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About Just out. (Portland, OR) 1983-2013 | View Entire Issue (Jan. 9, 2009)
JANUARY 9, 2009 justput 5 letters Blindsided by Obama To the E ditor : Like so many people in the GLBT and progres sive communities, I felt blindsided by President elect Barack Obama’s selection of Rick Warren to do the invocation at the inauguration Jan. 20. This man is clearly a homophobe who casually uses hate speech when talking about us and our relationships. The choice to give a person like this such a prestigious platform to espouse his views is indefensible and an insult to all of us. I thought that, like some of the leaders in our community, 1 could put this behind me and focus on what President Obama will do for us. He will deliver for us somewhere down the road, but does that excuse what he has done here? Can we just shake our heads and move on? 1 can’t. I’m surprised at how 1 still feel as pissed off at this now as I did when he made the announcement. The hurt and shock has not gone away, as I thought it would. I will still celebrate Jan. 20, but it will be foi the end of George W. Bush’s disastrous eight years as our president. 1 will not watch Obama’s inaugural address to the nation as much as 1 appreciate his speeches. I applaud our leaders who are boycotting and canceling their tickets to the inauguration and festivities. To do nothing seems inappropriate. To do something even if it is small seems right to me. Shame on you, Barack Obama. Shame on you. D on P owell Portland * A Jefferson Dancer Remembers To the E ditor : Thank you so much for the article “Building a Community: Portland’s Vibrant Contemporary Dance Scene Developed Over Decades’* [Nov. 21,2008]. I had the honor of growing up in this vibrant community. Your article read like a who’s who of my childhixxl and teen years. I remember the excitement in the air when James Canfield moved to Portland to become artistic di rector of Pacific Ballet Theatre. 1 was so intimidated by this new man from the Big Appie. 1 remember performing with the Jefferson Dancers on the fin est stages in the state under the amazing director ship of Mary Folberg and Julane Stites. I remember Bonnie Merrill as an incredibly thoughtful chore- ographer who insisted every company member be included in her piece, who gave gifts to every dancer after we premiered her work at Portland Center for the Performing Arts. 1 remember performing in The Men’s Show along with Greg Bielemeier at Dreamswell Theatre when 1 was 18 years old. 1 remember the new worlds opened up to me by the “holy trinity” ofMary Oslund, Linda K. Johnson and Keith Gixxlman. 1 remember when Minh Tran was rhe exciting new talk of the town. 1 never told them so at the time, but I wor shipped and loved them all. As the years have gone by, I have become increasingly thankful for all they taught me, amazed at my fortune of having known and worked with such amazing people. Notably absent from your article was Dennis Spaight, former artistic director of Ballet Oregon and subsequent associate artistic director of Oregon Ballet Theatre. He choreographed many wonderful pieces that became staples of C >regon Ballet Theatre repertoire. Of all the beautiful memories of my time growing up in the Portland dance community, my memories of working with Spaight on Polovetsian Dances stand out as haunting and painful. We saw him go from being an adonis who starred in Soloflex infomercials to being wasted away to skin and bones by AIDS. At his funeral I learned 1 hi»d been hint on his birthday. A ndrew O livo P arodi Gervais Submit your letters to the editor, commitment announcements, transitions or list your events online at www.justout.com CLICK ON THE READER SUBMISSIONS BUTTON. TRANSITIONS Neal Curry, 1918-2008 Neal Curry, the oldest known member of Metropolitan Community Church of Portland and one of the old est members of the Universal Fellowship of Metropolitan Community Churches, died Dec. 19, 2008. He was 89. Curry was born Jan. 1, 1918, a true new year’s baby, and spent his career working in the bank ing industry. He began attending MCC Portland in its first year, 1976, and was one of the earliest members of rhe local board of di rectors as treasurer. Curry was universally loved by his many friends, co-workers and church congregants. His most recent pastor, the Rev. Nathan Meckley, says: “Neal was a testament to living faithfully. His warmth, enthusiasm and presence will be missed, but we know his presence will al ways be with us.” The Rev. Frodo Okulam, a former choir di rector at MCC Portland, remembered Curry’s “solid bass voice and warm friendship. Neal would al ways welcome everyone, and he was always willing to help anyone in any way he was able. Neal was a blessing, and whatever he did was always done well.” Curry is survived by a daughter and a son. A memorial service is scheduled for 1 p.m.Jan. 18 at MCC Portland, 2400 N.E. Broadway. For more information cal! the church office at 503-281-8868. Glenn Hubbard, 1945-2008 Glenn Roy Hubbard died suddenly Dec. 9, 2008. He was 63. Hubbard was bom May 9, 1945, in Longview, Wash., and grew up in Shelton, Wash. He gradu ated from Shelton High in 1963 and was offered a foot ball scholarship to Stanford hut be cause of a hxitball injury attended Oregon State University instead from 1963 to 1965. He was a member of Tau Kappa Epsilon. Hubbard married Linda Gail York in Salem in October 1966. She preceded him in death May 2005. Hubbard specialized in appliances and heat ing, ventilating and air conditioning. He was most recently employed at Ankeny Hardware. Hubbard was a humble person and was well-liked. He volunteered for many organiza tions and was supportive of his transgender son, Christopher. At rhe time of his death he was treasurer of the board for Portland Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays. In addition to Christopher, Hubbard is survived by his daughter and son-in-law, Nicole and Raul Mowatt of Chicago, and stepbrother, Fred Sutherland of Vancouver, Wash. A memorial service was held Jan. 3 at St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church, 1432 S.W. 13th Ave. Contributions to the Glenn Hubbard Memorial Fund may be sent to the church to help with funeral expenses.
