OREGON'S LGBTO NEWSMAGAZINE
JULY 1. 2011
3
just out
MATTERS OF RESPECT
V O I. 2 8 .
Out, loud and proud—sometimes too loud...
NO. 15
JULY 1 , 2 0 1 1
INSIDE
ey there, we’ve got a lot to talk about,
so grab a beverage, make yourself
comfy and let’s chat...
First, a goodbye to a staunch friend
and ally o f the LGBTQ_community, Betty
Roberts, who, among her many accom
plishments was the first woman appointed
to the Oregon Supreme Court. Roberts
passed away on June 25 at the age o f 88.
Not to be confused with Gov. Barbara Rob
erts, who is thankfully still with us, Betty
Roberts was one o f the first strong women
in Oregon politics. Roberts was a champion
o f gay rights starting as far back as the early
‘70s. I didn’t ever have the opportunity to
meet her but was always aware and ap
preciative o f the work that she had done.
In 2004 she reentered public life briefly to
officiate at same-sex weddings during the
infamous four days that Multnomah C oun
ty attempted to crash through the barrage
o f barriers that exempt Oregonians from
same-sex marriage. Betty Roberts paved
the way for today’s female leaders such as
Kate Brown and Tina Kotek. For this, and
much more, we thank her.
Kudos to New York for being the sixth
state to vote for marriage equality. This ac
complishment comes on the 42nd anniver
sary o f the Stonewall Riots, an event often
identified as the catalyst for the current gay
civil rights movement. Clearly America is
not yet where many would like her to be,
but let’s still celebrate the victories and
achievements that in 42 years took New
York from riots to weddings.
In the many articles that followed the
news from New York, Oregon was— is—
often mentioned as a state with high po
tential for being among the next to join
the six. On June 29, Basic Rights Oregon
held a community strategy session that
explained concisely and in great detail the
path they are following to determine not
if, but when, action will be taken to place
marriage equality on the ballots o f Oregon
voters. I was very impressed with the depth
H
o f the information presented, and by the
fact it was being shared in such an open
manner. We’ll have a more detailed analysis
of B R O ’s action plan in the July 15 issue.
Parade Etiquette needs some work dur
ing the Portland Pride parade. I think I
mention this every year, but I feel strongly
about this and will likely mention it in
2012, too. Folks, when the color guard, the
men and women in uniform carrying the
flags and leading the parade, approaches
your area, Y O U stand up. Your children
stand up. Everyone who is able stands up.
This action is taken to show respect for
the American flag, for our country and
for our freedoms. Please don’t tell me you
don’t have any freedoms or rights, because
that’s simply not true. We may not have all
we want and should have, but we are still
a nation o f free people. You stand to show
respect for our own L G B T Q service people
who are carrying the flags— including our
beloved rainbow flag— with pride, love and
dignity. Respect the flag. Respect yourself.
C lub Etiquette also came up in recent
discussion. W hat does a bar owner, event
promoter do when guests with differing
agendas clash over sound levels? This is a
conversation that actually ocurred last week,
after the judges at Portland Idol became
hoarse from trying to talk over boisterous
customers who were oblivious or uncaring
that a performance event was going on in
front o f them. Repeated shouts o f “Shut the
fuck up” had no impact whatsoever on the
happy handful who were there to drink and
party with no interest or regard for those
attempting to sing.
So what do you do? The bar owner is
naturally reluctant to offend paying cus
tomers— and laws o f selection indicate that
the loudest are usually those spending the
most. Events such as Portland Idol are in
tended to draw in crowds o f customers. The
joy o f competition is definitely lessened for
performers and friends o f performers when
their chosen songs can’t be heard over the
roar o f the crowd. One idea that comes to
mind is to start the performance portion
o f the evening sooner, before the drinks
go down and the decibels go up. Yelling at
people seems to be largely uncomfortable
and ineffective. Few folks want to be the one
who steps up and says, “Hey, my friend is
singing his heart out here, do you mind?”
Bottom line, I have no answer. Emily
Post never got around to addressing this
situation. The singers want to sing. The
owner wants to sell drinks. The audience
simply wants to be able to hear. The guys
in back, who didn’t come out to be an audi
ence, really don’t care. A little regard, a little
respect for each other would go a long way.
Maybe we need a flag.
P
ortland Pride has come and gone. For
the casual observer it would likely ap
pear to have been a successful event. Credit
is due Pride Northwest for the staging o f
the parade and the festival activities. Port
land Pride is big, it’s growing and by no
means does anyone think it’s an easy task
to accomplish. This year Pride events were
not followed by the slew o f complaints that
we usually hear immediately following the
weekend. This change might be because the
event was so well done; it might be because
many people have given up trying to get
answers to their queries and concerns.
There are, however, known queries and
concerns about Pride Northwest, the non
profit entity that organizes and coordinates
the parade and waterfront festival events.
Just Out is preparing a list o f these questions
and will present them, professionally and re
spectfully, to the board o f Pride Northwest.
We will report our findings, if not in the
July 15 issue, as soon as possible thereafter.
I certainly hope that I don’t have to use this
space to report that the organization failed
to meet with us and provide answers to
the questions that many o f our readers are
asking. I am optimistic for a respectful and
informative interview and dialogue. JOE
»> PORTLAND LATINO
GAY PRIDE
18
MARIPOSA MOMENT
Portland Latino Cay Pride spreads its wings
with waterfront festival
20
ORGANIZATIONAL PRO FILES
Latin Look, SO M O S, Poder Latino
21
LATINOS IN THE COMMUNITY
Enrique Andrade, Vanessa La Torre
» NEWS & COMMUNITY
5
TRANSITIONS
7
LETTERS / NORTHWEST NEWS
IN BRIEF
14
KICK-ASS KARMA
Newport man takes a heating to stop
anti-gay assault
» ARTS & CULTURE
25
OUT & ABOUT
32
OUT, NOT OVER
With Portland Pride 2011 in the books, a look
hack, and ahead
38
NORTH, SOUTH, AND
IN BETWEEN
“Queers Dance About It” for July’s installment
of BENT
»
COLUMNISTS
17
THE SA SSY GARDENER
30
LIVING OUT LOUD
31
PETLANDIA
40
LADY ABOUT TOWN
41
REM EM BER TO BREATHE
ON
THE
COVER
Victor Salinas, a member of the planning com
mittee for Portland Latino Gay Pride, marches in
the 2011 Portland Gay Pride Parade.
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