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About Just out. (Portland, OR) 1983-2013 | View Entire Issue (March 4, 2011)
OREGON S LGBTQ NEWSMAGAZINE MARCH 4,2011 Q & GAY Q: W hat’s up with Pride Northwest this year? O n March 2, 2011, the U.S. Supreme Court taught us all a lesson— a lesson in tolerance. On this date the court threw out a lawsuit against Fred Phelps and the Westboro Baptist Church, effectively stating that the First Amendment to the Constitu tion provides free speech protections for Phelps and his followers, even in their most dastardly moments, picketing and protest ing at military funerals with the venomous anti-gay bent that they bring to all they do and believe. No one wants to see or hear from Phelps. He and his folk are a waste o f time and en ergy on all counts. But as despicable as their message, the fact remains that they have a right to their beliefs and behaviors. Like it or not, they must be tolerated. That’s why I don’t like the concept o f tolerance. I cringe when it’s applied to the LGBTQ _com m u nity. I don’t want to be tolerated. I want to be respected and treated as an equal for who I am and what I do. I want no special rights, I want no special treatment and I surely have no interest in court-mandated tolerance. People tolerate that for which they have no other choice. Tolerance should never be a goal o f the infamous gay agenda. We are far better than that. We deserve far more. As for Phelps, these people will perpetu ate as long as they are given that upon which they thrive— attention and media spotlight. I firmly believe that they’ll stop picketing schools and funerals the day after no one shows up to watch and goad them on. They exist solely for our attention. They bask in the flash o f our cameras; they mock our signs. They feed off our pain and anger. They thrive in our intolerance. Deprived o f this attention, they will sputter and they will fail. We, col lectively, have the power to control the West boro Baptist Church. Why don’t we? oving on, this seems like a good time to answer a few o f the more frequently asked questions I receive. Am I interviewing myself? Perhaps. M Q : W ill Just O ut ever bring back the personal ads to the website? I don’t want to say that this is a 100 percent “no,” so let’s go with 97 percent. I do not see this happening. The free personal ads were fun and well received. Unfortunately, they were also a very high-maintenance project. At their peak there were several hundred people using the site and unfortunately on nearly any given day several hundred folks lost their password, became confused with directions and sent endless emails beseech ing help. Sadly, I couldn’t then, and certainly can’t now, afford to hire anyone to provide all that assistance. While my ego loves the no tion o f running a vast empire meeting all the needs o f the LGBTQ_community, the truth is that our time and resources are best served staying focused on the print and electronic versions o f the newsmagazine. Q : Is Gay Skate night an all-ages event? Just O ut presents Gay Skate night on the HBF just out answers to this question: 1.) “It’s at the print ers,” or 2.) “When the inventory o f the first book is gone.” Last we heard the Unity Port land Pages were still locked in battle with the Portland Gay and Lesbian Yellow Pages, with a possible court mediation/settlement date set for mid-March. Answers to a few of your pressing questions 3 VOL. 28. NO. 7 MARCH 4. 2011 INSIDE | » FEATURE Really good question— let me know if you hear anything. This topic follows a clear pattern. Pride Northwest conducts annual Pride events in Portland in June. Immediately following these events, loud cries o f outrage and anger, followed by calls for resignation and demands for new blood arise from the angry mobs— or at least a few pissed off people on Facebook. These frustrations seethe and simmer for a few days, maybe a couple o f weeks. The Pride Northwest board goes about their business; nothing ever happens, no one new ever really steps up to take a leadership role. Now the same people are planning Pride 2011 and I’m pretty sure the pattern will continue. I can tell you that for the fifth consecutive year Just O ut was not invited to participate in the bidding process for the Pride Guide pro duced by Pride Northwest. I’ve been given reason to think that the job went to another o f Portland’s alternative weekly newspapers, but not the one that had it a couple o f years back. This time it looks like it’s the other one, the one that laid off its lone queer-specific writer several years ago and has had little or no interest or focus on our community since. But hey, why go there? It is what it is. 18 WORKING IT OUT LG BTQ businesses find their niches— and connect communities Featuring: Victory Garden Farms, Local Lounge, Record Room, Juniper Java, Renner’s and South Sellwood design businesses. » NEWS/EVENTS 5 LETTERS & TRANSITIONS 8 NORTHWEST NEWS IN BRIEF » COMMUNITY 17 OLD-TIMER RELIGION Young sexual minorities disillusioned with even gay-affirming churches » ARTS & CULTURE 16 PAINT BY NUMBERS Artist examines gender norms in striking new video project third Monday o f each month at the Oaks Park roller skate rink. There is much to love about Gay Skate, especially when Beki plays A B B A and Michael Jackson. The family-friendly all-ages venue works sur prisingly well. There are moms and moms and dads and dads with their children in Q: Does Just O ut have a Facebook page? tow. I’ve seen kids in the tiniest, cutest little roller skates on the planet. I’ve seen some, Does Just Out have a Facebook page? well, older kids in the tiniest little shorts Hello, 2011, yes! Find us, like us, no Love Us, I’ve ever seen, too. We’ve got a regular please. We have deep, meaningful conversa crowd o f “H ot G uys,” many o f whom are tions and give away stuff there. We’re kinda out-skated by the um, let’s say more ma easy to find, we’re Just Out. ture skaters. Some folks come to exercise, some to dance, others to see and be seen. It And finally, the most asked question o f all: works. It doesn’t sound like it should, but it does. From toddlers and teens to gray-hairs Q: When are you going to write about me? and no-hairs, they come to skate and laugh. You should come too. Soon— very, very soon. I promise. You’re very, very close to almost being next. Q : When are the Unity Portland Pages put ting out their second directory? Ah, sorry, no more questions, that’s all the I get asked this so often you’d think it time we have for today. was my publication. There seem to be two See you Out &. About soon. 23 OUT & ABOUT 28 CAMPING OUT Mommie Dearest and Silence of the Lambs get the drag treatment 30 PERPETUAL MOTION Dance multi-hyphenate Meshi Chavez explores relationships with new work 32 DANCING THROUGH HISTORY At 50, Alvin Ailey’s “Revelations” still relevant 36 BEADS, BEATS AND MORE Mattachine Social throws an alt-Mardi Gras party at Crush » COLUMNISTS 27 LIVING OUT LOUD 34 LADY ABOUT TOWN 37 PANDA SAY WHAT?! 38 FROM HALF A LIFE TO WHOLE 39 REMEMBER TO BREATHE ► Bernard Gasch, MD Beata Rydzik, MD U R ELH U R ST COSMETIC DERMATOLOGY cutting edge treatments for skin, hair & nail problems Board Certified in Dermatology Erik Zenger, PA-C ENT IST RY Call for a Complimentary Consultation GENERAL 6 C O S M E T IC DENTISTRY Offering the latest in advanced dental technoloy: + Low radiation digital x-rays + Porcelain veneers and crowns + Cerec single-appointment porcelain crowns * Invisalign 2520 EAST BUFNSIDE PORTLAND. OR 97214 PH (503) 2 3 3 -3 6 2 2 . 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