 interview