We probably won’t get gay marriage in Oregon next year. Here’s why.
Sexual Politics
What Do We Want? Gay Rights! When Do We Want Them? Uhh… Maybe Later
We’re at the crunch point now, everyone. Will we or won’t we put gay marriage on the Oregon ballot in 2012? The fate of thousands of Oregonian’s marital status is in the hands of Basic Rights Oregon (BRO), the LGBT rights group that has been canvassing the state since 2009 “starting conversations” about gay marriage. […]
Sexism Doesn’t Sell
Good news from the idiot sales pitch front, friends! Although boobs and bikinis still do a disappointingly reliable job of selling every product on earth, marketing outright to male-only consumers can backfire. Dr. Pepper neatly proved this when it launched its recent “It’s Not For Women” campaign for its diet soda that has only “10 […]
Reflections on Watching Amateur Pornography for Eight Straight Hours
I hear Saturday was really beautiful and sunny. That’s great. Glad you a good time. Meanwhile, I was locked in a conference room for eight hours watching 52 amateur porn videos. And I will never again look at humans the same way. The giant stack of five minute films were all submissions to HUMP, the […]
Should Portland’s Queer Community Greet Anti-Gay Megachurch With an Olive Branch?
Welcome to my column about LGBT, reproductive rights, and gender issues. Previous columns are here. If there’s a topic you think I should cover, let me know. A popular church well known for trying to reform the gays is moving to townโso how should local LGBT folks react? When we broke the news that a […]
Officially, Oregon Republicans Are No Longer Anti-Gay-Parents
Ah, political theater. This round involves a Portland vaudeville performer, 26-year-old Xander Almeida, who also happens to be a Republican. Recently, Almeida has been pissed off at the Oregon Republican party for hostile anti-gay language in its official party platform. Instead of biting his tongue or changing parties, Almeida decided to try and erase the […]
“Friends With Benefits” Don’t Lead to Sex Trafficking
I still haven’t heard anything directly from Mars Hill church since posting the news last week that the conservative, Evangelical church is opening a new branch in SE Portland… but that’s not a big surprise, since founder Mark Driscoll has said that “interviews are for wimpy guys who wear Sans-a-Belt slacks and chew sugar-free gum.” […]
We’re the Fifth Gayest! But We’re Bad at Counting.
Welcome to my column about LGBT, reproductive rights, and gender issues. Previous columns are here. If there’s a topic you think I should cover, let me know. The big news of the week is that someone finally finished crunching the numbers on 2010 census data and mapped where all the same-sex couples in the United […]
Portland Slutwalk Recap and Photos
About 1,000 people gathered in downtown Portland yesterday afternoon for the Portland Slutwalk, the local incarnation of an international movement of marches against sexual violence (yesterday was also a Slutwalk in New Delhi). I talked with an organizer of Portland’s Slutwalk last week and was a bit skeptical—will dressing up slutty actually make onlookers rethink […]
Portland Slutwalk Says It’s Not Really About Sluts
By now, you’ve probably heard the gossip about the Portland Slutwalk. I heard a lady talking loudly about it on the 14 bus yesterday, actually, telling her friend about how all these people are going to dress up slutty and walk through downtown Portland this Sunday to protest… something. The Slutwalk started last winter in […]
Sexual Politics: Cinderella and Friends Talk Sexy ComiCon Costume Conflict
Here at the chaos of ComiCon, I relax into letting the crowd push me forward, like an amoeba adrift. But often the crowd stops, hits a knot—something’s up ahead! Cameras are out! What is it? Why, it’s a shirtless Thor! A barely legal Tinkerbell! A smokin’ trio of Sailor Moons! Comic conventions are like Halloween. […]
Sexual Politics
Transgender state worker fights for his right to health care.
