OREGON'S LGBTO NEWSMAGAZINE
DECEMBER 9,20)1
Looking Forward, To 2012
Second verse, same as the first?
page 3
BY M A R T Y D A VIS
ell, here we are again, the beginning
and the end— the one and the same?
We arrive at the start o f another new year—
while bidding farewell to one that looks
and feels a lot like the one before it. In the
classic words o f the not-yet-immortal Peter
Noone o f Herman’s Hermits, “Second verse,
same as the first.”
Backwards, forwards, in and out, there are
a few thoughts that I’d like to put to. paper at
this sharing time o f the year. Looking for
ward to 2012, I’m happy to be able to tell you
o f a partnership that Ju st Out is entering into
with innovative local business Portland Pedal
Power. Starting with our January issue, Just
Out print copies will be delivered to distri
bution spots in the downtown Portland core
area by bicycle. Yup, bicycle. This will mean
one less car, one less frazzled driver going
“round and round” looking for parking spots
while desperately trying to not become bus
kibble. We’re going to start out with 30-40
stops in the area somewhat defined by the
transit mall and Portland State University. If
all goes like it should, we’ll soon expand to in
clude the north-of-Burnside zones. Bike de
livery is cost-effective, it’s logical and it’s ever
so Portland. I’m proud to be partnering with
Jenn Dederich and her Portland Pedal Power
crew on this project. This is one o f the more
significant “win-win for everyone” proposals
that has crossed my desk in some time. I’m
also proud that I made this announcement
without using the words “green” and “sustain
able,” because seriously, these are among the
most overused words o f 2011.
he last couple o f years saw me selecting a
“ Person o f the Year” for this final column
o f the calendar. At first I didn’t think I’d do it
this year, due simply to the fact that I can no
longer clearly tell when one year has ended
and another has started, leaving me prone
to get people and their accomplishments all
mixed up. But in the last few days, about 30
in fact, a story among stories has been in the
telling in Portland. As a follower o f the daily
Facebook postings detailing this wondrous
story o f love, dedication and selflessness, I
would be completely remiss if I did not ac
knowledge the tremendous efforts o f Diane
Young as she has spent the last month caring
for her hospitalized partner, Michelle Lagos.
Michelle’s illness was sudden and unexpected,
catching her partner, family and friends com
pletely by surprise. Diane, in a relationship still
relatively new, even in lesbian time, stepped
up and took on the role o f her partner’s advo
cate and caretaker. Now, there might be those
among you, the more cynical among us who’d
say that she did what any partner would do—
should do. And you would be right; it is the
role o f partners to care for each other. But
in this time o f marriage equality battles and
issues— with a community o f people trying
to show the world, to educate the world on
the value, the merit, the love, the normalcy of
our relationships— no one could possibly put
a better face to the image o f marriage equal
ity, to love equality than Diane Young has
done this past month. For this reason, Diane
Young, you, representing the best that we all
have to offer each other, are my personal hero
and Person o f the Year.
Another component of Diane and Michelle’s
story is to acknowledge the progress made by
LG BTQ . rights organizations in advocating
for patient’s rights and equality with same-sex
couples facing health care situations. From the
accounts presented, it seems that Providence
Hospital has been simply stellar in their ac
ceptance and understanding of the relationship
between Michelle and her same-sex partner.
This progress didn’t happen overnight and it
didn’t happen on its own. While there are some
who decry what they see as a glacial pace in the
movement toward marriage equality, let’s not
lose sight of other accomplishments.
T
then, we will provide you with “introductions”
to key candidates. We start in this issue with
Portland mayoral candidate Charlie Hides.
We’ll continue introducing you to candidates
right up until election month.
The Portland mayoral race will he impor
tant, very important, even though it lacks the
rainbow-hued spark o f 2008 when Portland
had the opportunity to elect the first openly
gay mayor o f a major U.S. city. That race ig
nited, and later divided, Portland’s LG BTQ _
community. Looking forward, we— we
collectively— have the opportunity to present
ourselves as a strong voting bloc. I tend to
think that Portland’s gay community could be
a deciding factor in the selection o f the next
mayor and city commissioners. My vision o f
our unity is not shared, however, by Portland’s
“other” alternative paper, Willamette Week. In a
recent issue, it identified six groups that could
play powerful roles in the coming elections:
“organized labor,” the “power lunchers,” “The
Kremlin” (inner east side Portland), “the red
and the gray,” “the young and the restless,”
and “the rest o f us.” I suppose it could be said
that the gays fall into the “rest o f us” category,
but that simply isn’t good enough for me. I
think we, the gays, indeed have the potential
to be stronger, more active and more power
ful in determining who next fills the seats in
Salem and in Portland. Willamette Week , for
those o f you with a memory shorter than
mine, was chosen in 2011 by Pride Northwest
to publish that organization’s Pride Guide.
At that time its publisher admitted, in print,
that his paper didn’t have a good record o f
covering our community’s issues. I think that
e close 2011 with the first look at what this latest slight shows a continued trend o f
will be defined as the top story o f underestimating LGBTQ_votes, dollars and
2012— local and national elections. While the determination to elect progressive candidates
candidates for the Republican Party presiden and support ballot measures that push for
tial nomination are going to be in the bright ward with LGBTQ equality issues. United we
est spotlight seemingly forever, the focus o f have enormous potential. If we need another
Just Out is turning toward local candidates. In openly gay elected official to sit in a position
oodbye,2011. You were a lot like 2010—
April we will make endorsements for several o f power and keep us on track, then let’s find
the best about which could be said was
local races. Our endorsement process will have the appropriately skilled and qualified person that it wasn’t 2009. Welcome, 2012. Be gentle
several components, not the least o f which is and get them elected, T im Joyce?
with us, please JW
a lot o f “listen and learn.” Between now and
W
W
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just out
VOL. 29. NO. 2
DECEMBER 9. 2011
INSIDE
»
FEATURE
10 THE YEAR IN REVIEW
11 THE YEAR IN COMMUNITY
14 THE YEAR IN BUSINESS
17 THE YEAR IN POLITICS
20 THE YEAR IN FAITH
22 THE YEAR IN MILESTONES
23 THE YEAR IN TV & FILM
36 THE YEAR IN VISUAL ART
38 THE YEAR IN MUSIC
40 THE YEAR IN BOOKS
42 THE YEAR IN SPORTS
46 THE YEAR IN NIGHTLIFE
47 THE YEAR IN COMMUNITY
48 THE YEAR IN PERFORMING ARTS
» NEWS & COMMUNITY
5 LETTERS
6 NORTHWEST NEWS IN BRIEF
26 THE YEAR IN POLITICS
Ihe first in a three-part series with Portland’s
mayoral candidates
» CULTURE & LIFESTYLE
29 OUT & ABOUT
33 THE MILLION DOLLAR
QUESTION
New Year’s Eve and other holiday highlights
44 HO-HO-HOMOMENTUM!
Queer cabaret spectacle returns alter the
holiday seasont
» COLUMNISTS
24 PETLANDIA
34 LIVING OUT LOUD
35 LADY ABOUT TOWN
37 PANDA SAY WHAT?!
50 ASK A GAY
51 REMEMBER TO BREATHE
Start the New Year with a New Career!
justout is looking for a few good people to join our sales team.
You provide the motivation, the work ethic, and the desire to succeed. We'll work with you to
build job skills to last a lifetime. Sales o f services and goods move the economy o f America.
SALESPEOPLE ROCK!
To start the conversation please email Marty Davis at marty@justout.com
Join us in making 2012 a Happy and PR O SPER O U S
new year for all.