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
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