I
page 3
I J lUStlOUt
by Marty Davis
I NEWSMAGAZINE
Bring It!
FEATURE
Pride coincides with an opportunity
for our community to build
a space for itself
28 PICTURE THIS
Amateur photographers snap to it
NEWS
elcome to the second of three Just Out Pride 2008 publica
tions. This issue is a staff favorite, the presentation of the
winners of the annual Just Out amateur photo contest. As
with past years, we received a mailbag full of entries, and we
examined each and every one. To view the winning photos,
and our staff picks, please turn to Page 28. Remember, all entries will be on
display during the month of July at Q Center.
My first order of business with this issue’s column is to offer a heartfelt
“thank you” to all the groups, organizations and businesses who participated
in the surprise advertisement in the May 30 issue celebrating the 25th an
niversary of this publication. Now you might be wondering if the ad was a
real surprise or if-I knew what was going on. Well, thanks to the efforts, and
clever scheming, of Just Out Advertising Director Larry Lewis, Basic Rights
Oregon executive director Jeana Frazzini and graphic designer Christian
Messer, the two-page ad was as much a surprise to me as realistically could
be pulled off. Toward the last hours of the production cycle, I was aware
that there were pages I hadn’t seen. Furthermore, my questions as to their
whereabouts were not being answered. At this point, Larry simply became
stern and told me to back off, a surprise was in the works and I was going to
let it happen, dammit. Truthfully, I’m not sure what was the bigger surprise,
seeing the final ads the next morning or finding out that Larry Lewis really
could be stem. Who knew!
My sincere thanks go out to all those who participated. I was truly
touched by the gesture and the generosity. The donations to the Just Out
Kendall Clawson may be a powerhouse, but she needs the community's
Scholarship Fund will be put to very good use. Our November anniversary
support in raising $200,000 for a permanent Q Center building.
issue will announce the recipients of the 2008 scholarship awards. Many of
have printed it? No. I’m not. It was a column, a place for his personal opin
you will now be able to take pride in knowing that your contributions will
ions, opinions for which he personally takes accountability, as he sees fit. It is
play a part in the education of a deserving and outstanding member of our
the role of newspapers to offer a place for voices of dissent. As a community
community. And if you are a student who identifies as gay, lesbian, bi or
we are not now, nor ever will be, locked into one mindset. A challenge to
trans, or are the child of parents who so identify, you still have time to apply
your beliefs will make you stronger for it. Columnists, with their opinions,
for this year’s awards. Please visit www.justout.com to view the complete
open doors of dialogue. Mutual agreement on all topics is not expected; hon
details on how to apply.
oring everyone’s right to their own opinion is.
1, myself, am very aware that Pride is supported mainly by smaller, local,
fter the ad, the second-most-talked about topic of the past two weeks has
independent business and nonprofit organizations. While larger corporate
been Staff Writer Stephen Marc Beaudoin and his somewhat less-than-
well-received May 30 “Comer View” column titled “Buyer Beware: Best sponsors are more visible than ever before, their contributions do not match
those of our homegrown supporters. As the publisher of Just Out, and as an
Way to Show Your ‘Pride’? Skip Pride.”
individual, I have consistently celebrated and encouraged the support of lo
Ah, yes, the complaints, the questions, the memories. Memories? What
cal business. This support of local and gay-owned business has been the single
kind of memories could this brash, bold, Pride-hating screed possibly bring to
most consistent message of my tenure as Publisher. My position and my sup
mind? Let’s take a little journey to the past, to a Pride of 10 years ago. I’d just
port remain unchanged.
taken on the role of Publisher and was writing my first Pride column. I had a
few thoughts and opinions of my own that year. I wrote ’em down and sent
ongratulations are in order to Kendall Clawson, director of Q Center.
them out to the world.
LiThis
month marks her first anniversary in Portland. What a dynamic year
And then all hell broke loose.
W
A
The column was titled “Keep Your Pants On, Your Grandma Is Watch
ing.” It was a sweet, simple work in which I expressed my belief that the world
would be a far better place if everyone coming to Pride events dispensed with
nudity, drunkenness, displays of sexuality and anything and everything else
that I personally viewed as inappropriate and distasteful. It could be described
as, well, let’s call it a brash, bold, Pride-hating screed.
Just as with Stephen’s column now, we received letters then. Many, many
letters. These were pre-blog, pre-e-mail days. Folks then, in the old days,
were much more passionate and energetic in expressing their displeasure.
They made phone calls. They showed up at the office. These were pissed off,
proud, Pride-loving people. The Lesbian Avengers tried to picket me at the
waterfront. They strutted about carrying around signs sayings, “Marty Davis,
Keep Your Hands Off My Body.” Fortunately, no one knew what I looked
like then, so I, sat on a table and watched as they paraded around the area,
looking for me, the object of their derision.
This was all on-the-job training for me. 1 learned lessons then, just as I
learned from later mistakes. And I’ll learn even more from the mistakes I’ve
yet to make. To my mind, the only people who don’t screw up are the people
who do nothing at all.
So, am I saying that Stephen’s column was a mistake, that 1 shouldn’t
JUNE 13, 2008
VOL. 25 NO. 16
of growth, change and progress it has been. Making her first anniversary even
more special is the news that an anonymous donor has stepped forward with
a gift of $200,000 toward the acquisition of a permanent Q Center building.
This gift, however, requires a community match. We, as in we the commu
nity, now have three months to raise our own $200,000. Are we up for it?
Can we do it? Hell, yes. Remember the theme of this year’s Pride Northwest
events? Bring it!
That’s exactly what we’ve got three months to do. Bring your dollars,
your checks, your change, whatever you’ve got to give. Q Center will be
in the parade, at the waterfront and always at www.pdxqcenter.org. Donate
now. Help our community build a space for itself. A safe place, our own
place. Bring it!
As with many community groups and organizations, Pride runs us a little
ragged at Just Out. We look forward to a bit of a break when the main activi
ties are completed. We’ll be in the parade and at the waterfront, then we’re
out of here. Where are we going? Well, not Disneyland—it’s too damn ex
pensive to travel—but we are taking a week off. Just Out will be on vacation
the week of June 16. Our next print issue will be out July 3.
Enjoy all Pride activities, be sure and stop by to see us, and always remem
ber, “Keep your pants on, your grandma is watching.’ ©
*
8-23 NORTHWEST
Office of Human Relations secures ongoing
funding; royalty crowned in Vancouver
and Portland; QDoc sees successful return;
SMYRC funding stabilizes, director resigns;
radio show explores gender as DIY project;
Curve sits out of Portland Pride; BRO wants
you to eat out; Oregon congressman joins
new queer caucus; Concerned Oregonians
admit defeat; same-sex couples find
options in adoption and foster parenting;
shelter provides no protection from trans
discrimination; Portlander recounts
experiences at Turkey’s anti-homophobia
march; MCC pastor debuts with pride;
Yamhill County couple fight for rights
24-25 NATIONAL
Lawsuit claims Social Security
Administration ignores gay father;
gay organization hides identity in
Idaho parade; same-sex weddings
being June 17 in California
26-27 WORLD
Argentine government seeks to
legalize same-sex marriage; Russia
lifts ban on gay blood; Gambian
president plans to decapitate gays
ARTS & CULTURE
50 NIGHTLIFE
Pleasure Boys infiltrate Eagle
53 ART
Gay artist selected for Portland Art
Museum’s inaugural Contemporary
Northwest Art Awards
55 BOOKS
Recent titles explore human penchant
for self-destruction, potential
power of femme mystique
56-57 FILM
Lake Oswego filmmaker Dan
Merchant explores collision of faith
and culture in United States
58-59 THEATER
What’s hot on the Great White Way
62-65 TELEVISION
Films document queer senior citizens,
Tel Aviv clothier, roller derby revival
COLUMNS
43 EPIQUEEREAN
Savory Sweets
47 OUT GOING
Pretty in Pink
49 CORNER VIEW
Say My Name, Say My Name
61 SASSY GARDENER
Your Garden Can Show Pride
66 JIM'S CLOSET
Out of Oregon
76 MS. BEHAVIOR
Germ Warfare
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