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About Just out. (Portland, OR) 1983-2013 | View Entire Issue (Feb. 15, 2002)
february 15 2002 PORTLAND GAY MEN’S CHORUS presents Classical Voices 1 ^ 3 /* ■ '* ' ï :~ $ ' v - Vî:,?;.s; Ä ^ ; ; -■ -: '.K Sunday, February 24, 2002 @ 2 p.m. . .., . _ . , , The Old Church '» '/bj' ' _^ ** ¿ f* ~ y * ' ::^ ' ■ » ■ ¿’’ i^ r'--' ‘ • . , . ... V.» (SW 11th Ave. and SW Clay) • ”K '*■ ’ ’ *• J,t r ‘ ' ^ * * ~ ''¿ ' < ** T ic k e t P rices: $ 1 5 G en eral A dm ission vt & S v ;--.*.- -S T -» -,* ^1 •’ • ..-• -. » m - •*. v f " ;£*• ' „ •, -4 !,’ i - • - ¡J, ■ *■ »• £.•>.;>■#’•<•. - ■ • • Including a post concort recaption sponsored by 3 Doors Down. and Vintage Voices World Premiere An original work honoring the elders from our community. Featuring music, dance and style from the 20's. 30's and 40's. Saturday. March 24. 2002 @ 8 p.m. and Sunday, March 24. 2002 @ 2 p.m. Kaui Auditorium. Reed College T i c k e t Prices: S20 $ 1 5 $12 To P u rch ase T ic k e ts C ontact: P G M C # 5 0 3 - 2 2 6 - 2 5 8 8 or O n l in e # w w w . p d x g r n c . o r g •i- j Continued from Page 25 controversial when Oliver first started it in 1989, it now receives some of its funding from the city of Portland— not under a public health banner hut rather with public safety funds, as a way to keep the sharps off the streets and out of the garbage. Last year, Outside In exchanged 285,684 needles and disposed of almost 300,000. T he program received 11,578 client visits, nearly three-quarters of whom were men. About 88 percent were white,, and the largest portion (37 percent) were 21 to 30 years old. The program, available to anyone 18 or older, is anonymous, confidential, free and without obliga tion or Judgment. The exchange happens in a private room, one on one with a staff mem ber, so individuals can receive counseling, safer-sex information and supplies, anony mous HIV testing and drug treatment referrals. T h e most re cent development is a syringe exchange for transsexuals who in ject hormones. T he organization also is exploring a program for mobile outreach that would operate in addition to its downtown and Northeast Portland sites. Outside In believes peer education is one of the most effective ways of reaching adolescents and young adults, and the risk education depart m ent’s most popular program, Gorilla Theater, is its proof. Last year, 84 kids (nearly half queer or questioning) played a role in the performances created by kids for other kids, addressing in a safe environment the issues of street life, such as drug use, alcohol abuse and prostitution. Previously, presentations were scheduled at a church; now, Goril la Theater can per form at a large performance hall in the new build ing’s basement. T he space will double as a confer ence room for the organization’s board of direc tors, marking the first time the agency’s leaders can meet on its premises. A nother youth-led outreach program is Streetwise, in which peers work with staff and adult volunteers on the streets o f downtown Portland, primarily in the Burnside Triangle area. They provide education and survival sup plies to other young people who might be at risk for H IV infection. Of the 36 Streetwise kids who hit the pave ment during 2000-2001, more than half identi fied as sexual minorities, including three who were trans. The program targets young peo ple involved in the sex industry and those who are unlikely to hear A ID S pre vention informa tion in a traditional setting. Aside from its important mes sage, Streetwise fos ters basic vocational skills, such as showing up on time, keeping agreements, coopera tion, anger management and conflict resolution. Even more specifically for gay, lesbian, hi, trans and questioning youth, however, is V O IC ES, which stands for Voices of Individual and Community Empowerment from the Streets. More than 30 kids meet weekly to take part in activities providing muntal peer sup port and a sense of community through accep tance and creativity. For example, the group recently explored issues important to trans youth. Vvhef^e (e n d w h y ) q u ed \ KidS ^ccl at, h o /*c liver has seen a lot o f other changes dur ing the 22 years she has been associated with Outside In. W hen it was founded in 1968, for instance, hippies figured high among clients. Not long ago, gang-related groups were common. Although client demographics have varied through the years, Oliver notes the core causes of homeless ness among Portland’s youth have not O
