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About Just out. (Portland, OR) 1983-2013 | View Entire Issue (May 20, 2011)
j«e_2o feature:QDoc- MAY 20, 2011 o r s ► a — V J f . t m i W W W .JUSTOUT.CO M UJ S Káá^ s ' . T E mushroomed into major marches. For those o f the description. Sunday’s program includes a youth show us who were dispirited after the 2008 vote, case (2 p.m.), from which only Put This on the A b o v e : A still from P assionate P olitics: The Life a n d W ork o f C harlotte B unch L e ft: G enesis P -O rridge in The B allad o f G enesis a n d Lady Jaye this film offers a welcome tonic. Map (U SA ) was screened. The longest o f the Wrapping up the fest is Becoming Chaz (7 featured shorts at 32 minutes, this doc has the p.m., U SA , 88 min.), directed by the noted glitzy look o f a public service announcement, queer filmmaking team o f Fenton Bailey and but the sentiments expressed are far from the Randy Barbato, who gave us The Eyes o f Tammy slickness or superficiality that implies. Twen Faye. Profiling an “associational celeb” like ty-six interviewees give a sharp group portrait Chaz Bono, offspring o f Sonny and Cher, o f where young queer people are today in would seem to pose challenges. How to avoid terms o f gender issues, and it’s a fascinating turning it into just another superficial reality study. W hile some o f the stories echo the dif T V show? Fortunately, Bailey and Barbato ficulties o f gay youth in past decades— bullying delve deeply enough into the personalities o f peers, unsupportive parents— it’s encouraging Chaz and his girlfriend, Jenny, to keep the to see how articulate and unafraid many o f viewer engaged. The film follows Chaz, born these kids are in deciding who they want to Chastity, through the process o f gender reas be, how they want to live and even what they signment, recording all the twists and turns. want to be called: “Very gay,”“an ally,”“dating One o f the most interesting twists is some an F T M ,” “not straight, gay, bi, anything.” thing rarely discussed in these stories: the ef Even looser labels don’t always capture it; one fect on the partner o f the loss o f the person teen calls him self “slightly gender queer,” but she was originally attracted to. another says, “I ’m gender queer, but that in Chaz, says Jenny, was sweeter when she was Roosevelt Award for Human Rights from itself is limiting.” Androgynous Nick both a woman, which shows dramatically in scenes President Clinton. But there’s much more to sums up his personal situation and presents a where it’s clear the testosterone has ratcheted her, as this fine documentary shows. Bunch’s template worth reaching for: “Gender doesn’t up the less savory sides o f Chaz’s new male story parallels the emergence o f progressive matter. You look at the person.’’This is a must- personality. During some tense dinner prepa politics with the civil rights movement, the see for anyone interested in how contempo ration, Chaz hurls sexist insults at Jenny, Vietnam War protests, and women’s and gay rary youth are thinking. something hard to reconcile with Chaz’s pre liberation. The doc shows her evolution, start Continuing with the fest’s political action vious incarnation. But the film doesn’t shy ing life as the daughter o f left-wing parents, thread, Charlie G age’s Inspired: Voices Against away from such moments, and gains from this getting married, protesting racism in the Prop 8 (4:30 p.m., U SA , 92 min.) looks at the honesty. As with the other subjects in the fest, South, then awakening to her own lesbian silver lining in the 2008 Prop 8 vote, in which Chaz emerges an unlikely but ultimately cred identity when she met famed author Rita Mae big bucks from the Catholic and Mormon ible hero as he transitions in more than one Brown. Bunch’s driving need to do the “good churches combined with the gay community’s way: becoming a man and a trans advocate at works” she learned about in childhood takes complacency to allow California voters to take the same time. Making the personal political his way through his history as a thorn in the her to the far corners o f the globe, from a away queer marriage rights. Moving briskly is one o f the themes o f this effective docu side o f convention. A number o f commenta Lima, Peru safe house for abused women to through these problems, the documentary ex mentary, and could serve as a fitting mantra tors flesh out this portrait, including Gus Van South Africa to fight for a family whose les amines how the event galvanized individuals, for another excellent edition o f Q D oc. Sant and John Waters. M ost amusing is film bian daughter was stoned to death to the some of whom had never been activists, to maker Harmony Korine, who captures some United Nations to persuade them to incorpo create coalitions and mount protests across QDoc runs Ju n e 2 -5 at Clinton Street Theater, thing of La Bruce when he says, “His movies rate women’s rights as human rights. Bunch’s the state. Some o f the dicier issues are explored 2522 SE Clinton St. Festival passes are $75 and look and feel a lot like his personality. There's charming personality and clear thinking on in depth, including the problem o f the “east- include admission to all screenings an d the opening a lot o f penises in them, and they’re very kind how to translate theory into action appears to west” divide that has historically kept white, night party. General admission tickets are $9, $7 o f grungy.” reach everyone she touches, including women monied gay interests from joining forces with f o r seniors 62+ and students with I.D. Admission Sunday opens on a more sober note with o f color who are initially skeptical, asking, the less affluent, non-white queer communi to the Opening Night Film and Party is $25 ($20 Passionate Politics: The Life and Work o f Char “W h o is this white woman?” She laughs when lotte Bunch, produced and directed by Tami told she seems “tireless” in her advocacy ef ties in East and South Los Angeles. M ost f o r party only, pending availability). Free seats heartening are the personal stories o f individ are available to youth ages 23 an d under by em ail Gold (noon, June 5, USA, 57 min.) Bunch is forts, but the energy she pours into getting uals who watched in awe as their phone calls perhaps best known for receiving the Eleanor results does indeed seem to have earned her asking a few friends to gather to protest f o r a complete schedule an d more information. ing qdocyouth@gmail.com. Visit queerdocfest.org V PROVIDING SOCIAL WORK AND NURSING MEDICAL CASE MANAGEMENTTO PEOPLE LIVING WITH HIV/AIDS SINCE 1995 P A R T N E R S H IP PROJECT HIV Alm H V V A M KM« I S M M I l<m Serving 1200 individuals a year in the Portland 4 county area. Working to keep you insured, in medical care and in contact with the services you need! 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