RE: âKicked to the Curbâ [Feature, July 13], Doug Brownâs feature about how queer dance nights Blow Pony and Bearracuda were kicked out of their longtime home, Euphoria Nightclub, ostensibly over concerns gay events would âconfuseâ EDM fans, the clubâs target demographic. The events have since found a new venue at Bossanova Ballroom.
For what itâs worth, Blow Pony has been a largely straight event for some years now, with a large chunk of the crowd being straight people who were only there âto see what the gays are wearing this month.â At the time of its eviction, the event had little resemblance to its original form.
ragemanchoo
For what itâs worth, ragemanchoo, you definitely have not been to Blow Pony. Blow Pony is and has been a mainly queer-attended monthly. Yes, of course some hetero folk make their way in, but this small number of straight people do not make up a large enough number to back up your post.
Jizz
This article focuses on one club and one queer dance party when it could highlight the fact that most venues in town have made it very clear theyâre only willing to have a limited number of queer events at their establishments so as not to offend or drive away their âregularâ/straight clientele. Most venues in town donât want too many queer events, and itâs happening across the board. Many queer event producers canât find locations for their parties due to this.
SeaBee
RE: âBernie Sanders Finally Endorses Hillary Clinton, âOne of the Most Intelligent Peopleâ He Has Ever Metâ [Blogtown, July 12]. Sandersâ endorsement âshows that even with the primary over, he may be able to continue to do what he does best: push Clinton to the left, where her wonk brilliance shines,â wrote Megan Burbank.
When has Clintonâs âwonk brillianceâ ever shined? She has flip-flopped on every single important liberal position over the past three decades (healthcare, Iraq War, gay marriage, $15 minimum wage, trade agreements, etc.). She only stands for liberal issues if the polls say they are popular. She will never back universal health care or any other form of policy that would actually curb income inequality. Small fixes to the tax code arenât going to change the massive redistribution of wealth to the very top percent. This article should come with a disclaimer that itâs just another Megan Burbank pro-Hillary puff piece.
ThrillHouse
RE: âOne Day at a Timeâ [Gossip, July 13], in which Ann Romano discussed the July 7 police shootings in Dallas. âWe would be remiss not to mention that these officers were killed by an SKS semi-automatic rifle and a handgun with a high-capacity magazineâboth of which were legally obtained by the shooter thanks to obstructionist Republicans who continue to refuse to do anything about gun control,â wrote Romano. âThe 12 murdered high school students and teacher of Columbine; the 20 six- and seven-year-olds and six adults at Sandy Hook; the 49 LGBTQ community members at the Pulse club in Miami; and now five police officers. When does the governmentâs inaction finally become criminal?â
In your recounting of the ongoing horrors of gun violence in our nation, you rightly reminded readers of the egregious mass shootings we have witnessed. You failed to mention, however, those that affected our immediate community in the last few years.
Cindy Yuille, a hospice nurse and my colleague of a decade, died at Clackamas Town Center in December 2012, along with Steven Forsyth. Emilio Hoffman died at Reynolds High School in June 2014. Their deaths were just as unconscionable as those you took note of in your article. Please remember them, too.
Robert and Jenna Yuille, Cindyâs husband and daughter, have worked tirelessly since her death to ensure reasonable gun control legislation is passed in our state and nation. Through GOFRO (Gun Owners for Responsible Ownership) and ARS (Americans for Responsible Solutions), they are challenging the apathy and obstructionism of the elected officials who refuse to act sensibly. Indeed, their efforts helped Oregon pass background checks for gun ownership, and Jenna stood near Governor Brown [last week] when she announced executive action to make our state safer from gun violence. Perhaps their efforts give us all some hope that change is possible.
Kristine Munholland
Indeed they do, Kristine. Yours is the Mercury letter of the week, which comes with two passes to the Laurelhurst Theater. Thanks for writing.
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