Just Out Holiday Toy Drive

Happy Anniversary

Just Out celebrates 23 years by continuing to give back to our community

This is our anniversary month at Just Out. November 2006 marks the 23rd celebration of the paper’s inception in 1983. We’ll start 2007 as a 24-year-old business, headed at full speed toward our silver anniversary.

This year we’re continuing with our process of giving back to our community by organizing the first Just Out Toy Drive. The recipients of toys collected will be the children of families served by a very worthy organization, the Friends of People with Aids Foundation. These are kids who don’t have it easy, and for one very special day the combined efforts of volunteers and caring community members can make a difference in the lives of others.

We invite you to join Just Out as we collect toys. We need unwrapped gifts for all ages, from toddlers to teens. Right now you can bring toys to the Just Out office in Suite 465 at 123 N.E. Third Ave.

Partnering with Just Out is Pauline Miriam of Cruise Control PDX. Her Hot Flash Dance Party on Nov. 11 at Aura will also be a collection point. If you’re coming to the dance, bring along a toy and receive a discounted admission price as well as the chance to be entered into a drawing for a great door prize.

Our second event for collecting toys is our monthly Gay Skate Night at Oaks Park. This month we skate Nov. 20 and encourage our great group of skaters to bring along a toy.

Also joining in our effort is the Queers and Allies Student Organization at Mt. Hood Community College. President Dylan Sims is undertaking its activities and organizing campus collection points.

Toys can also be dropped off at any Healthy Pets NW store located at

2224 NE Alberta St, Portland OR 97211 or 1402-A SE 39th Ave, Portland OR 97214

Throughout November we hope to have your group, organization and event partner with us in collecting toys. Please call Marty or Kari to get involved.

Thank you for helping us make this holiday season special

The election is over. Some people are quite upset, others gleeful. Which takes me into the psyche of a politician. The moment they decide to run for office, half the people automatically dislike you because of the party you choose, and half of those in your own party may not care for you either. So you go from being everybodys best friend to having 25% like you.

Dont get me wrong, we need strong leaders with vision, Im just saying it takes some real guts, commitment to get up at a podium and try and get votes. I remember running for class president in the 5th grade and losing.

I thought everybody liked me, but soon found out they liked 4 other people more!

Hey everyone! So here we are finally in a place that allows gay people to be gay and not worry that someone will find me at MySpace. I hope people read this and tell their friends to join because I think this is a good place to be.

I always hear people say there is nothing out there for the gay guys or that nobody does anything for the gay community. Sure, there is gay.com, but they also have girls there. From what I see, this is for us guys and it would be a shame if this place went away due to lack of support.

OK, so you can see from my picture that I have glasses…I am thinking about contacts or lasik…any opinions?

Went to Marcellos pizza on Castro tonight…good stuff.

Well, back to the books, gotta study hard so I can get a good job!

We made it! BigJock.com is now a reality. It was in the planning stages for quite some time and took many months to develop, design and build. Were not finished, as we hope to roll out Instant Messaging, Chat Rooms and Video Chat before the end of the year. And as with anything new, we may have a hiccup here or there, and possibly a typo or something that doesnt work quite the way it could or should. If you see anything like this, another set of eyes is appreciated, so feel free to send me an email.

In the 30 days since the teaser site went up, people from every state and territory in the U.S. have joined as well as people from 26 countries! Weve been written up in TechCrunch (www.TechCrunch) as well as VentureBeat (www.VentureBeat.com), hope that is just the beginning of our media exposure. Many people sent along well wishes for the site, saying that a website like this is long overdue.

As much as I want to sit down and take a deep breath and sip an adult beverage, I cant because the real work has just begun. We have set some heady goals and to meet them will take some doing. So OK, I will relax a bit and watch the 49ers game today, but then its back trying to make the world a better place in my own small way.

Speaking of making this a better place, one thing I will try not to do is ever get political. However, this coming Tuesday is election day, and while I will not recommend any candidate, issue, political party or platform, I will ask you to vote. I dont care how your ballots are cast, just vote. If you dont vote you shouldnt complain. A rowdy who was yelling to anyone who would listen that we lived under a dictator accosted me two Sundays ago in West Portal. When he got a tad too close I asked him if he votes. He said no.

And as I wrap this up, maybe someone can help me with thing that makes me go hmmmm. Why is it when I go to Starbucks or really any coffee shop, the same sized iced coffee costs 20% or more than the hot stuff?