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About Just out. (Portland, OR) 1983-2013 | View Entire Issue (July 15, 2011)
Ä L J 2 — community’ JULY 15, 2011 W W W .J U S T O U T . C O M Age Ain’t Nothin’ But a Number Old Lesbians Organizing for Change gather for first Pacific Northwest Regional conference BY RYAN J. PRADO Portland 503 . 227.1212 roadway vancouver 5 0 3 . 2 5 7 .0 4 8 8 www.mobilewestpdx.com 1 * 3 ^ - - 1 tí j 70.X C* Mobile West takes PRIDE in your car stereo. Whether you’ve noticed it or not, ageism the Portland chapter. Now, for the first time is everywhere. Chances are if you’re unaware, in O LOC’s history, the Pacific Northwest— you might be a part of the problem. Here’s a specifically, Tacoma, Wash.—plays host to quick test: Did you chuckle when Betty the organization’s regional conference, White and Abe Vigoda were famously tack which as co-founder Brindley sees it should led during a pickup football game in the help boost the group’s visibility, and rally Super Bowl XLV Snickers commercial? support for their important mission. Mary Beth Brindley didn’t, and odds are the “An awful lot of old people, period—not entirety of the national organization Old just old lesbians—do not stick up for them Lesbians Organizing for Change (OLOC) selves,” says Brindley, 71. “We absolutely felt the same way. On their watch, ageism must do that, be it on the bus, at the doctor’s has nowhere to hide. office, anywhere. Any instance where people “lh a t was so belittling are belittling, downplay to knock those two mar “I would have never con ing old people, ignoring velous and, yes, famous, us, we have got to stand sidered myself an activist people to the ground in up for ourselves.” until I came to Portland. I the mud in order to adver Portland’s OLOC tise a candy bar,” says was too busy hiding in the chapter has about 20 Brindley, the chair of members total, with closet to try to protect my Portland’s chapter of about 11 who actively sanity and my existence. It OLOC. “I got on the In support the group’s ef ternet and told them what brought out the best in me.” forts. The 2011 Regional I thought about that. Our July -M A R Y B E TH B R IN D LEY Gathering—held nation must really enjoy 28-31—is a partnership seeing seniors pushed in the mud.” venture between Portland’s chapter and the For the past 20 years, that sense of pro Puget Sound chapter. During the three-day tecting and encouraging senior citizens to conference, various panels and workshops stand up against discrimination has fueled tackle the themes of community, visibility OLOC, and provided the benchmark for and action, with a keynote address by award combating ageism not just in the LGBT winning author and historian Lillian Fader- community, but with seniors across the man. Keeping the community abreast of board. In 1990, a group of old lesbians in discriminatory issues facing old people has Santa Barbara, Calif, became fed up with been at the center of Brindley’s focus since the stigma, and sparked the first inklings of she moved to Portland from Fort Worth, what became OLOC. In 1999, six Portland Texas 15 years ago. Jesbians said the same thing and established “I was closeted for almost 40 years, so I 4 bJO M H H I f lH H W M H M M i Join Rose Emperor Chad & Rose Empress Tsunami for MONARCH!" WEEK Thursday, July 14th Meet-and-Greet Silverado Bar 318 SW Third 7pm - 10pm Free 0 Sunday, July 17th Monday, July 18th A Medieval Feast Overlook Park N. Freemont & Interstate 3pm - 6pm $10 all you can eat Burger Night at Starkys 2913 SE Stark St 7pm - 10pm no host visit the ISRC online at www.RoseCourt.org + the ISRC is a 501c3 non-profit W ÊÊÊÊm m ÊÊm
