Q+A
JESSE MARTIN
HOW DO YOU IDENTIFY?
Gay male.
WHAT DO YOU DO FOR A LIVING?
I assist, administratively, for an insurance
office. Spreadsheets & collating till the
cows come home.
HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN IN PORT-
LAND/OREGON?
I’ve been in Portland for five years, and I
really love the theme parties! I didn’t get
to celebrate Halloween growing up, so it
feels like I’m living out a fantasy.
WHAT’S YOUR MOST EMBARRASSING
MOMENT OR A PASSION YOU HAVE
THAT NO ONE WOULD GUESS?
In middle school I had an embarrassing
phase of making clothes for my hamster,
Honey. She was always sporting a tunic
and a fez, no matter the occasion. I think
she hated me.
Photo by Horace Long
WHO DO YOU LOOK UP TO OR REVERE
IN THE GAY COMMUNITY OR HISTORI-
CALLY?
I really admire people who have the cour-
age to go after what they want, even if
it doesn’t fit other people’s perception of
who they should be.
WHAT'S AN IMPORTANT TOPIC THAT
THE LGBT COMMUNITY SHOULD BE
TALKING ABOUT AND ISN'T?
I know it’s being talked about in wellness
circles, but I feel the stigma of HIV hinders
discussion about prevention and about
life after infection. I learned a lot about
the disease after I got it. I also learned
that most of what I thought I knew (and
what a lot of people in the community
still think about it) was wrong. If we re-
ally want to see this disease stopped in
our lifetime, we have to be courageous
enough to talk about it openly and
honestly. Get tested, know the science
behind the facts, and know that life goes
on if you let it.
August 2012
JustOut.com
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