Image provided by: University of Oregon Libraries; Eugene, OR
About Just out. (Portland, OR) 1983-2013 | View Entire Issue (Aug. 1, 2008)
AUGUST 1, 2008 outstanding just asking Stirring the Pot ortland Mercury news editor Amy Ruiz took City Hall by storm when she burst onto the politi cal beat last November, after covering Portland neighborhood news since 2005. Ruiz took the position after working for sex columnist and then editor in chief Dan Savage at The Stranger in Seattle, also covering the Emerald City’s neighborhoods. “I cov ered goofy civic activism and density issues,” said Ruiz. “If it was NIMBY, I was on it.” In Portland, Ruiz took pride in her coverage of the César Chavez street renaming controversy and her exten sive coverage of candidates running for City Council. When Ruiz married her partner, Sonia Ruiz, last year in Canada, it was actually her second marriage. In a political move, rabble-rousers Savage and Ruiz married publicly to bring attention to same-sex marriage, which was sweeping the West Coast without any movement in Seattle. At the request of Savage’s partner, Terry Miller, the marriage license was never filed, but the stunt did spark a lawsuit filed by several same-sex couples for the right to marry. Despite Ruiz’s dedication to covering politics, her nat ural inclination is to stay home. “I’m such a homebtxly. I started a vegetable garden, and I’d like to get chickens. 1 bake and cook. I’m into sewing my own clothes.” Ruiz’s challenge of the moment is cooking without recipes and being more seasonal. Just Out asked gay skaters, "Where is your favorite place to vacation in Oregon? Right now, I’m taking a break from City Hall. My childhood ambition was to be a teacher. My first queer crush was on Lydia Sifferlin. She was a high schixd friend who came out to me as bisexual, which I had never heard of before, and 1 was fascinated. Talking to her made so many things make sense. I was in love with her and never told her. ewport. I’m from there, and there’s a gtxxl nightlife with bars and a dance club. And they’re very accepting. I went back in drag and got hit on by the popular guy from high schtxtl.” I like to spend my down time at home catching up on my crafty projects. S teven M osier aka My proudest moment was buying our house last year. The reason we moved to Portland was to have a home, have a garden and the cute little life we wanted. My biggest challenge is trying to cover the entire city with a news staff of two people. A perfect day in Portland would be spent biking to the [Portland State University] farmers market on a sunny day, hanging out in my yard and having friends over for dinner. want to go to Fossil, Ore., because 1 like to dig up stuff from the past. It’s one of the few adventures I haven’t done yet. It’s on my summer agenda.” S nickers L a B arr Cable Access Queen My first job was as the only girl buser at Awada’s Lebanese/American restaurant when 1 was 14- I am known as news editor of The Portland Mercury. hen I first came to Portland, 1 wanted to see the Oregon coast. The place 1 remember best is Ecola State Park. Standing on the cliffs and watching the waves crash is very peaceful.” My vice is ice cream— homemade mascarpone, black berry, it’s always something different. You put me in the ice cream aisle, it’s a disaster. W ayne M ija My inspiration is all the people in Portland who are making the city happen. My cause is informing people, whether it’s in the news that 1 do or teach ing a friend a skill that I have. The last queer or philan thropic event I participated in Bites for Rights. Me and my les bian troupe had a lot of mojitos at Trebol. Our House of Portland Executive Director ’m going on a camping trip to Pau lina Lake in Central Oregon. It’s very wtxxisy, and I love being in the outdoors.” E ar i N otz Energetic Amy Ruiz covers politics for The Portland Mercury. My highest hope for the cause is that people want to learn and be engaged. —faymee R. Cuti © DOGGY DELIGHT BOUTIQUE & SELF SERVICE DOG SPA Cycle (7 Works F ull & S elf S ervice Recumbent^ Folding Rikeo 503-644-0747 < k S vetlana H art Miss Sweetheart of Portland XX My name is Amy Ruiz. I am 28 years old. I feel 40 years old, in a gtxxl way—I feel pretty grounded. The craziness of my youth has gone away. I’m a more serious person. iustiout 7 Vv LOCATED ON 185TH IN TANASBOURNE WWW. DOGGYDE LIG HTBOUTIQUE.COM ... and More! DHARMA RAIN ZEN CENTER 2539 Southeast Madsion. Por tland. OR 97214 503 239 4846 www dharma-ram.org Open Tuesday-Sunday (503) 230-7723 2025 SE Hawthorne
