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FOLLOW YOUR FEET
TO FOOTWISE FOR
EVERYDAY SHOES &
EXTRAORDINARY
COMFORT
SHOWN: THE GRACIE
FOLLOW YOUR FEET TO COMFORT
BY SALLY SHEKLOW
Downtown Eugene
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Downtown Corvallis
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Re-elect
Betty Taylor
INTEGRITY
I
’m in the locker room, drying off after my morning workout. A woman in my
fi tness class opens her locker across from mine. We’d bonded today during
our exercise routine, exchanging eye rolls over classmates’ chitchat while we
were trying to concentrate on our crunches. One moment of shared frustration —
a good as any foundation for friendship.
I pull on my T-shirt. “GSA?” she asks. She tilts her head and towels her hair,
studying the silk-screened logo adorning my chest.
I’ve barely thought about what I’m wearing. That’s the problem with basing a
wardrobe on swag from life’s various crusades. You think you’re just grabbing the
next clean thing in the drawer and inadvertently become a billboard.
“Gay-Straight Alliance.” My translation should be self-explanatory.
“I haven’t heard of that,” she says, toweling the other side of her hair.
OK. Teachable moment. The obligation of all who strive for equality and justice
— we have to speak up, to have these conversations whenever and wherever.
I’m still naked from the T-shirt down and feel vulnerable. I step into my cotton
high-top underwear, thankful I’ve brought a new-ish pair today. I need the extra
confi dence of unfrayed elastic.
“It’s a network of school clubs.” I recount students’ valiant efforts to create
safe space for queers on campus, and how some high schools have banned all
clubs rather than allow a gay-supportive group to meet on their premises.
She “tsks” appropriately. Good sign.
By the time I’m zipping up my jeans, we’re speculating on the likelihood of
marriage equality in our lifetime.
“My partner and I married in Canada, but that’s not recognized here,” I say
to personalize discrimination, and to make sure she knows I’m the “G” and not
the “S” of GSA. (Yet another of the perpetual coming-out moments in a queer
person’s life.) She thinks that’s “so unfair.” Gay-friendly!
“If we can keep Obama in offi ce,” I say while I gel and tousle my hair, “I think
we’ll see non-discrimination become law.”
She rifl es through her cosmetics. Lotioning her legs, she tells me she’s
disappointed in Obama, understands why people like Romney.
Oh, god(dess).
How could someone with whom I’ve sweated, stretched and stood naked —
shared eye rolls, even — someone who opposes bullying and discrimination, not
LOVE Barack Obama? I do! I want to rattle off the reasons, but I’m fl ustered and
can’t think. The conversation drops like a couple of smelly socks.
I stuff my towel into my gym bag and say what I hope is a friendly goodbye.
Driving home, I mentally design a T-shirt that lists the president’s
achievements for LGBT-equality. These should be on the tip of my tongue,
ready to recite in response to anyone with fl agging faith in Obama, but I have
to look them up. He ended Don’t Ask Don’t Tell, signed the Matthew Shepard &
James Byrd Jr., Hate Crimes Prevention Act, banned discrimination in federal
workplaces, ensured hospital visitation and medical decision-making rights,
created the National Resource Center for LGBT Elders, called for equal treatment
for same-sex adoptive parents, extended government benefi ts to partners of
federal employees, recorded an “It Gets Better” video to support LGBT youth
experiencing bullying, declared the Defense of Marriage Act unconstitutional,
and he told the nation, “I think same-sex couples should be able to get married.”
He’s done scads more, of course, but my list is already way too long to fi t on a
T-shirt. A lot of it could, though.
Any silk-screeners out there willing to try? I need to wear mine to the gym.
Award-winning writer Sally Sheklow has been here, queer and getting Eugene Weekly readers used to it
since 1999.
INDEPENDENCE
EXPERIENCE
ENDORSED BY
AFSCME
Oregon League of Conservation Voters
Sierra Club
Lane County Young Democrats
Mayor Kitty Piercy
County Commisioner Pete Sorenson
Eugene City Councilor George Brown
Eugene City Councilor Alan Zelenka
Former Congressman Jim Weaver
Former Commissioner Jerry Rust
paid for by Taylor for City Council
6
SEPTEMBER 20, 2012
EUGENE WEEKLY
www.bettyltaylor.com
VOTE NOW! BESTOFEUGENE.COM