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About Just out. (Portland, OR) 1983-2013 | View Entire Issue (Oct. 21, 2011)
OREGON'S LGBTO NEWSMAGAZINE OCTOBER 21.2011 Right Cause, Right Message, Wrong Time And speaking of tinning, on to changes ahead... page 3 BY MARTY DAVIS Simply put, right cause, right message— hy do we have images from Occupy Portland on the cover o f this issue? wrong time. W hat’s gay about illegal camping in down Granted, there’s a lot o f in-depth analysis town parks? and data that I’m not privy to, but common Not a thing, there’s nothing gay about it logic and sense lead me to strongly feel that at all. I know this because I’ve been down marriage equality activism via ballot measure to the site several times. I took pictures o f in Oregon is better suited for the midterm the signs— lots o f signs— and I can tell you elections in 2014 than the presidential elec that I did not see one message advocating tion o f 2012. Next year could be, will be a for marriage equality, gay rights, an end to bloodbath o f a presidential race. The nation bullying or anything “gay specific.” Nope, as a whole is ready to bite the heads off o f Occupy Portland is on the cover because it’s kittens. Candidates seeking many seats will the backdrop for a story that needs to be told. be knocking on doors asking for money The story o f why Marcy Westerling, staunch that many, if not most people don’t have to ally and advocate for LGBTQ_rights, found give. The Portland mayoral race, currently herself at the march and rally that kicked off in its warm fuzzy phase, won’t stay this way the now weeks-old movement in Portland. I f for long. The economy still, or again, sucks. you have been looking for a reason to attach Protesters are camping in the parks while credence to the people and emotions o f this the truly homeless are being denied the same movement, you might well find it on p. 18. right and privilege. The collective temper o f the electorate is at the fraying point. To me, everal times in the past weeks, I have this is not the environment for putting forth a questioned as to how I feel about Basic ballot measure that will be eliciting emotion- Rights Oregon and their possible/probable based votes. Voter emotions are going to be ballot measure to bring marriage equality to too raw, on too many levels, for too many the state in 2012. The most notable aspect of reasons. these discussions has been that those involved Again, right cause, right message— wrong are reluctant to voice their own opinions for time. fear that they will be seen as being “anti- BR O ” if they question the timing o f the ballot ovember is the anniversary month o f Just measure. One businessman is concerned that Out. I often use this column at that time he might lose customers; another feared that to reflect on the past and look forward to the speaking publicly might shadow his nonprofit future. This year I’m starting a little early. It with a negative cloud if he voiced a position was in November o f 1998 that I started the presumed not to be in the majority. process o f purchasing this paper, officially tak Really, Portland? We’re afraid to engage in ing the reins in January o f 1999. Sometimes dialogue, express opinions, suss out thoughts, this seems like yesterday; sometimes it seems question and challenge each other and our com so very long ago that I can’t begin to remem munity nonprofits, the very ones who work for ber whatever possessed me to do such a thing. and are supported by our contributions? That’s When I bought the paper, it was in malaise. a bit troubling to me. BRO is, after all, looking With the help o f staff and community, Just for your opinion. They need to know what the Out has in the past 13 years seen periods o f community is feeling—they need to know that growth, success and prosperity, followed by they either do or don’t have sufficient support the still freshly felt days o f recession and not- if/when they go forth with this endeavor. So let so-fun times. For the most part, Just Out is me speak for those who are more timid, as this in good stead. We’re definitely no longer in a is an opinion that I share and have no objection state o f prosperity, from a financial aspect, but the quality o f our work is better than it’s ever to attaching my name to. W S N been— and to me that quality is a greater de terminant o f our success than the money that I no longer have in the bank. Which brings me to the point o f this conversation. I went home last night to write this column, and I awoke, after a largely sleepless night, with the realization that I want/need change. No, I’m not quitting, I’m not retiring, I am not sell ing Just Out. I am, however, going to reinvent the paper. Some o f the structure we’ve had in place for 13 years still works fine— other aspects, not so much. We’re too short-staffed and continuously under too much deadline pressure to be able to look much past the next issue, let alone at the process o f reinvention. So I’m altering our publication schedule through the balance o f the year and into early spring. From November through March, we’ll publish only once per month in print. We’ll bloom in the spring, in April and return to our twice monthly format. During this period we’ll in crease our daily presence on justout.com. The calendar will still be maintained and updated. I’ll still be everywhere with the camera, using the lens as a barrier to real, actual personal interactions. Aimee will have a little more time to spend with that new baby o f hers, the one you’ll read about on p. 6. Around the first o f the year we’ll post an online survey, not a long one, asking for your feedback in how you’d like to see Just Out grow and evolve. We know you like pictures, but we need to delve deeper into readership growth and retention. I am always open to your thoughts, questions and comments. You can find me on Facebook or email me at marty@justout.com. cannot end this column without words about Richard Ludt, whose death, whose suicide impacted so many people, myself included. Over the past 13 years, I’ve seen many goodbyes said in our pages. With no disrespect to any o f the others, and those who loved them, Richard’s death has touched me like no other. To be truthful, while not judg ing, I cannot wrap my mind around suicide. The thought is too big for me to grasp. Per haps I simply don’t have the emotional com plexity needed to have that ability to under stand. I did not know Richard well, but I was proud o f our relatively new friendship— one born from the seeds o f adversity, but which grew, via emails and Facebook, into a teasing, bantering comfortableness. I’ve never known anyone as well-respected and regarded as Richard. I le fit into every corner o f our com munity. I hope he knew that. JW I VOL. 28. NO. 22 3 OCTOBER 2 1 . 2011 INSIDE » NEWS & COMMUNITY 5 TRANSITIONS & LETTERS 7 NORTHWEST NEWS IN BRIEF 12 AND JUSTICE FOR ALL Basic Rights Oregon to hold Trans Justice l lealth Care Summit 14 A MOTHER’S WORK Women involved in high-profile same-sex parenting case show tight for equal protection not always cut and dried 16 JUST DOING IT Nike I.C iB T &. Friends Network observes National Coming Out Day 18 VOICES OF THE OCCUPATION Rural Organizing Project founder Marcy Westerling brings Big Pharma med shortages to the frontlines » CULTURE & LIFESTYLE 21 OUT & ABOUT 27 GRAVE EXPECTATIONS It’s here, it’s queer, it’s, you know, I lalloween 29 THEY ONLY COME OUT AT NIGHT Uh I lull 1 lei’s sophomore effort Nocturnes sees daylight 30 SONOMA ADVENTURE 32 IT’S TRICKY Don’t miss these special 1 lalloween editions of your favorite queer nights 34 MIRROR, MIRROR Kate Clinton turns tears to laughter with poignant reflections 36 SING LOUD, SING PROUD Siren Nation gives voice to female artists » COLUMNISTS 20 PETLANDIA 25 LADY ABOUT TOWN 28 FROM HALF A LIFE TO WHOLE 33 PANDA SAY WHAT?! 37 REMEMBER TO BREATHE Serious Injury & D eath C ases Wrongful Death • Medical Malpractice • Serious Accidents • 11336111 B ' j. \ Trucking Accidents • Spinal Cord Injuries • Nursing Home Abuse • Therapist Malpractice Over 21 Years Experience • Top P ro u d ly se rvin g our co m m u n ity s in c e 1 9 8 9 Free Consultation 503-295-1940 •800-795-8945 www.goreslaw.com Halo J. 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