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About Just out. (Portland, OR) 1983-2013 | View Entire Issue (Sept. 1, 1991)
▼ t«yl i i t ir I M I ▼ 15 Windfire One o f the few places where queer youth can go to be themselves and have fun T Hired Hands Massage Co. 'T a stt th e ¡Hidden 'Treasure "Customized massage the way yo u like it. In your home, hotel or my downtown office." a t the ‘Enchanted ‘Blue Wave Luxury tUgootu. O ceanside % pmance Gift certificates available by Dandi Baunach, Melissa Kilby and Pamela Mullins 'Pamptr yoursslf in Victoria.n Breathe tfu back j footing air. Soothe away stress in warn waters, under secret night skjes. John Clark, LMT 282-1095 By appointment only 'Washington j J it 'Woman s •Bast &■ Breahjast ‘P O'Bozl47Siavuw, 0*193644 206-642-4900 $ 3 5 per h our Two night minimum stay on wtefonds Sacred Earth Coalition announces ‘ ^^#^aradigniShift in 4 Moverrfen Debra Beers Carmen Rodriguez Susana Santos Roberta Wong Windfire members include (top row) Christine, Mariam, Monica, Roxann.Tony, Dandi, Kronda (bottom row) Jo, Angela, Tracy, Melissa, Paula and Tina. o you rem em ber w hen you first started feeling “different?” Do you remember feeling alone, as if no one else in the w orld felt like you? Didn’t you wish you had a place you could go to talk with others about your feelings? For today’s gay, lesbian, bisexual and unsure youth, there is such a place. It is called Windfire. The idea for W indfire was started several years ago by a i n — — — young m an who went to Grant High School in Portland, Oregon. Windfire is a fun, safe, sup portive space for gay, lesbian, bisex ual or unsure youth under 20 years old to discuss their problems or joys...the atmosphere is really very open. Honesty and confidentiality are two o f the traits most upheld at every W indfire meeting. These traits are imperative in order to insure Windfire remains a safe space. When kids first come to W indfire, they are usually isolated and have a great need to find more people like themselves. M ost are nervous when they first arrive, but many also feel excited, happy, curious, glad to be there, and welcomed. “I need a place to go with other people my own age,” one young person shared. After the nervousness wears off, youth who keep attending Windfire have the opportunity to meet new people, discuss issues im portant to today’s gay, lesbian and bisexual youth and keep D up with the happenings and events in the gay community. There is also a need for gay, lesbian and bisexual youth to feel like they belong. W indfire has a supportive atm osphere where gay, lesbian and bisexual kids can feel comfort able enough to talk about their thoughts and feel ings. A typical evening with Windfire begins with “check-in.” Check-in is designed for personal introductions at minimum. At most it is a time when the youth can briefly describe their previ ous w eek’s events and bring up any important issues they would like to talk about. After check in, the group discusses a wide range o f topics, including gay, lesbian and bisexual relationships, ex-lovers, coming out to parents, school, activi ties, places to go, how to meet people, “Gaydar,” sex and intimacy and much, much more. Windfire plans activities outside o f the meet ing time. There have been beach trips, bowling parties, and picnics. And many people from Windfire “hang out” together after group time. Windfire has been successful because there just arc not many places for gay, lesbian or bisex ual youth in the Portland Metro area. The bars cater to the 21 and over crowd and many groups or clubs in existence just do not have the capac ity or want to offer topics for the special needs of the gay, lesbian and bisexual youth community. Windfire presently meets at 6 p.m. every Thurs day at the Multnomah County Central Library at SW 10th and Taylor in downtown Portland. Check the door to the video room to sec what room Windfire is meeting in. Those interested in more information on Windfire are invited to call Phoenix Rising at 223-8299. Specializing in Reception Opening: Oct. 3, 7p.m. 3959 SE Hawthorne Blvd. 233-2182 — • Residential • Apartment buildings • Owner-occupied duplexes • 1031 Tax Deferred Exchanges K a th y T ysinger Bridgetown Realty Work (503) 287-9370 Home (503) 2871523 Member of Portland Million Dollar Club • Free consultation • TRACY I. BLAKESLEE CERTIFIED PUBLIC ACCOUNTANT Specializing in Small Business Accounting, Tax Planning, and Preparation 1’ost Ottico Box 6334 Portland, Oregon 97228-6334 (303) 238-7276 FAX: (803) 239-6303