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About Just out. (Portland, OR) 1983-2013 | View Entire Issue (April 15, 2011)
OREGON S LGBTO NEWSMAGAZINE -----------community •----------- Out In The Open Trans student fears for safety after outing in Clark College paper After being outed in a Clark College stu dent newspaper article, transgender sopho more Charlie W. (who requested that Just Out refrain from publishing his last name) says he fears he may be vulnerable to attack or harass ment and is exploring legal action against The Independent. Though Charlie, 18, says his transgender identity isn’t necessarily a secret, he is con cerned about the implications of having such personal information shared in such a public forum, especially in light of last fall’s neo-Nazi activity on campus. “I know for a fact that the student that was the spokesperson for that [neo-Nazi] group still attends Clark,” Charlie says. “I hate to think about what might happen to me if he put two and two together and I’m more than sure that he would target me.” Charlie was interviewed by sophomore Sean Lindsay, 24, following a recent Queer Penguins and Allies event called “I Now Pro nounce You...” in which students raised aware ness about same-sex marriage by holding mock weddings. Aside from a request to be referred to by male pronouns, Charlie says he did not make any statement about his gender APRIL 15. 2011 13 J ,« b y e r in r o o k identity or personal history. agreed to remove the offending line from the “Most of their response obviously But when the article came out on March 9, online article, but Charlie says he felt his came from a place of not Charlie was described in it as someone who safety concerns were not taken seriously. “was born a woman but identifies with the understanding the threat that this “Most of their response obviously came male gender.” from a place of not understanding the threat caused for me. One of them asked “I don’t generally make it a secret to those that this caused for me. One o f them asked that I talk w ith ,’Charlie explains,“but I’m not me if I had actually received a threat me it I had actually received a threat yet,” out completely to my family—only my mother. yet. They seemed to take a ‘What’s Charlie recalls. “They seemed to take a ‘W h at’s My friends know. I haven’t actually outright done is done and we can’t really do anything done is done and we can’t really do said that I’m trans in the past when talking to about it’approach.” people— I’ve just told people my pronouns anything about it’ approach.” The Independent's editors did not respond to and they drew conclusions based on my ap -CHARLIE W. Just Out's requests for comment. Finken says pearance, voice and other features.” the staff takes Charlie’s concerns seriously but Lindsay made the leap from conclusions he Yet he admits he did not ask Charlie any ques would not say why the Independent staff re drew from Charlie’s presentation to stating as tions about his gender identity or sexual ori fused to pull the print issues. fact information he did not seek to verify— entation during the interview. “In this instance, we are reaching out to fac something he said he now regrets. Once a string of “heavily worded” emails ulty, staff and students— including members of “After the interview I became unsure as to from Queer Penguins members made it clear the Queer Penguin club— to gain a greater un whether it would be honest journalism to use that Lindsay’s wording was problematic, he sat derstanding of the issues that have been raised,” male pronouns despite [Charlie] physically ap down with Charlie, Q P representative Alexa Finken says. “We take their concerns seriously. pearing to be female,” Lindsay explains. “Be Peterson-Burg, Independent faculty adviser Dee We believe this is a learning opportunity— in cause o f my uncertainty I spoke with editors on Anne Finken, Independent editor-in-chief Katie our newsroom and beyond.” the issue and came up with the sentence that Unverzagt, Independent executive editor Lisa Lindsay says he hopes The Independent will was put in the print edition of the newspaper.” Higuchi and multicultural retention manager come up with a policy to address these issues Lindsay says he thought that, given the na Felisciana Peralta to discuss the situation. in the future. J#] ture of the event, Charlie’s membership in the Lindsay says he “sincerely apologized” for LG BT community was relevant to the story. the mistake and that the Independent staff' Just O ut willfollow this story as it develops. D o n 't G am b le W ith Your R ig h ts • Free C onsultation • No O bligation • No Fee, No Recovery GIBBS 1/lcVEA A Personal Injury & Criminal Defense Firm Call Us Now 503.223.1708 Josh Gibbs The Broadway Plaza • 2121 SW Broadway, Suite 130 Visit our website for m ore in fo rm a tio n Dan K. Johnson Robert Kennedy Ryan J. Wayman Pride Financial Partners understands and empathizes with frustrating issues facing our communities, individuals, partnerships, families and organizations. Most importantly, we understand the essential products and services that can help to protect you and your loved ones, including your finances, your estates and your futures. office 503.828.9447 fax 503.512.5150 5285 Meadows Road, Suite 101, Lake Oswego, OR 97035 www.pridefinancialpartners.com info@pridefinancialpartners.com Registered Representative and Investment Advisor Representative o f a Securities and Investment Advisory Services offered through Woodbury Financial Services, Inc. Member FINRA, SIPC and Registered Investment Advisor. PO Box 64284 St. Paul MN 55164, (800) 800-2638. Pride Financial Partners and Woodbury Financial Services, Inc. are unaffiliatcd entities. John McVea Member: Oregon Bar, OTLA, OCOLA, MBA >■' w w w .w w w .gibb sm cv^a.com HOLLYW OOD ANTIQUES P O R T L A N D 'S PREMIERE A N T IQ U E M A LL est. 1983 hollyw oodantiquem all.com 1969 NE 42 Ave. Portland, OR 9 7 2 1 3 503 . 288.1051
