_______________________ FEBRUARY 6, 2009
justout 3
iustiout
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J
by Marty Davis
' NEWSMAGAZINE
The Great Divide
FEBRUARY 6, 2009
PAGE 18
VOL. 26 NO. 7
A sad commentary on our community's inability
to reasonably express differing viewpoints
nd then, all hell broke kx>se.
The Just Out Web site, e-mail, the phones, all have been
frenetic with activity following this publication’s Jan. 21 call for
the resignation of Portland’s beleaguered mayor, Sam Adams.
Reaction was immediate, hostile and seemingly non-ending. In
the blink of an eye a “Boycott Just Out" page popped up on Facelxxik. Calls
to advertisers threatening loss of business came soon thereafter. Blog posts
everywhere showed a level of rage and betrayal never seen before in this
community.
I could easily post hundreds of examples of furious messages sent by an
gered readers. The following one does a fine job of summing up the sentiment
of out-for-blood Just Out critics.
Screw Marty Davis and her stupid newsrag!
As far as I am concerned, she and her staff are all personna non grata [sic J in
queer circles from now on. She should he expelled from the GBLTIQ community
for her zealous and instant betrayal of the mayor.
She is a traitor to our cause.
Suffice it to say, more than a few folks were not pleased with the deci
sion to call Adams into accountability. On a positive note, and no doubt a
surprise to many, a nearly equal amount of readers showed support and agree
ment with the decision.
And you know what?
These opinions matter,
too.
The initial outrage
was focused in three ar
eas. First, how dare Just
Out express an opinion.
Secondly, why was it
necessary to do it so
quickly? And finally,
and clearly, “Just Out
does not speak for the
entire community, does
not speak for me, so shut
the fuck up.” Many were
furious that Just Out had
expressed an editorial
opinion.
Demanding that a
paper not express opin
ion is rather like telling
a restaurant not to serve
fixxJ. Expressing opinion is what papers do. Opinion appears throughout.
It’s in btxik and film reviews. It’s in restaurant write-ups. Opinion shouts
from the unique voice of our columnists. Opinion can be as mild as sug
gesting which events we recommend you attend or as brash as calling for
the resignation of an elected official. Newspapers exist to publish fact and
opinion. Sometimes you’ll agree. Sometimes you won’t. If Just Out had issued
no opinion, a different opinion or the very one we did, there would still be
some who disagree.
In the case of the Adams issue, the anti-just Out crowd, though fervent,
hostile and undeniably frequently rude, was matched by an equal number of
people who wrote in support of the position taken by Just Out. And even if
there’d been no call for resignation, everyone would have arrived at their
same thoughts and feelings on their own accord, in their own time.
We could have filled the pages of this issue with nothing but letters and
comments from readers, both for and against us. Had we the space to do so,
1 think .many of you would be aghast at the horrific way members of this
community reacted toward this paper, and toward each other. When not
attacking Just Out, readers turned on anyone and everyone else who dared
express an opposing opinion. Reaction hasn’t been pretty, and it hasn't been
healthy. If you’re not already a visitor to JustOut.com, you can find all the
posts and comments posted there, where they will remain in Web perpetuity.
You will find there a sad and eye-opening commentary on our community’s
inability to reasonably and rationally express differing viewpoints.
Secondly, why was the call for resignation issued so quickly? Why not
wait for all the information to be presented? There are two reasons for this.
One, for the issue at hand, all the facts needed to be known were present.
There was no confusion, and there was no lack of clarity. Also, there was no
need to wait to determine which way the prevailing wind of popularity might
blow. Indeed, it would have been more comfortable to wait and take a safer
direction. It’s always easy to float along with the tide of popular opinion. It’s
also wrong. Journalism is not a popularity contest.
As noted above, the third bone of contention consisted of frustration and
rage concerning the impression that Just Out would be viewed as speaking
for the entire gay and lesbian community. Just Out does not speak for the
community, nor do we speak at the community. We do however, speak to
you. You can listen, or you can chixise not to.'You can agree, or you cannot.
Ample opportunity is provided for the expression of dissenting opinion.
Why dixjs Just Out then often claim to be the voice of the community?
Because we represent the collective voice. Just Out is the venue for your
letters, your opinions, your comments and your events. We tell your stories;
therefore, we are the voice of the community.
Outrage from the call for Adams’ resignation was accompanied by demands
and pleas. “Apologize
and retract the call for
resignation” was heard
over and over.
An apology will not
be forthcoming. There
is nothing to apologize
for. Calling the mayor
into accountability was
a necessary and appro
priate step to take. The
same action would have
been taken were it Sam
Adams or any other lo
cal mayor, commission
er, senator or politician
who found themselves
in a similar situation.
Straight, gay, black,
white, man, woman,
old or young—it doesn’t
matter. We view the
circumstances, not the
sexual orientation. Isn’t that what we demand of the rest of the world? Treat
us for who we are, not for our sexual identity?
In the past two weeks, the saga of Sam Adams has been played out in papers,
televisions, radios and blogs across the nation. There is, at this moment, simply
nothing left to say on the topic of the mayor and his actions. Disagreement
continues to ferment. I wake up in the night shouting, “It’s not about the sex!”
No one listens. The community is divided into combative camps.
As we go forward with this debate, I do need to make it clear that I am
establishing boundaries and guidelines for engaging in civilized conflict with
this publication. Threats of harm to myself, my staff or our facility will simply
not be tolerated. Understand that vandalism, theft and destruction of prop
erty is neither acceptable nor legal. Those who remove or destroy this publi
cation, then boast about it on Facebook, will be held liable for their actions.
Being supportive of Adams is one thing; gross misbehavior is another.
We are left now with a divide to bridge. 1 don’t know who can or will step
up to help with this process. I do know who should.
Sam Adams was our hero, our icon, our great gay hope. Our community’s
personal investment in him clearly exceeded his ability to meet our expecta
tions. Just Out did not topple Sam Adams from his pillar of popularity and
position. Sam Adams did that himself. ©
Just Out does not speak for
the community, nor do we
speak at the community.
We do however, speak to you.
You can listen, or you can
choose not to. You can agree,
or you cannot.
FEATURE
18 WHO'S WITH SAM?
Sam stays. Queer Portland splinters.
Is Adams’ plan derailed?
NEWS
8-15 NORTHWEST
A progressive voice from a divided city;
auction supports people with H1V/AIDS;
Web site connects lesbian moms; marriage
equality coming to Washington?; HIV
awareness raised through art; Q Center
moves March 1; get ready for your
close-up; Amy Winehouse returns
to the desert; equality now or later?;
Ohamicon me; community loses queer
specific counselors; Equity Foundation
marks 20 years of social justice
16-17 NATIONAL
Bishop Robinson’s voice silenced at
inauguration; California’s Prop 8 deemed
invalid by legal scholars; “public health
hero” Martin Delany dies; second
man admits to gay relationship with
evangelical leader Ted Haggard
ARTS 8 CULTURE
34-37 FILM
Queer options at 32nd Portland
International Film Festival; Icelandic
soccer hunks heat up the screen; Doris
Duke TV movie leaves us out in the cold
38 NIGHTLIFE
Play-a-Thon raises money for Children’s
Trust Fund of Oregon Foundation
39 PEOPLE
Cat show judge has his claws out
40-41 BOOKS
Retired dixztor uses poetry to
heal from battle with cancer
COLUMNS
32 CORNER VIEW
Breeding Love in the Bathroom
42 JIM'S CLOSET
The Golden Compass
50 MS. BEHAVIOR
The Morning After