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About Just out. (Portland, OR) 1983-2013 | View Entire Issue (Aug. 1, 2008)
justiout J Travel Oregon VOL. 25 NO. 19 ’m not a great fan of summer. I put up with it because, well, I really have no choice. I never have and never will be a fan of hot weather. Stretches of sunny days make me ache for clouds and rain. Yet, give me an air-conditioned car and some travel articles with maps and I’ll head joyously in any direction, at any time, for summer getaways and adventures. The constraints of small-business ownership don’t allow me to disappear for long periods of time; however, 1 long ago learned that Oregon offers a never-ending bounty of locales to visit and view. Even brief four- and five- day sojourns can be a marvel. Oregon offers her residents and guests moun tains, deserts and an ocean—all within a day’s reach. While eastern Oregon calls to me most frequently, I am never one to turn down a trip to the coast. From Astoria to Brookings, I love it all. Well, actu ally, I despise Gold Beach, but that’s another story for another day. Twice I’ve almost been arrested there. Seriously. I’ll tell you about Gold Beach someday when I’m feeling calm. 1 may have to move to that place one day and take over as the lesbian mayor. It would be only fitting. Over on Oregon’s central coast, Lincoln City is putting out quite the welcome mat for the gay, lesbian, bi and trans community. Sure, a good part of the effort is about the dollars we bring on our travels. I am not naive to the concept of marketing. That’s what business is about: promoting your products and your services and hoping for the best result. But Lincoln City, like every other destination, has choices, and Lincoln City is choosing to welcome us warmly to its community. I encourage you to accept its invitation. Our central coast friends are even planning a specific Pride celebration. The inaugural Iris Festival will be held the weekend of Sept. 19 to 21. Festi val coordinator Nichole Le Sage writes, “With Iris being the goddess of the rainbow and the messenger of peace, we feel she is the perfect symbol for Lincoln City’s GLBTQ event.” There you have it: It’s not iris the flower, it’s Iris, the goddess of the rainbow. Promoters hope to be able to bring portions of the AIDS Memorial Quilt to Lincoln City for the Iris Festival. These panels, although sobering and thoughtful, should always be viewed when the opportunity arises. Tire quilt is a deeply thought-provoking tribute to the saddest chapter of our shared history. Just Out will provide more details of the Iris Festival as they become avail able. Check our print edition as well as online at www.justout.com. Here’s my personal travel tip for Lincoln City. One of the most attractive and overlooked hiking trails in the state can be found on the outskirts of the town. The Drift Creek Trail features an awesome waterfall, a suspension bridge and some of the best scenery to be found anywhere. Check it out. When I head out on my adventures, I take on a bit of an evangelical persona. It’s not that I can’t leave work behind, it’s just that, well, I can’t leave work behind. Whenever I stay in a motel or eat in a restaurant, I leave a copy of Just Out behind. I imagine that most, if not all, are either recycled or thrown away, but I have this notion that maybe, just maybe, a copy will reach someone who needs it and wouldn’t find it any other way. I recognize that the Internet has removed many of the barriers of isolation facing those who are gay and rural, but there’s still nothing quite like a newspaper in your hand to foster a feeling of connection. Or so I like to think. I’m not good at talking to strangers and tend to leave a trail of missed op portunity behind me everywhere I go. I recall one incident, in a small store over around Maupin. I stop in nearly every country store I come to. They are often stocked with fascinating items that I always want but never need. In this specific store there was a young woman—very young, 15,16, who knows. But she had “baby dyke” written all over her. If you spent a weekend at the E Room, you wouldn’t find a cuter and butchier-looking young girl. And here she was, out in the middle of nowhere. I wanted to talk to her. I wanted to know how she was, who she was, was she OK? Did she have folks who were good to her? Was she being taken care of? Did she know how to find the way to be who she was? I wanted to ask all these questions and give her a Just Out and let her know there were people out there just like her. I did none of this. 1 second-guessed myself and pictured her discomfort if I was wrong. What if she was simply a county girl still in her tomboy phase? What if she already suffered torment and teasing from her peers? Wouldn’t 1 possibly make her uncomfortable? I had no right to do that, well-intentioned or not. 1 bought a bottle of water and left. But I left knowing that if it had been me, when I was that age, when I was that young girl, that if anyone had taken the time to stop and look at me, to talk to me, to see me, I would have burst out in tears of sheer joy. To be truthful, I still have days when 1 feel that way. As the outer body ages and wears, the needs of the inner child remain the same. Don’t let any one tell you anything different. Enjoy your travels, and please share your stories with me when you return. reflections -I - 1 I | — HI ■ II ' I -L ■ - I ■ ■ . - AUGUST 1, 2008 tr •*** PAGE 20 Mfr. Our state has mountains, deserts and an ocean—all within a day's reach ’ I NEWSMAGAZINE J| V FEATURE 20 GET OUTTA TOWN! Four vacations within state lines NEWS 8-15 NORTHWEST Nike pulls “That Ain’t Right” ad campaign; Equity Foundation beefs up staff; gay Washingtonians observe anniversary; Portland hosts international soccer tournament; Just Out dominates in “Papergate 2008!”; Pride marches on in Eugene; trans man works with queer homeless youth; gay leader hired as CEO of educational nonprofit 16-17 NATIONAL “Don’t ask, don’t tell" repeal hearings under way; Bush leaves legacy with AIDS bill; McCain backpedals on gay adoption; Massachusetts opens marriage to out-of-state residents; anti-gay Oklahoma lawmaker brings gun to work 18-19 WORLD Singer: No gays in Cuban Communist Party; large, violent attack on Budapest Pride; Wowereit welcomes Obama to Berlin; Moscow officials ban gay picket at Iranian Embassy; Lambda Istanbul eradicated by court; 120,000 at Vienna Pride; Italian man wins discrimination case; British army joins gay equality program ARTS & CULTURE 39-41 FILM Man on Wire documents one of the greatest pranks in history; infamous drag troupe exits in style with film parody, documentary Trans musician brings sexy back to Oregon 44 NIGHTLIFE Dance diva Kristine W headlines block party • A former top health official in Oregon and enough signatures to qualify for the ballot in topics of interest to the gay, lesbian, bisexual Washington, as well as a professor of nursing Forest Grove. In preparing to fight the measure, and transgender communities inclusively, as and public health, Kristine Gebbie is now the the Forest Grove Human Rights Coalition put to they pertain to the Portland Police Bureau. nation's first federal AIDS czar. She was ap gether educational information for the commu These are ongoing, informal discussions that pointed to the post by President Clinton after nity. The coalition is going ahead take place in a relaxed at the job was turned down by other candidates, with plans to print bumper stick mosphere of mutual trust COLUMNS including U.S. Rep. Jim McDermott, D-Wash., ers and buttons. In case the OCA and respect. 15 SASSY GARDENER and New York Health Commissioner Margaret tries again, the information will A. Hamburg. be available and the community • Stonewall will be prepared. invites you to a commu Oregonian reported Oregon Northwest nity meeting to express House Speaker Larry Campbell, R-Eugene, would not • The Portland Area Business your ideas, thoughts and be seeking re-election to another term in office. Association concerns about the 1993 He has been the main block to gay and lesbi Rep. an legislation for the past two sessions of the as guest speaker at its monthly Parade and Festival. Bring House. luncheon. She is the first openly your ideas for next year's lesbian member of the Oregon event as well! welcomes Gail Shibley, state D-Portland, Lesbian and Gay Pride • The Metropolitan Human Rights Commission Legislature and helped author the is seeking applicants for five three-year posi controversial House Bill 3500, tions of the 15-member commission. The ap designed to nullify local anti-gay-rights initia bian and gay choral ensemble, is looking for a pointments are made by the mayor of Portland tives throughout the state. musical director and administrative coordinator • Bridges, Portland's les for the '93-'94 season. There is some pay, but and the Multnomah County chair. • The Oregon Citizens Alliance did not get ■ 42-43 MUSIC , -I 15 Years Ago In Just Out... volume 10 number 18, august 1,1993 • The k • — 1 • The Sexual Minority Roundtable with Chief applicants would be working for the love of music Charles Moose is a time set aside to discuss and the gay, lesbian and bisexual community. 45 MUSIC Hot young composer bums through Portland
