OREGON'S LGBTO NEWSMAGAZINE
OCTOBER 7.2011
It’s Anything But A Slow News Day
just out
VOL. 28. NO. 21
If only the news were better...
3
OCTOBER 7. 2011
INSIDE
I
’m late, I’m behind, I am procrastinating—
again. I’m writing this column on the morn
ing of production—writing and thinking, as
an unsettling cloud of dreary news-overload
weighs heavily on my mind. I am uncertain
of my ability to organize my thoughts into a
semblance of a coherent column.
The news has been
sad and puzzling—and
tragic the last few days.
While I normally have
a pissy and rude attitude
to those people who too
often proudly announce
that they don’t read or
watch the news, yes
terday made me almost
envy them. From trying
to understand and grasp
the complexity of the politics of the Occupy
Movement, the expected-yet-untimely death
of Steve Jobs to the freedom of Amanda
Knox—combined with the deep sadness over
the local murder of Cody Myers—yesterday
seemed like a better day for Seinfeld reruns
than news updates.
I was surprised at the attention Steve Jobs
received as news of his death spread. The at
tention on Facebook was daylong—and for
the most part thoughtful and respectful. It
was good to see a business leader admired
for his innovation and success. Like ev
eryone else I know, I never met Steve Jobs.
But his life, his work, his success impacted
virtually everyone. In a day and age where
icons and leaders are most often rock stars
or Kardashians, it is heartening to see a
person of solid foundation receive accolades
for his life’s achievements. I think everyone
needs leaders and role models to admire and
emulate—and Steve Jobs seems to have been
this person. I know that I, as a manager and
a business owner, would certainly like to be
thought of as more like Steve Jobs and less
like Steve Care 11.
Just as I never knew Steve Jobs, I also
have no more knowledge than anyone else
about the reality of the Amanda Knox story.
Since the young woman is now on the cusp financial turmoil, attention must be paid. We
of making a gazillion bajillion dollars for must be prudent in asking people to join in
her her experiences, I sincerely hope that fighting our battle, as allies and friends, for
the story told is proven to be truthful. That we all shoulder many burdens of our own.
said, in the far back of my mind there’s this
tiny little nagging vision of Amanda Knox
n a different note, I’ve taken a new
and Casey Anthony touring America as
route in increasing distribution for
Roxy and Velma in the Just Out, while staving off the high costs
newest revival of Chicago. of fighting—and losing—the constant
Please, no.
problems of vandalism and theft that come
with a network of outdoor boxes. Effective
his issue of Just with this issue, I’ve set up a pilot program of
Out comes out on availability in a select group of Fred Meyer
October 7, the same locations. The stores that will carry Just Out,
day as Basic Rights O r in the racks usually found in the grocery
egon’s annual fundrais entrance, except Stadium (where it’s at the
ing gala, this year titled bottom of the escalators), are:
“Ignite!” Usually my
thoughts toward this, and • Beaverton-Hillsdale:
similar events, are focused on taking pictures
(1) 11425 SW Beaverton-Hillsdale
and comfortable shoes. This year I’m kinda
(2) 700 SW Beaverton-Hillsdale
wondering if BRO will time the two-tier • Stadium: 100 NW 20th Place
event with an announcement of their plans
• Glisan: 6615 NE Glisan
to pursue, or not pursue, a marriage equality
ballot measure in 2012. As LGBTQ_activists, • Interstate: Interstate and Lombard
• N. Portland: 6850 N. Lombard
friends and supporters gather in the Portland
Art Museum, somewhere on the city streets • Hollywood: 3030 NE Weidler
there might still be a gathering of the Occu • Hawthorne: 3805 SE Hawthorne
py Portland crowds, scheduled to take to the
streets on October 6. Will Occupy Portland
If these locations prove successfi.il, I have
be a one-day happening, or could the energy the option of adding more stores.
carry over into a longer occupation like the
original happening in New York City, now
s often happens, let’s close with a word
several weeks old and growing in size and
about the next Gay Skate, as this is one
momentum daily? Does Occupy Portland, of my favorite monthly events. Our next
and the overall national movement built on event is on Monday, October 17 and it’s our
distrust and frustration, signal weeks and annual Halloween Kick-off' Costume Party
months of contentious and turbulent unrest night. This is your chance to dehut your work
both locally and nationally—unrest and of art and work out all the kinks before the
reaction that could last deep into the 2012 main events later in the month. Plus we have
election cycle? Could the energy, the orga prizes. And celebrity judges. Good prizes,
nization and the moxie truly be there for a famous judges—judges so famous that you
new American revolution—and would there might not have even heard of them yet. As
be a place at the table of this new movement always, we ask that you bring donations of
for gays rights activism? I trust that Basic food and personal use items for those folks
Rights Oregon is keeping a close watch on who rely on the services provided by Esther’s
the mood of the country and the state. With Pantry, a food bank serving those affected by
a nation poised on the brink of social and HIV/AIDS. Hope to see you thcrc*I0!
O
A
►
“Cycloptic (Robin's Egg Blue),” 2011
by Jimmy Pickering
Jimmy Pickering was raised in a trailer
park and never really fit into his surround
ings. His imagination and ability to draw
helped him escape a world of shag carpets,
faux-wood paneling, and the hell of school
bullies, and set him on a path of creativity.
Pickering studied film, character animation
and production design/art direction at Cal
Arts and is an award-winning artist, author
and illustrator. His work has appeared in
books, galleries and theme parks around the
5 LETTERS & NORTHWEST
NEWS IN BRIEF
10 LEADING THE WAY
Portland I lousing Bureau awarded funds
tor homeless living with 11IV/AIDS, plus
AIDS Walk Portland recap
12 BEYOND DON’T ASK,
DON’T TELL
Portland’s I)r. Mary Ann I lumphrev-
Keever weighs in on repeal
15 COME OUT, PORTLAND
Your local guide to National Coming Out
Day events
20 NO PLACE LIKE HOME
F.sther’s Pantry on the hunt for a new space
» PROFILE
15 OUT OF THIS WORLD
Jupiter I lotel GM Al Munguia puts
PI )X hospitality on the map
18 THE STATE OF Q CENTER
Fxec. Director Barbara McCullough-Jones
examines her first four months at the helm
» CULTURE & LIFESTYLE
21 OUT & ABOUT
27 SEW WHAT?
Bryce Black prepares tor liftoff
post Project Runway
28 FALL DANCE IN FULL SWING
OB !”s Petrouchka/Carmen offers new
perspective on two classics
30 GENDER ROLES
Defunkt theatre queers a classic with
creative casting
32 NO GUTS, NO GORY
Inaugural “Zomh and Monster Pub Crawl”
takes the scare to the streets
» CO LUM NISTS
25
26
34
35
LIVING OUT LOUD
LADY ABOUT TOWN
ASK A GAY
REMEMBER TO BREATHE
4
world. He lives on the O r
egon coast with his partner
and their three dogs.
“Cycloptic” is from Picker
ing's newest exhibition, 1S0°
Delirium. His artist's state
ment is as follows:
“As children we are in a
constant state of imagina
tion—Santa, ghosts, fairy
tales, anything our minds can
create, we see. Yet something
happens as we grow, these
visions are replaced with
popularity, self-image, careers;
it’s a world of limits. The strange thing is the
imaginative state of our childhood is all but
; forgotten, only a handful of us
remain in this world or return
to it altogether and this state,
our original state of being is
negativity, viewed as delusional
by the ‘normal.’ This world of
imagination is often perceived
as delusional and those who
remain in it are in a state of
permanent delirium. 1S0° De
lirium celebrates those viewed
as refusing to grow up, those
who have Peter Pan dreams.
ISO" Delirium runs through Oct. 29 at Benja
For me, what this show con min Benjamin Gallery, 1720 N W Lovejoy.
tains is my constant state
For more inj'ormation on the artist, visit
of delirium, the place I find comfort in, the jimmypickering.com. For more information on the
imagined friends in my head.”
exhibition, visit benjaminbenjamin.com.
AHdVdDOiOHc
ON THE COVER
» NEWS & CO M M U N ITY