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About Just out. (Portland, OR) 1983-2013 | View Entire Issue (March 21, 2008)
MARCH 21, 2008 just,out letters 5 TRANSITIONS Stephen Blair, 1974-2008 The irony is crushing. Suicide ultimately brought arts Bound by Gender Davis to be both interesting and thought provoking. I couldn’t agree more! Since 1789 ria have come and gone, just as they have in writer Stephen Michael Blair into the very fellowship Portland and everywhere else. They’re on the he longed for, the “wild artists and intellectuals” with I read the editorial “Say It Loud, Say It men have been running this country. As best as whom he told me he felt most at home. Like Vincent Proud” by Marty Davis, where gender identity is cited as one good reason for women to vote for 1 can figure, we aren’t any better off now than upswing now, as your article showed. The article on Astoria also contained a Van Gogh and Virginia Woolf, whose brilliant creative we, as a nation, were in 1789. sidebar that outlined the “gay” places in the temperaments were coupled with severe manic-depres area. Unfortunately, you omitted one—and it’s sive disorder, Stephen At the same time, I’ve been sorting through the reasons why Barack Obama appears to be In many respects we are worse off. It’s time for a change; men have had 219 years to prove that they are incapable of running this country. a prominent one: T Paul’s Urban Cafe, a very popular restaurant in the 1100 block of Com wrestled for years to subdue his demons in capturing the white male vote. I believe white Obama may be cute and charismatic, but he is mercial Street. It has been serving delicious service of his gifts. men are supporting Obama because men share a bond or kinship with other men, with racial still a man. Yuck! meals and providing music on weekends for about eight years, and it is co-owned by an our I first got to know Stephen over plates gay man, Chadd Paul Flues. of pumpkin curry at a Portland Thai res To the E ditor : Hillary Clinton [Feb. 15]. identity being secondary. This has happened It’s time to give a woman the opportunity. This is one woman who will, goddess forbid, due to shared cultural histories of American cast her ballot for someone other than Hillary black and white men. They are: 1) The black Clinton with great disdain. his sexual orientation and his HIV-positive sta taurant. At the time, he was writing for The R ita B eigh tus. He’s heard nothing but compliments and Portland Tribune and I Hillsboro sympathetic questions ever since. He grew up was the public relations manager for Portland Arts & Lectures. Our talk quickly veered from business influence on American music that began with the jazz age and contributes to our culture to ’this day and 2) The significant black influence About a year ago the local newspaper, The Daily Astorian, featured him and discussed both on white men that came about due to the inte in Astoria and seems to know and be known gration of American professional and collegiate P-G-M-C Spells Fun sports and athletic programs. Through music, To the E ditor : by everyone. He has championed the gay cause for years. into dishing about literary media whores. 1 was instantly culture and sports, black and white men have I think it’s important that all of Portland A while ago, when there was no other venue for charmed by his quick wit, unbridled intensity and hip shared an increasingly common language, expe rience and commitment to teamwork that has take note of a wonderful asset of the Rose City, gay men, he opened his restaurant to a discus- sion/support group to fight the isolation that thrift-store fashion. That lunch led to seven years of in the Portland Gay Men’s Choir. spired, devoted friendship. resulted in mutual bonds of trust and respect. I’d never been to see a performance until its can accompany living on the coast. He par Stephen showered his friends with his trademark White men came to hold black athletic, jazz holiday program. Wow, so impressive! Incred ticipates in the “Bites for Rights” fund raising irreverent humor. Whether attending a party as Amy and R & B greats of the past century in high ible performance, some drama, lots of laughs for Basic Rights Oregon. He keeps the Human Sedaris’ alter ego, Jerri Blank, or showing up for a baby esteem, which was extended to our black team and a huge dose of holiday cheer. My boyfriend mates in school. and I attended PGMC’s Movie Madness program Rights Campaign logo of an “equal” sign in the store’s window, his staff is totally in the know about him, and lesbians and gay men are wel sitting gig with “Nanny McPhee” written on duct tape across his chest, his humor and humanity were pitch March 1; what a fun performance! Today, I think men (including many gay comed there. perfect. So, too, was his writing. Fortunately, Stephen left us men) naturally identify with other men in their I used to think the chonis would be all dark chosen arenas, whether it be politics or another robes, boring tunes and churchlike performanc Both the Urban Cafe and the Astoria profession. Partly due to gender roles that limit the scope of men’s interaction with women, es. Boy, was I wrong. Go see a PGMC perform Coffeehouse, a relatively new eatery, are where ance; you won’t be sorry! gay locals and visitors will most likely be found, a record of his unique voice on his blog, www.blairfruit. com. I’d encourage any budding arts writer as well as old pros to turn to his work for a tutorial on how to combine as well as at the Blue Scorcher, an even newer, summary and critique in whip-smart, engaging prose. I’ve come to conclude men are less likely to identify with the aspirations of women. Men J on A gee may appreciate the hard-fighting qualities of Portland Stephen was bom Feb. 5, 1974, and grew up in Ver collectively run cafe. I’d encourage you to amend the report on non, Conn. He graduated from Rockville High School in 1992 and graduated magna cum laude from Bowdoin College in 1996. He died Feb. 28. He is survived by his and women. This is because the two sexes don’t Ambassador for Equality Astoria sometime in the future and shine a spotlight on this remarkable, down-to-earth, typically share common experiences during our To the E ditor : eminently likable man and his cafe and explain longtime partner, Drew McWilliams; parents, Michael Hillary, but there remains a gulf between men formative school years, such as sports, so that I was thrilled to see an issue that devoted at that, in many ways, he is the face of gay people and Susan Blair; sister and brother-in-law, Patricia and men have not developed a nonsexual common tention to my chosen residence, Astoria [“Coast to Astorians. He’s a great ambassador for equal William Lennox, and their son, Eli; and numerous aunts, bond and kinship with women. It is these bonds with the Most,” Feb. 1]. ity and integration of gay people into the fabric uncles, cousins and friends. Gifts can be made to the Stephen Blair Memo and shared histories, between men and between Astoria is a charming yet gritty town, a his women, that can translate into political support torical yet happening place. When making my and social movements, seen in this case at elec decision to live there, I checked the votes of D avid B ennett ily Services, Development Office, 1500 N.E. Irving St. tion time. Clatsop County on all the measures that con Astoria Suite 250, Portland, OR 97232. J ack O sterberg cerned gay people—anti-discrimination mea sures, the reversal of former Oregon Gov. Neil Portland Goldschmidt’s executive order, etc.—and it al ways voted the “right” way. And it’s always felt Boys Are Gross! like an authentic place, not just a tourist trap or a quaint place for people to come gawk. To the E ditor : I found the “Page 3” commentary by Marty Efforts to establish a gay presence in Asto Diversity Matters - As for the questions “Why?" and “Why now?”— Submit your letters to the editor, commitment announcements, transitions or list your events online at www.justout.com CLICK ON THE READER SUBMISSIONS BUTTON. which many of us close to Stephen are asking—answers may always elude us. That bipolar disorder seemed to seize the reins in the end is little comfort. My heart is with Drew, as we who survive Stephen continue that most essential creative act: the art of living. —Meg Daly Before you throw it out, check to see if your toothpaste tube is still loaded. Most people toss products like toothpaste, shampoo and lotion before the containers are really empty. On average, more than 20% of all toothpaste and shampoo purchased never gets used. Imagine the smaller landfills-and the savings in your budget-if you used every bit, cleaned and recycled the containers. 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