Yesterday’s post about the Portland Rescue Mission’s decision not to sponsor a queer-themed Christmas event has ricocheted around local media outlets over the past 24 hours. From Just Out to KATU to a gay-rights blog, even out to St. Louis, Mo. (And, you’ve seen, we’re helping with our own Queer Coat Drive.)
After playing phone tag this morning and yesterday (while I was at city hall and the Portland Building) I finally got a chance today to have a long conversation with Bill Miller, the development director of the Christian-based mission.
He says that while he didn’t dispute the voice mail one of his employees, Brian Merrell, left for queer performer Jeffrey (aka Fannie Mae) Darling, organizer of the Queer Quistmas event, Miller does want to air the mission’s side of the story and clear up a few things. So, here goes…
First off, Miller wanted to mention that the Portland Rescue Mission serves anyone and everyone who walks through its doors. He also said it won’t turn away any donations. Even “queer” ones. In email traffic that followed the message left with Darling, he explained, the mission still offered to muster its collection barrels, even if it wasn’t going to be a backer. But, by then, Darling (who was justifiably upset) had “decided to move in another direction.”
Miller and I spent a lot of time talking about “miscommunication” over that distinction—a key nuance, as he sees it. Sponsorship, he says, means a much bigger commitment—at a time of the year when the mission’s resources are more stretched. He says Darling’s event, scheduled for December 20, was too soon. Other groups have also been turned down, and he says he wanted to talk to Darling more about that before things went south yesterday.
“Usually, we promote it. We communicate it to the media, and our donors and volunteers, etc. We put our name and logo up there as a major player in the plan,” he says. “We just don’t do that on a quick turnaround. We needed more time.”
Sounds reasonable. But I had a question. If that was the reason all along—it was about sponsorship, not coats, logistics, not queerness—why did Merrell, in his voice mail, even bother to venture here: “We are a faith-based organization and there was some concern with how it might come across to some of our donors.”
Keep reading to see his answer.
Miller hedged here. First, he blamed Merrell, saying he jumped the gun by calling Darling back before the mission’s pooh-bah’s had had a chance to really think through their decision. He also said that was a “mistake” and a “misstatement by Brian, and he admits that.”
And he also claimed, initially, that whether the mission’s donors—an important lifeline of cash and goods—are uncomfortable “was not part of the criteria” used when weighing an event. But then he later acknowledged that donors’ feelings are one factor, just not the factor, when making a decision.
“It’s really about the organization and the brand we’ve built,” he says, also noting that some people have been surprised that Darling approached the mission, knowing it’s a Christian organization. “We want to protect the integrity of the brand. … It wouldn’t be hard to imagine any number of organizations that would appreciate the importance of protecting their brand and choosing how often you go to the marketplace with it, and who you go along with to the marketplace.”
Still, having “queer” in the event’s title, he contends, “wasn’t a deal breaker.” So does that mean, I asked, if someone called right now and said they wanted the Portland Rescue Mission to sponsor a “Queer Springtime Pageant” in March, plenty of time to build a perfect plan for the event, you’d do it?
His reply? “It certainly would be part of the conversation.” I’ll believe it when I see it.
Before we got off the phone, Miller confirmed that he had accepted the Rev. Chuck Currie’s offer to broker a meeting between the Rescue Mission and gay advocacy group Basic Rights Oregon and that he’s spoken to folks there. But because of scheduling, that meeting probably won’t happen until after the holidays.
“I had never heard of the organization but it appears they’re doing important work,” he says. “Any time we can build bridges rather than walls it’s best. I’m confident good will come out of this situation.”
Here’s hoping that, indeed, the conversation next time really does result in some good.
This whole thing sounds like a media stunt by Jeffrey Darling.
“I know! I’ll ask a Christian group to sponsor my gay event and scream ‘HOMOPHOBIA’ when they turn me down”
Looks like it worked, Graham.
Rationalizing your silly homophobia baiting, Denis? Completely f’ing ridiculous.
Note that nowhere in the original story did PRM say they wouldn’t take “gay coats”. YOU said that Denis, in your headline. The only person who should be embarrassed here is you. (Darling too of course, but somehow I’m doubting he has much shame.)
The PRM, like all the shelters/kitchens in Old Town, did more good work before noon today than all of you two-bit critics combined do in a year. Just embarrassing.
And way to print PRM’s defense at 5pm on a Friday.
Wow, imagine if the author had done some actual journalism from the beginning. Nice work Mercury.
Damn right, Blabby. You called out the importance of the “sponsor” distinction in the first article and got shouted down.
I still think Blabby is 90% jackass, but damned if he didn’t call this one right.
The larger issue than gay coats though, is the absolutely reprehensible drivel being turned in by Denis (and smirk, for that matter). Most of this shit wouldn’t fly in a high-school paper.
Sure, “gay coats” may sensationalize the story, but I honestly would not be surprised if the event was turned down because of its queerness. Just ask your local gay church (I know, I know) about the times they attempted to do service activities at local shelters and such. Not events, but just a group of queers that want to volunteer a few hours together. Turned down once the nature of the group of volunteers was revealed. It sounds really crazy that these places would turn down volunteers, yet it actually happens. In the end it’s their right, and there are plenty of other outreach groups in the city that don’t care who’s helping out.
Hey, there’s enough “evidence” in The Bible to justify gay hating, so why don’t we instead concentrate on stamping out Christianity and all the other ridiculous Eastern Mediterranean religions? Each one is more nutty than the next.
This is a case study in the differences between conducting business as an adult, responsible organization rather than engaging in headline-grabbing pseudo-charity.
The Portland Rescue Mission does more for the homeless population than the “average joe” realizes. They ARE a faith-based program and have many, many donors with whom they count on to keep their doors open to be able to help the homeless. They are the single, biggest provider of services in Portland and without donors, would not be here today. Do I agree with the policy about accepting “gay” coats? Does not matter. It is their policy and I am ok with it. There are several agencies in Portland that will accept them. If Mr. Darling is so concerned about helping the homeless, why didn’t he just bring the coats in, get his receipt and leave? Why did he have to add the fact they are coming from the gay community? Simple, because he is trying to get attention to himself. Honestly, in my opinion, it’s Mr. Darling who has the issue with this, not PRM. Words to ponder Mr. Darling, Get over it and pick a new battle. Maybe try this, be homeless for one week, then come back and offer your so called valued opinion.