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About Just out. (Portland, OR) 1983-2013 | View Entire Issue (July 3, 2009)
O REGO N S GAY/LE SB IAN/Bl/TRANS NEWSMAGAZINE JULY 3. 2009 Submit /our letters to the editor, commitment announcements, transitions or list /our events online at www.fustout.com. CLICK ON THE READER SUBMISSIONS BUTTON L E T T E R S T O T H E E D IT O R "Please consider this from a voice in what is supposed to be OUR oommunit/“ ...W hen I attended the Pride festival in Portland I was disappointed that the festival committee has learned nothing about dis crimination. I can only imagine that all of the times that we have heard that gays and lesbians could not marry their lover because as George Idiot Bush put it, “B E C A U SE H E IS A G A IN ST IT.” The PDX pride commit tee [had its] own “I am against it” moment and created a policy regarding smoking at the festival. Setting aside for a moment that the festival is outdoors, these self-appointed guardians o f my health have crossed a line.. .so far back behind us the line itself needs to be repainted! I am a member o f this community. What gives these people the right to treat me differently? Before you respond with “If you don’t like it quit smoking,” consider this. “Sam A d a m s is in c h a r g e of th e Portland Bureau of Transportation." How did you feel when you were told that you could marry but you just have to become something you are not in order to do it? ...For a human rights organization to treat one group differently is hypocrisy. Pure and simple.... For members o f a com munity to be deprived the joy o f being proud o f being just the way God made us [is] beyond sad.... In the name o f Rosa [Parks], I am not riding at the back o f the bus. IT SE E M S T O M E T H A T W E HAVE ENO UGH D ISC R IM IN A TIO N TO CO M BA T W IT H O U T G E T T IN G IT FRO M O U R OW N B R O T H E R S A N D SIST E R S. Portland gay pride? SH A M E!! J a im e L a F leur Vancouver ; Washington “Portland Pride 2009“ On Sunday, June 14, 2009, at a special 9:30 am worship service at First Congrega tional United Church o f Christ (FC /U C C ), I shared memories o f Portland’s first Gay Pride celebration in 1978. Two hundred o f us marched up SW Broadway and veered off to the downtown waterfront.... [This year, on] Saturday evening, [June 13] my sister Teresa and I were able to attend the Portland Gay Men’s Chorus (PG M C ) con cert at the beautiful historic Arlene Schnitzer Concert H all.... When P G M C had their first rehearsal in March, 1980 in the sanctuary of Metropolitan Community Church o f Port land (M CCP), I was working in the church office. Twenty-three men were in attendance. Listening to them blessed my soul. In June 1980, P G M C had their first concert with about 200 in attendance. There were only three other choruses in other cities. Today, there are gay men’s choruses in 200 cities worldwide. Portland’s chorus has about 125 members.... P G M C audiences range anywhere from 1,000 to 1,500 people. 65% o f the audience is heterosexual.... Come Sunday, following the 9:30 am service, I took [my visiting friend] Ken and his friend’s daughter for a tour o f downtown TH E B Portland’s beautiful historic First Baptist Church (F B C ).... Later in the afternoon, Susie Shepherd picked me up and we drove to the English 6c M etcalf (E & M ) law firm reunion. In 1980, E & M was Portland’s first openly gay law firm - and I was their first secretary. In 1977, Bill and Ann Shepherd started “Parents o f Gays” in Portand. Today, this has evolved into an international organization called PFLA G (Parents and Friends o f Les bians 6c Gays). Going back to Portland’s first Gay Pride in 1978 - the G L B T community was on the cutting edge of so many wonderful things, too numerous to list here. At M C C P ’s 30th Anniversary in [a] 2006 slide presentation, a photo o f me from 1980 was displayed. I was holding up a sign that said “O U T O F T H E C L O S E T T O STAY.” The word PR ID E means: No longer do G L B T people have to be ashamed o f who they are. As the Gaither Gospel Chorus says: W E A R E FR E E T O LO V E EA CH O T H E R , W E A R E LO VED. S is t e r P aula N ie l se n Portland DHI T R EE “ a healing ]place o Chiropractic Acupuncture N atu ro p ath y M assag e 5 JW “ Athena Zahn, D C Ani McManus, LAc Sharon Griffin, N D Jami Adcock, LM T Becky Morrison, LM T Shanta Prescott, LM T As o f July 1,2009, hourly parking meter rates will jump to $1.50 per hour. Adams himself has stated that he will make an ex emption to having to pay-to-park on Sun day mornings, “...to avoid charging people coming downtown for church.” Adams is in direct conflict with sepa ration o f church and state.... H e’s dis criminating against people who worship at night...or another time and day o f the week that’s not Sunday morning. And Adams is discriminating against those who do not worship. That said, I am not able to marry my boyfriend. In large part this is because o f some... not all...but some very vocal religious or ganizations that actively fight and finance constitutional amendments to keep me... A N D Sam Adams...second-class citizens. Some o f the same religious organizations that Adams [are] now giving a pass to have previously called for his resignation or recall. They have suddenly fallen silent. It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to put 2+2 together. I have long said to my boyfriend that Adams is one o f the shrewdest politicians I’ve seen. I’ve been used. Adams has chosen to partner with some o f the same people who actively fight to deny me full equality. To borrow a term from these people Adams has now “converted” me. He has converted me from a man who has called him on numerous occasions to offer him my support, encouragement, and advice...to a man who will now...with deep regret and sadness...sign the recall petition. P e t e C o lt Portland T R A N S IT IO N S The Board, Titleholders and Members o f the Imperial Sovereign Rose Court o f Oregon are saddened to announce the passing of Rose Empress XVIII Mona Greer. Planning is underway for a memorial in Portland. Details will be posted at www.rosecourt.org as soon as they are finalized, and Just Out will feature a full-length Transition in its July 17 issue. Diversity Matters - In Your Life, In Your Investments Initial consultation with no charge or obligation • • • • • • Comprehensive Financial Planning (Fee Based) Life & Disability & LTC Insurance * Inheritance & Estate Planning WADDELL IRAs, Roth IRAs, Rollovers <&rR EED hnanclal Advisors” Tax & Retirement Planning Inve sti ng. 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