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About Just out. (Portland, OR) 1983-2013 | View Entire Issue (Dec. 5, 2008)
DECEMBER 5, 2008 JUStpUt 9 northwest Westboro Baptist Church Storms Oregon with Anti-Gay Antics tured its unusually colorful signs screaming “Fag landed in Silverton to $50,000 Media Shame!” and “God Hates America!”—at mock the town’s historic in Blue-eyed Libby Phelps, grinning ear to ear, tracted 150-plus counterprotesters of PSU queer election of Stu Rasmus for creative projects of has a special message for Just Out readers: “God and allied students, faculty and nonuniversity sen as the first transgen his hates you and you’re going to hell.” supporters, reaction was mostly measured. der mayor of a U.S. city (a Rauch for his leadership story that Just Out broke with Ashland’s Oregon speech,” Austin, a 23-year-old online Nov. 6 and Shakespeare self-identified queer male, re print Nov. 7). They were Since his appointment marked as he suhx I in the chilly met with a big crowd of in morning air to protest the pro Rasmussen supporters in was profiled in a 2007 testers, “and freedom to live peaceful their lives the way that they including Just Out colum should without any discrimina nist Floyd Sklaver and his tion towards anybody.” “Everybody has freedom of PSU queer and allied students and supporters swarm the campus to counterprotest Fred Phelps' loony goons. in counterprotest, Oregon Shakespeare Festival's Bill Rauch has landed a S50K arts fellowship prize. cash award unrestricted choosing, 2007, funds honors Festival. Rauch—who Just Out cover story— has directed critically acclaimed productions of partner, Marc Acito. The Oregonian reported on the both Shakespeare classics and newer works. Earli What does he think of the “counterprotesters...waiting across the two-lane er this year he launched an ambitious “American concept of gender-neutral bath street—men in skirts and boots, moms with babes Revolutions” initiative, in which the festival will rooms, which the Phelps family in arm, lifelong Silverton residents alongside kids commission 37 new plays based on U.S. history was protesting? “1 think it’s a playing hooky from Salem schixils. The crowd of stories from a diverse group of U.S. playwrights great idea, especially for trans about 150 waved and drummed and hugged. Their during the next decade. gender people. It makes it more signs, homemade, hurriedly produced on office la The United States Artists fellowship program comfortable, and I don’t get why ser printers and painted on the back of campaign was launched in 2005 by a consortium of leading they don’t see that.” yard signs, focused on the positive. ‘My love is big arts foundations and philanthropic leaders as a way ger than your hate,’ read one. ‘We love Stu (and so of recognizing and supporting U.S.-based artists does God).’ ‘Everyone is welcome in Silverton.’ ” with onetime grants that encourage and enable the Out-and-out hatred seemed Phelps, granddaughter of notorious anti-gay less the Westboro message than simply getting Westboro Baptist Church leader Fred Phelps, was Portland caught up in its media circus act. Libby in Portland on Nov. 24 as part of a touring quartet Phelps admitted, “We’re not trying to change of protesters spreading their typically outrageous anybody’s mind” with their protests, however ri message of “Days’ End” hate across the state. Their diculous they might seem. The church’s mission, Oregon Shakespeare Festival’s openly gay artis Previous Oregon winners have included essayist first early morning stop: just outside the Portland she said, is much simpler: “We’re trying to con tic director, Bill Rauch, was announced last month and short story specialist Charles D’Ambrosio and State University campus, to mock PSU for imple demn the world, so on the judgment day you can’t as one of only 50 artists nationwide to nab a presti radio broadcaster Dmae Roberts. menting gender-neutral bathrooms. say you didn’t see this message.” gious United States Artists fellowship award. Although the church’s protest—which fea- Later that afternoon, the Westboro goons recipients to further their work. Artists nationwide Oregon Shakespeare Fest Director Nabs National Prize are nominated by an anonymous panel of arts lead ers; 50 are selected each year for fellowship grants. The fellowship, which carries with it a Continued on Page 10 Cascade Women’s Health, RC. 1040 NW 22nd, Suite 330 We can help, and we come to you! Cascade Women's Health, P.C. Portland, OR 972 10 Physicians and Surgeons Repair 503.274.9936 • www.CascadeWomensHealth.org LYDIA H. 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