OREGON S GAY/LESBIAN/BI/TRANS NEWSMAGAZINE
NOVEMBER 6 2009 3
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b y Marty Davis
It s November
V O L 27 NO. I
And for me, o month of vibrant and deeply felt memories
or virtually my entire life, this month
has been marked by the memory of
November 22, 1963. For those of
my era, this date is often thought of as the
worst in history. For fans of A M C ’s popular
television series, M ad M en, the assassina
tion of President John F. Kennedy is now
a storyline playing out on the tinny black
8c white television sets in the background'
of the characters’ lives. These people, these
people who don’t even exist, are acting out
the same feelings, pain, shock and numb
ness that 46 years later I remember as
clearly as if it were yesterday. For four days
in November the world stood still.
More recent Novembers bring me to
1992. Oregonians were going to the polls,
real polls—no mail-in ballots in those
days—to vote on the first Ballot Measure
9. This ballot measure, if passed, would
have placed the following wording into
Oregon’s legal system:
All govern m en ts in Oregon may not use
their monies or properties to prom ote, encour
age or fa cilita te homosexuality, pedophilia,
sadism or masochism. All levels o f governm ent,
including public education systems, must assist^
in settin g a standard fo r Oregon's youth which
recognizes that these behaviors are abnormal,
wrong, unnatural a nd p erverse and they are
to be discouraged and avoided.
In 2009 the gay and lesbian community
is fighting for marriage equality. In 1992,
we were fighting to not be declared ab
normal, wrong, unnatural and perverse. If
you think the gay civil rights movement is
moving too slowly, stop and look at your
history.
On the Sunday before Election Day in
1992, thousands upon thousands of gays and
lesbians, with families, allies and support
F
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Portland, OR 97205
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i
f V
ers, filled Portland’s Pioneer Courthouse
Square. It was the largest single gay and
lesbian rally in the state’s history. Nothing
has come close to it in the years, and ballot
measures, since. On the wall at Ju st Out we
have a large framed photo history of that
rally and the effort against Ballot Measure
9. This excellent artistic document, the
work of Linda Carter, is a treasured piece
of our history; I encourage everyone to stop
by our office and look at it.
The November 2004 elections brought
disappointment. Oregonians voted for the
passage of Ballot Measure 36, amending the
Oregon Constitution to define marriage as
a union of one man and one woman. The
initiative passed by a margin of 57 percent
to 43 percent.
November 2008 was a remarkable year
in Oregon, and national politics. Barack
Obama was elected president; Californians
denied the right of marriage to same-sex
couples.
009 will end the year with one less
state offering marriage equality to
her same-sex citizens. November 3
saw the people of Maine voting to deny
marriage equality in their state. The dance
continues—that’s two steps forward; one
step back.
The evening of November 3, 2009, an
other group gathered in Portland’s Pioneer
Courthouse Square to demand equality
and marriage rights for all citizens. Orga
nized by the Portland Equal Rights Co
alition, some 30 stalwarts stood in a circle
and raised their voices in protest.
In 1992 thousands stood in unity in that
same Pioneer Courthouse Square. Where
are the thousands of us in 2009? Today
many say they want equality; today many
demand equality, so many that the question
begs to be asked, “W hat are you willing to
do to obtain this goal of full civil rights and
marriage equality?”
In 1992 we took to the street by the
thousands. In 2009 we write checks and
pay for others to do the work? W ill that get
us where we say we want to be?
How strongly do you feel about mar
riage equality and what are you willing to
do to obtain it? W ill you push your com
fort levels? W ill you speak personally about
yourself to strangers? W ill you speak up?
W ill you take to the streets? Or will you
leave it all for others to handle?
NOVEMBER 6. 2009
IN SID E»
» FEATURE
16
BRIDGING THE GSA GAP
Rural Gay-Straight Alliances Look to GLSEN
Oregon’s Urban Efforts for Support
» NEWS
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10
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NORTHWEST BRIEFS
PERC LOOKS BEYOND OREGON
EQUALITY MARCH. SEEKS BRO
SUPPORT
RECALL UPDATE
BIZ BRIEFS
» ARTS 8 CULTURE
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30
32
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OUT 6 ABOUT
ART: ARNOLD J. KEMP
DUST OFF YOUR TASSELS
PERSONALITY: TIM MILLER
THE ISRAELI EXPERIENCE
» COLUMNISTS
As I’m sharing my memories and
thoughts with you comes word of a tragic
shooting at Fort Hood military base in
Texas. The news reports are full of conflict
ing stories and speculation. Everyone seems
to have an opinion, all while no one has an
iota of factual information upon which to
base these opinions. Was the shooting an
act of terrorism? Did the shooter just snap?
Is it coincidence that he had a Muslim
name? Is it profiling to note that he’d re
cently converted to Islam? These questions,
theories, speculations fill the airwaves this
stormy night.
For a brief moment America will set
aside fears and concerns over same-sex
marriage to focus on this tragic news story.
In America we fear the unknown; it brings
out the worst in us. The Muslims today, the
gays again tomorrow.
Tomorrow.
What will we do about
tomorrow?
Commence
living happily
ever after.
Maloy’s offers a fabulous selection o f antique and estate jewelry
and fine custom jewelry, as well as restoration and repair services.
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LIVING OUT LOUD
THE SASSY GARDENER
LADY ABOUT TOWN
REMEMBER TO BREATHE
MS. BEHAVIOR
» ABOUT OUR COVER
THE WORDING AND PRESENTATION
STYLE OF THIS DEFINITION OF 'FAGGOT'
WERE CREATED BY GLSEN AND THE AD
COUNCIL FOR GLSEN S 'THINK BEFORE
YOU SPEAK' CAMPAIGN. TO LEARN
MORE. VISIT THINKB4YOUSPEAK.COM