It has been my intention, on a slow queer news day, to put forth a list of obvious queers that still have yet to come out. They could be individuals that are pretty gay in the public eye but refuse to talk about their personal life, or those that try again and again to refute the obvious. (*cough* Clay Aiken *cough*) I’ve got a small list going but I realized it might be more interesting with your input. So I welcome submissions of what celebrity or public figure just needs to bang down that flimsy closet door. I missed the boat on the Doog-ster, but there must be scads out there. You can respond using the comment feature (if it’s working currently) or by emailing me. I’ll help you start the list tomorrow.
It may not be directly queer related but it’s local, political, interesting and will ultimately affect the local GBLT individual, as the electing of any Governor would. Therefore, I just wanted to pass on this little bit of information provided by the Democratic Party of Oregon and fabulous bow tie wearing Congressman Earl Blumenauer:
Today, in a post on BlueOregon.com, Congressman Earl Blumenauer challenged Ron Saxton’s claim that he was a leader of the effort to pass a constitutional amendment to lower the voting age when he was in college. During the September 28th Statesman Journal Debate at Chemeketa Community College, Saxton said, "When I was in high school in Albany and ultimately at Willamette [University], I was one of the leaders of the state effort in Oregon to lower the voting age to 18." [Statesman Journal Debate, 9/28/06, at 51:00]
Turns out, that’s not quite true. Congressman Blumenauer, who led the state campaign for a 1969 ballot measure that reduced Oregon’s voting age and later was a leading organizer of the campaign to pass the 26th Amendment—told BlueOregon.com today that Saxton wasn’t a player in the effort. In fact, as Congressman Blumenauer points out, Saxton didn’t even enter Willamette University until the Fall of 1972—15 months after the 26 Amendment had been ratified.
"Today’s news is the latest example of Ron Saxton’s stunning identity crisis in the closing weeks of this campaign," said Democratic Party of Oregon Executive Director Neel Pender. "From his vane attempts to recast himself as a moderate after running as Right Wing Ron, to his desperate ploy to pretend he’s a farmer not a $400 an hour corporate lawyer, Ron Saxton refuses to be honest with the people of Oregon. But the voters know better, which is why they’re going to reelect a strong, honest leader like Governor Kulongoski."
I’ve never been a proponent of smear campaign tactics, but if they’re being used against us, and they’re as effective as they appear to be, I suppose one must fight fire with fire. Not only that, but the complaints could be quite valid. I guess we’ll have to see how it plays out. Speaker of the house, and homophobe, Karen Minnis has been smearing opponent Rob Brading for weeks now in television ads. Now he’s fighting back by exposing the possible cover up of of her husband’s alleged attempted sexual assault.
And, while elections are quite a serious matter, you have to embrace the humor that does exist. It gets us through the pain. While watching Hardball with Chris Tucker my partner and I were introduced to this ridiculously funny smear campaign ad that has since been pulled from TV. And it has nothing to do with Oregon, but it is hilarious in its horribleness and even mocks the idea that anyone would understand who a transgendered person or an native Aleutian is. And perhaps most Americans don’t understand either of these words, but a politician should be familiar with them. Lucky for us, though the commercial is no longer airing, we can mock it from the comfort of our own computer screens. It is included below.
A lot has happened this week during my excessively long absence (due to ridiculous things like, excessive workload). New Jersey fought an awkward battle, and seemed to win…if in that wishy washy way to which, it seems, I must resign myself. But New Jersey’s highest court did rule Wednesday that homosexual couples are due all of the rights accorded to heterosexual couples, and has given the legislature six months to either grant gay couples the right to marry, or come up with another civil-union type system. And that is certainly worth celebrating, even when you have to keep in the back of your mind that, even in states where it may become legal, we can still be denied our rights, as evidenced by late Congressman Studds’ partner being denied death benefits.
But as we head into the seriousness of election time, and consider the ramifications of new legal rulings such as NJ’s we also need to give ourselves the time to let go. And what better way to let loose and be truly freaky queer than with the costumed mania that is Portland’s Halloween happenings. Just Out’s main article highlights the best places to get costumes, though at this late date I’d also like to point out OregonLive’s own cheeky options. As for what to do once you’re all dressed up check out Just Out’s haunted events calendar. As for me, tonight’s a tough call between Doubledown at Holocene and an amazing sounding Disco party at the Wonder Ballroom (have I talked before about how much I love the 70s and how I was born too late?) As for the night of Haunts itself, I recommend Sissyboy’s take on the religious Halloween "Hell Houses" at the Doug Fir, especially for anyone (like me) who missed their Friday night zombie performance. Although any holiday with Amy Sedaris is tempting too…
Though American finally one the marriage battle in one state, and one state only, we’ve always known that this was a tenuous one, and that it would create problems with federal law. This is why I laugh, if incredibly sadly, at those that claim gays and lesbians want special rights. Equal rights would give Massachusetts gay spouses access to so many benefits that married people enjoy. One of these is death benefits, which, apparently, we are not entitled to. The first gay congressman died this weekend and he was a married Massachusetts resident. However, his partner has been denied the $62,000 yearly pension to which he would be entitled if he was a woman. While I’m sure this man is not as struggling as most Americans it is important that there be a public outcry on his behalf, because rights are being denied Americans everyday that may not be lucky enough to be heard, and are in much greater need. It’s time we realized and publicized the fact that gay people in this country are over-taxed and under-benefited.
I recently ran across a bit of information provided to me by my blog tool that someone searching Google for a "real life Shortbus salon" ended up clicking on my blog. (I can see where the last 10 people have come from, it’s an imperfect tool but interesting…) Now I have concrete evidence that I’m not the only one…I did the same thing after watching the film. And though they may not all be clicking on my blog, I wonder how many others have searched as well. Shortbus’s portrayal of such a bohemia, wherein art, intellectualism and sex combine is a compelling one. One that people wish for. The question becomes though, is this synergistic utopia possible in real life? Certainly the desire to create is is there, but would attempts fail? Would it become too seedy? too exclusive? or too protested against to really work? Or have we just not tried? I remember reading Robert Heinlein’s Stranger in a Strange Land and was amazed at the main character’s final understanding of people and the world. The free love utopia he created, that led to his death, was one that seemed an exciting possibility but ultimately unattainable. Are we, as human, damned to ruin our own utopic dreams? And if they can live for only a short while are they worth creating? worth sacrificing for? This question became so much larger than a revival of 20s Paris salons for the modern age but both questions are interesting.
Can this fun place be made in real life. And if so, when do we start?
Just a quick reminder that today is the last day to register to vote. You can download the form you need here. It will also tell you where to drop your form, which depends on which county you live in.
It’s an important race on several fronts. And though The Oregonian has endorsed Ron Saxton I don’t buy the argument that any change from the present leadership of Kulongoski is better than the status quo. You actually have to look at what politicians will actually do in office…Striking thought. Saxton won’t do anything for gay rights.
You can visit Basic Rights Oregon’s Vote Out project for their endorsements, and other information on candidates and measures that help and hurt LGBT people.
The first openly gay congressman, Gerry Studds, died early Saturday morning at 69. I have to confess I don’t remember his time in office but I was saddened to hear of his passing. I also felt guilty for wanting to giggle that the first out congressman had to be named Studds and his age the puerile joke number 69. But as I read the New York Times article I started to become squeamish about more than my own inappropriate laughter.
Studds had his own Foley-like scandal that surfaced over 20 years ago.
But in a 1970s world without instant messaging Studds didn’t type flirt, he actually had an affair with a 17 year old page. The scandal broke 10 years after the affair, and yet Studds was reelected the next year. I’m glad that the early 80s saw the first gay congressman, and that something like this was uncovered. But it also gives me shame. And its unfortunate that the first out congressman had to be one such as this. I’m certainly willing to debate that someone who is 17 may be old enough to make their own relationship decisions, however, it is clearly an abuse of power and position for a politician to become involved with an underage page during or near their service in Washington. And while I realize that Republicans have tried to counter the present Foley scandal with this much older one, I’m actually surprised that it hasn’t made a louder noise.
Perhaps Democrats are starting to be able to spin words and cover up difficult realities as well as their opponents…whom I’ve both criticized and envied for this ability.
In celebration of this national phenomena I just want to give you a mildly amusing little video wherein a woman in a closet suit asks passers-by whether she should come out of the closet. Stick with i… […]
Now that quasi-closeted former TV child doc Doogie Howser, Neil Patrick Harris, has officially come out of the closet, it brings up a gossipy desire I’ve had for awhile now lounging around in the back of my head. 
But as we head into the seriousness of election time, and consider the ramifications of new legal rulings such as NJ’s we also need to give ourselves the time to let go. And what better way to let loose and be truly freaky queer than with the costumed mania that is Portland’s Halloween happenings. 
Queerty came up with an 
Studds had his own Foley-like scandal that surfaced over 20 years ago.