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About Just out. (Portland, OR) 1983-2013 | View Entire Issue (July 3, 2009)
OREGON S GAY/LE S BIAN/B l/T RAN S NEWSMAGAZINE JULY 3. 2009 [just o u t V O L 26 NO. 17 Never-Ending Story any Portland voters likely thought, or hoped, that the trials and tribu lations o f Portland Mayor Sam Adams ended with the release o f the Oregon State Attorney General’s report. This report, five months in the making, was issued on June 22. With it came AG John Kroger’s conclusion that there was not sufficient cred ible evidence to justify criminal prosecution o f Mayor Sam Adams. At last the story ends. Adams issues a final apology, his supporters celebrate. Re lieved citizens reunite with goodwill towards all. The City That Works returns to work, and Portland enjoys a warm yet cooler than normal summer. There is dancing in the streets, extending the length of the popular carless-sustainable-nude-bike-riding Cesar Chavez Blvd. Yeah, no. Not quite folks. This unfortunate story is far from over. Adams still faces a recall movement. Port land is guaranteed a minimum o f 90 more days o f summer angst, starting July 8, the first day o f signature gathering. And, to further keep Adam’s heels to the fire, Oregon’s most famous former legislative intern, Beau Breedlove appeared on a Port land T V news program on July 1 proclaim ing with ire and irritation that Adams has been lying about details o f their relationship from the get-go. Breedlove’s own credibility was challenged in the A G ’s report; the next few days will tell if this latest public exercise in verbal nudity will result in further dam age to Adam’s standing in the community. Complete details o f the recall can be found on page 14 o f this issue. As stated above, Adams &c Co. are truly becoming the Never-Ending Story. I now fantasize that soon, very soon, Ashton Kutcher pops up on the steps o f City Hall proclaiming joyfully “Portland, you’ve been punked.” We’ll all have a good laugh and then turn on him with sharp objects. The A G ’s report brought a renewed surge o f Adams-related questions and comments M W orks my way. Mayoral supporters who took the report to mean that the matter was over took to their favored method o f communication; anonymous and generally unpleasant blog post comments. To those who chose more intelligent forms of discourse I thank you. I am learn ing from you. I do listen. Earlier this week a great conversation with a local gay leader brought forth his theory that it’s natural and normal for the gay community to rally to the defense of Adams. It is, after all, what a com munity does; protects their own when under attack. That part yes, I can see value and logic in that. But is Adams under unprovoked at tack or under intense scrutiny due to his own actions? Should community reaction be the same for both situations? We have all spent the last five months listening, challenging, arguing and debating Sam Adams. We have cried,organized,fought, lost trust, and by most accounts, grown weary and tired. It’s summer, it’s hot, people want to move on. Sadly, we’re not there yet. Reiterating five months o f arguments for and against Adams is not necessary at this point. There are few people left standing in the undecided column. You know what you feel; you know what you believe. In light o f the A G ’s report there are a couple o f still unanswered questions that have been asked o f me. M ost often I have been asked if I regret, recant or apologize for the January call for the resignation o f Port land Mayor Sam Adams. The answer is no. Will there be any more calls from Just Out for the mayor’s resignation? The answer is no. At this point asking for the mayor’s res ignation is pointless. Resolution now lies in the hands, the signatures, o f Portland voters. 50,000 signatures are needed, not to recall the mayor, but to bring the issue to the ballot And finally, to those who ask if I will sign the recall petition, I say this. Folks, have we learned nothing these last few months? My Come explore our showroom I j Experience sleek, JULY 3. 2009 answer to this question is simply, “Voting is a personal and private matter; I have no need or obligation to discuss this with you.” Thanks for asking. hile the Adams situation has caused painful rifts in our com munity, we have not lost our abil ity to come together to support friends in need. Such as been the case with activities surrounding the “Find Veronica” movement, the very sad case o f a stolen dog. W W h e th e r you w ere lo o k in g to g e t /o u r P ride or /o u r frie d on. you c o u ld fin d p le n t/ o f b o th a t P o rtla n d s festiva l in June FEATURE » IÒ PORTLAND PRIDE RECAP F eed b ack fro m com m u n ity leaders and * particip an ts, an d lots o f ph otos! NEWS » 5 LETTERS, TRANSITIONS 7 I2 NORTHWEST BRIEFS JUST OUT EXCLUSIVE: Police respo n d to in ciden t at C a se y ’s B lo w Pony dan ce n igh t d u rin g Pride I4- ARTS 8 CULTURE » Veronica is a Miniature Yorkshire Terrier who lives and works with her family at The Funny Bone, in downtown Portland. Owner Gary Hopping sadly describes his missing pet as “an icon to downtown business and merchants.” Veronica was discovered miss ing on Thursday June 11, about 5 p.m. In the time since, friends, neighbors, shop owners and strangers have come together to search, rally, blog, post fliers and provide support for Veronica’s distraught owners. Veronica is a small dog lost in a big scary world. 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