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
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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.