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.
InMai consultation with no charge or obligation
• Comprehensive Financial Planning (Fee Based)
• Life & Disability & LTC Insurance *
• IRAs, Roth IRAs, Rollovers
rial Staff Appreciation Fund, Morrison Child and Fam
Squeeze that tube!
In Your Life, In Your Investments
• Inheritance & Estate Planning
of our society.
A.WADDELL
È3<SrREED
Safeguard your real estate. Save your planet.
financial Advisors'”
• Tax & Retirement Planning
ELISE CAMPBELL
• Investing with a Conscience
Principal Broker
ABR, Earth Advantage S. T.A.R.
503.238.6036 extiD
Ar
700 Northeast Multnomah Street • Suite 1150* Portland, OR 97232
503 238 7056 FAX • Toll Free 888-892-9049 • www.anneseelye.com
DVISOR
503-307-1353
Elisefa/EliseCampbell .com
www. EliseCampbell .com
Compass Realty, Inc.