O REG O N ’S LESBIAN/GAY/BI/TRANS/QUEER NEWSMAGAZINE___________________________________________________.______________________________________________________________________________________________
APRIL 16. 2010
7
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
>' L E T T E R S c o n t in u e d from p a g e 5
team resigned within a month. This should be
a testament to our support of that working
environment.
Let it be clear that resigning from my sea­
sonal contract and accepting a position with
Unity Portland have no affiliation.
Portland Unity Pages employs a local
(year-round Portland local), professional
and intelligent full-time staff. Recent Las
Vegas migrants include Glory Lawrence
and Shaundelle Newsome (formerly known
as Taylor). Our Unity Team practices sus­
tainability, including a Portland-based staff,
supporting an Oregon-based paper mill and
printer, giving back to Portland nonprofits
and waste-free distribution practices.
My decision to accept a full-time position
with Unity Pages was based on the factors of:
a) participating in the creation an amazing
resource for the Portland Metro referencing
businesses who welcome diverse business,
inc. the GLBT community; b) a generous
offer working with a team that I trust and
have confidence building an amazing new
resource; c) working with a team (and for a
Publisher) who is dedicated to giving back
to the Pordand community. I now have a
full-time position, including health benefits,
which was never an opportunity as a seasonal
GLYP Independent Contractor. Unity Pages
is a proud sponsor of: Pride NW, Latino Pride,
Pordand’s Gay Film Festival, Portland’s Gay
Mens Chorus, Rose City Rollers, Portland
Music Festival, Special Olympics and upcom­
ing events benefiting the Oregon Humane
Society, Susan Komen Foundation and many
other local organizations. Giving back to our
local community and promoting our direc­
tory while supporting Portland organizations
is a platform that I hugely support.
5. Unity Pages has received tremendous
support from our new advertisers, with huge
praise in our efforts to launch our new Web­
site and print directory. These sponsors and
advertisers can clearly bf referenced on our
Web site, PortlandUnity.com. We are grate­
ful for this support, and confident that the
results as resource guide (as well as successful
advertising for our sponsors) will be second
to none. I will encourage letters to you from
the hundreds of new supporters that we have
received.
6. Laura Fitzpatrick, owner of Oh Baby
Lingerie, DID NOT ask for cancellation or
refund of her Unity Pages ad. As a longtime
supporter of Oh Baby, and years of working
together on many advertising and marketing
projects, I am genuinely grateful for Laura’s
support. Unity Pages advertisers have given
verbal and written confirmation/support of
their relationship with the directory via mul­
tiple signatures on our contracts, checks paid
to Unity Portland, acceptance of our Unity
Pages media kits, submission of art to Unity
Pages and conversations with our clearly
stated Unity staff.
A FRIEND IN NEED
I encourage readers, and all community
members, to reference the difference in our
company Web sites. We are proud of the re­
cent launch ofPortlandUnity.com.
Thank you, Marty, for publicly correct­
ing the above details in the current issue of
Just Out.
Best,
Maria Perry-Crawshaw
Unity Portland Pages
Just Out responds:
It was our mistake to reference Perry-
Crawshaw’s work as an account representa­
tive with Saint Nolan’s Publishing and Scott
Montes as being facilitated through her
agency, Perry Star Media. However, though
the article used the terminology “worked for”
(vs. “worked with”), it did state that Perry-
Crawshaw is an independent contractor.
During the initial interview for the story,
Perry-Crawshaw made reference to LaVoie’s
being a “gay man” (with an audible emphasis
on the word “gay”) as one of the reasons she
was attracted to a position with Unity Pages
Portland. Additionally, Perry-Crawshaw
made reference to Montes’ sexuality when
discussing why he was considering scaling
back his interest as publisher ofvGLYP—a
quote that was also used in.the article. Perry-
Crawshaw’s marriage was referenced equally
and within context of her referencing others’
sexual orientations as a barometer for her
employment decisions.
Perry-Crawshaw provided Just Out the
quote, verbatim, that Scott Montes “offered
myself and William to sign a credit so we
could be half-owners of the GLYP,” concern­
ing Montes’ offer to herself and William
Smith. She provided JO with an email from
Montes to her, stating that he wanted to offer
Perry-Crawshaw “full control” of GLYP.
Perry-Crawshaw’s statement, “Let it be
clear that resigning from my seasonal contract
and accepting a position with Unity Portland
have no affiliation” appears to be in conflict
with her previous statement, “My decision
to decline Scott’s offer to be the new Pub­
lisher (and resign) from PGLYP was based
on the factors of: a) better opportunity....”To
reiterate the facts of the story, LaVoie offered
Perry-Crawshaw a job in December. Montes’
email to her was drafted on January 15.
Additionally, Montes’ email said that he
did not offer the position to Smith at all
because of his leaving his contractual status
with GLYP and starting his employment
with UPP.
As of press time for the April 2 story,
Laura Fitzpatrick confirmed to JO that her
quotes and perceptions of what transpired
with Perry-Crawshaw were accurate, and that
she would indeed be calling Perry-Crawshaw
to cancel her ad and request a refund.
Just Out stands by our story.
B R IG G S& R ILEY
T R A V E L W A R E
IT'S A JUNGLE
OUT THERE
NINA LIPPINCOTT
April 25, 2010
Tim«:
4:00 PM— 7:00 PM
Being held a t :
a : Slaughters *
219 NW Davis
(Between 2nd and 3rd)
503-248-9135
Hosted by: “Poison Waters”
Contact person:
Mark Sykes
Please join us at CC Slaughters for a Fund­
raiser (Silent Auction and Raffle Items) to
help our “DEAR” friend Nina as she battles
through the stages o f Breast Cancer. All the
proceeds from this fundraiser will go di­
rectly to Nina to help her with living and
medical expenses. As she has been there for
many o f us I hope that many o f you will
come out and support her.
Arm your graduate with
a lightweight, tech-ready
busines case.
Guaranteed for life.
Simple as that®.
503 - 806-1640
’ SAVE
Email:
sykessenn@comcast.net
Donations:
An Account has been
established at your local Albina
Community Bank under Nina
Lippincott and deposits can be
made at any branch. If you wish
to mail your donation, please
send it to:
Albina Community Bank
St. Johns Office
8040 N Lombard
Portland. OR 97203
P O R T L A N D
LUGGAGE
20
%
WITH THIS AD
Expires 4/30/2010. Void with pther
promotions. Some exceptions. Excludes
Tumi and Briggs & Riley Products.
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