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C apitol P ride
Salem stages a high-visibility celebration
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Confluence: The Willamette Valley Mixed G A LA Chorus made
the trip from Salem to the Rose City for Pride 2001; now it’s
time for Portlanders to return the favor
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lthough June traditionally is
known as Pride Month in the gay
community, things will be a little
different in Salem this year.
The newly dubbed Capitol
Pride will be observed the weekend of
Aug. 17 to 19. According to co-chair Dani
Leis, recently available funding from Equity
Foundation and administrative help from
Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and
Gays made this event possible, although she’s
quick to add it hasn’t left a lot of time for
organizing.
Things kick off at 7 p.m. Aug. 17 with a din
ner and show at the 300 Club located in Pringle
Park Plaza. Tickets cost only $9.95.
The keynote speaker will be Roey Thorpe,
new executive director of Basic Rights Oregon.
She will summarize the 2001 legislative session
and outline BRO’s vision for a discrimination-
free Oregon.
Salem Mayor Mike Swaim also will speak,
and entertainment will be provided afterward.
Tickets are available from Ron Smith of the 300
Club at 503-365-9721.
A festival event will be
held from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Aug. 18 in the plaza. It will
feature information booths
and a stage with entertain
ment and speakers.
A Youth Pride Party
will welcome gay kids from
Salem and the surround
ing area that evening in
the “Right Side Bar’’ at the
300 Club. Nonalcoholic
beverages will be served.
As facilitator of Sa
lem’s Rainbow Youth or
ganization, Leis is particu
larly sensitive to the needs
of gay kids. She knew it Mike Swaim
was important to provide
a place for them to celebrate Pride, not making
it exclusively an adult event.
Leis thinks they deserve to be able to cele
brate with the rest of the partygoers. “It’s our
kids that are out there in the community facing
the really hard
challenges."
O f course, the
over-21 crowd
will have their
own party in the
“Left Side Bar”
at the 300 Club.
Alcohol will be
served until the
e sta b lish m e n t Roey Thorpe
closes down.
A queer picnic will be held 11 a.m.
Aug. 19 on the Capitol lawn. Although Leis
acknowledges the Legislature will not be in
session, it still will be a high-visibility event.
She emphasizes Capitol Pride is not just a
party, although there will be plenty of that as
well. This event is geared toward politics.
Leis also is quick to add this is a celebra
tion for the whole state, not just Salem. She
encourages folks from throughout Oregon to
visit the capital city to help recognize Pride.
Her hope is that, even without a sitting Leg
islature, enough people will attend to send a
political message.
Leis thinks this approach to Pride
is particularly valid for Oregon be
cause other states look up to us. “I’ve
heard the reference that Oregon is
held up nationwide as a role model
by other states for fighting anti-gay
initiatives. We’ve had lots of experi
ence with past initiatives.”
With a new name and renewed
energy gained from this year’s event,
Leis anticipates enthusiasm for C ap
itol Pride will build, providing a cat
alyst for political events in the
future.
It only takes an hour to drive
from Portland to Salem. Try and
find time the weekend of Aug. 17 to
19 to celebrate and motivate in
Salem during Capitol Pride. J H
CAPITOL P ride is seeking tenders, entertainers,
nonprofit booths and speakers. For more
information call Dam Lets at 5 0 3 -8 3 1'3 2 7 8 .