OREGON’S LGBTO NEWSMAGAZINE
just out
Confession Time
VOL. 2 8 . NO. 9
How prepared are any of us, for anything, anytime?
I
haven’t been with the program the last
few days, my normal “publisher of a gay
paper” program, that is. My mind hasn’t
been where logic dictates it should be. I
haven’t been at all concerned about the
lack of an executive director at Q_Center.
I’m quite sure that current staff is more
than capable of keeping the place up and
running. I haven’t been to any drag shows
or performances-all of which did just
fine without my camera and me. I think
I’ve gone almost a week without whining
on Facebook about not being able to find
anyone, in a state with a 10 percent unem
ployment rate, to work in sales. I have no
ticed that Basic Rights Oregon has started
running its “Marriage M atters” television
ads and that they are very professional and
sharp. But short of thinking that I’d like
to be the proverbial fly on the wall, if and
when the ads are shown in Harney County,
I can’t say that I’ve paid the attention that
I should.
So where has my mind been? Have I
actually finally found someone to date? Oh
hell no. Am I in a twitter over the prospect
of the rain stopping and the longed for 60
degree temperatures arriving? Nah, not re
ally. Am I spending all my time sitting on
the dock, waiting for my ship to come in?
Well, that’s a given any day and time.
No, what I’ve been doing the last week is
spending all my time thinking about death
and dying. Cheery, huh?
Prior to my new attention-stealing
focus on death, I was obsessed with the
happening-any-day-now earthquake that’s
predicted to destroy the Pacific Northwest
and life as we know it. I t’s not that I’m
worried that I’m going to die in this natu
ral Armageddon— no, I’m more worried
that I’ll survive. One day I might be out
walking my dog, the next living in a world
straight out of M ad Max. Not long ago I
read The Road, a deeply dark post-apoca
lyptic novel by Cormac McCarthy. This
book tends to send people scurrying for
comfort in dark corners, curled in a fetal
position while whimpering in fear. If you’ve
seen the movie, trust me, the book is far
more disturbing. Today, post-earthquake,
the people of Japan appear to be living
and surviving through enormous tragedy
with grace and determination. W hen it’s
our turn, and it will be one of these days,
Americans will likely turn on each other as
soon as the first meal is missed. The Road
truly puts the grim in modern fairy tales.
W hile I was already in an earthquake-
preparedness funk, I received word of the
death of a friend— a young, vibrant friend.
W hich brings me back to the beginning—
I’ve been spending all my time thinking
about death and dying.
We’re told over and over how and what
to prepare for the big earthquake. Are we
told enough, do we listen enough, to know
how to prepare for death?
Sadly I must say that were I to die now,
today, tomorrow, next week, I would leave
a mess behind. I do not have my death-
preparedness kit in order. Do you? Do you
have a will, a current and updated will?
Have you changed partners more fre
quently than you’ve seen your lawyer? In
the bloom of first love did you rush out and
register to become domestic partners—
before even really knowing if you like each
other? Are you aware that these are legal
contracts that have to be resolved, dis
solved? Is your current partner going to be
inconvenienced if you die tomorrow and
your former partner shows up next week to
claim the house?
Are you close to your parents? If you
die without a will, they get your stuff. That
put the fear of God in me years ago—
definitely the catalyst for my first will—a
document now horribly outdated. Basic
Rights Oregon is running television spots
because the current Oregon Constitution
makes it necessary for same-sex couples to
jump through domestic partnership hoops
to obtain rights given freely and legally to
heterosexual couples. We have to do our
paperwork.
Earthquakes, tsunamis, radiation that’s
never going to reach the West Coast and
the far-too-soon death of a friend have
left me grappling with far more questions
than answers. For earthquake preparation
we’re to have flashlights, batteries, a radio
and three days’ supply of food and water.
For death preparation we’re to have a will,
a clean house and all our ducks sitting in
an orderly row. To prepare for the death
of friends— ah, for that one I’m at a loss.
I have no original, brilliant new thought
to offer on the topic of death. Death is a
part of life. It happens, it hurts, we pause
in thought and memory, in love and con
cern— and then we get on with it all?
Q
. Is Just Out going to be having a
■ photo contest again this year?
You bet we are. Some components of the
contest will remain the same. As in prior
years, all winning photos will appear in
our June 17 issue. All submissions will be
on display at Q_Center during the month
of July. All entries must be submitted in
print form. There are no requirements to
size. The deadline for submitting entries is
Tuesday, May 31.
W hat I’m still finalizing are the cat
egories and the possibility of bringing
in sponsors to assist with the prize pool.
I’m thinking that maybe we’ll have one
separate category for photographers ages
19 and under. I’m thinking of all sorts of
new things. On Thursday, April 7 we will
post all the details at justout.com. They
also will appear in the next print issue, out
April 15.
This contest will present opportunities
for everyone. We’re excited to begin.
APRIL 1.2 0 1 1
INSIDE
» FEATURE
16 BALLS OUT!
Portland’s LGBTQjsports clubs eye a busy
season o f competition and community
! 20 GAME CHANGER
GLSEN’s new sports project addresses
homophobia in school sports
» NEWS/EVENTS
5 TRANSITIONS
6 NORTHWEST NEWS IN BRIEF
» COMMUNITY
¡ 12 CAN THEY WE DO IT?
Facing crunch time, BRO must decide whether
to stick to 2012 marriage equality goal
30 HOT! HOT! HOT!
Red Dress 2011 sizzles with more intimate
“Red H ot”party
» ARTS 8 CULTURE
23 OUT & ABOUT
32 A SPRING IN THEIR STEPS
April performances showcase local
choreographers and dancers
34 SHAKE IT
Sissy bounce’s reigning queen brings the beat
36 STILL SCANDALOUS
Portland institution adds spice to local gay
nightlife on its 32nd anniversary
» COLUMNISTS
15 SASSY GARDENER
28 LIVING OUT LOUD
29 UKDY ABOUT TOWN
38 PANDA SAY WHAT
39 REMEMBER TO BREATHE
» PHOTOS
46 HRC’S ‘80s BOWLING
47 PGMC & GAY SKATE
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