Q+a
ATTORNEYS
marketplace
JOAN CRAWFORD
HOW LONG HAvE yOU BEEN IN
PORTLAND/OREGON? WHAT DO yOU
LOvE/HATE ABOUT IT?
I moved from Chicago, where I lived for 14
years, to Portland in 2001. I love many out-
door activities in the city, rivers, coast and
mountains. I wish we had more of Chicago’s
diverse cultures.
COUNSELING
WHAT DO yOU DO FOR A LIvING?
For 15 years, I worked as a Disease Inter-
vention Specialist in the HIv STD Program
in Chicago and Oregon. The Federal Com-
municable Disease Control reduced our
state funding this year and my position was
eliminated. I’m grateful to still be working
for the Oregon Health Authority in a tem-
porary assignment with the Maternal and
Child Health Program.
HAvE yOU EvER ExPERIENCED GAy
BASHING?
I’ve been assaulted by Chicago police during
ACT UP and other issue protests in the late
1980’s and early 90’s — no permanent physi-
cal damage or gay bashing.
HAvE yOU ExPERIENCED DISCRIMI-
NATION WITHIN THE QUEER COM-
MUNITy?
Back in the 80’s and 90’s, there were all kinds
of pressure on me to identify only as a les-
bian. I hope we’ve made it easier for queers
today to express themselves honestly. To me,
sex is sex and love is love, all equally valued
and necessary for the health of our human-
ity and planet.
EATS
HIV/STD TESTING
Photo by Horace long
WHO DO yOU LOOK UP TO OR RE-
vERE IN THE GAy COMMUNITy OR
HISTORICALLy?
I find inspiration every day and historically
from people who worked to make the world
healthier and more loving for all. g
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October 2012
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