Just out., July 05, 2002, Page 17, Image 17

My 5.2002
m m rm inew s
uburb-bound youth often have pre­
cious few queer resources available,
and what little there is usually only can
be found in bigger cities. But thanks to
the W ashington County Pride Project,
this soon might be a thing of the past.
The program’s aim is to provide resources for
queer and questioning kids 21 and younger.
Although its backbone consists of two drop-in
support groups, it also sponsors social events and
organizes activism.
“Pride Project is a positive place to spend
your time, a chance to make a difference, coun­
seling if you need it and a place to make friends,”
explains Lindsay Sparks, a 20-year-old graduate
of Aloha High School. She has been a part of
the program for about five months.
Even though several of the county’s high
schools have gay-straight alliances or similar or­
ganizations, mostly run by Pride Project members,
the campuses are still by no means safe places.
Youth tell stories of physical or verbal violence or
more passive homophobia— peers who use “gay”
as an insult and tell homophobic jokes and stories.
“1 had food thrown at me. 1 was thrown
down the stairs and broke a few ribs,” says
Christy Miller of Century High School.
Through the Pride Project, the youth have a
place to go where they can feel safe, have fun
and even precipitate social change. Most of the
kids involved are high schoolers between 15 and
18, although a few have been as young as 12.
Close to 50 youth are involved with various
aspects of the Pride Project on a regular basis,
but about 150 more rotate through some part of
the program less frequently.
“People come and go. Usually there’s a core
group of six to 14 youth,” explains Molly Franks,
the Pride Project’s sole full-time employee.
S
N ew P ower G eneration
Washington County Pride Project provides support, safety
and a fun social atmosphere for queer youth by Emma Rood
Molly Franks (center) leads queer youth through downtown during Portland Pride 2002
These “core” people are primarily the kids
who come to the two support groups that form
the heart of the program. The weekly meetings in
Beaverton and Hillsboro take on a wide variety of
roles, from safe spaces and activist coalitions to
social scenes and informal dating services.
“I was kinda freaked out about who 1 was,
and it was a really positive environment,” says
17-year-old Sunset High School student A m an­
da Wagner, explaining her reasons for becoming
involved in the Pride Project. She adds, “And
Molly is a really positive role model.”
Franks works with 16 high schools and does
“outreach all over the county. I go to schools,
community spaces [and] do one-on-one support
and advocacy."
A W ashington County native, Franks facili­
tates the two support groups and helps youth
organize events and activities such as hikes,
movie nights and bowling. “We try to make a
change in the community," Wagner says.
The biggest project during the past few
months has been working with Tualatin Valley
Television to create shows on topics pertaining
to sexual minority youth. So far the kids have
put on two panel discussions and have plans in
the works to present a game show-style educa­
tional program about HIV.
Many of the Pride Project participants work
with Bridge 13, an activist group that educates
people, primarily educators, about sexual minor­
ity youth through community outreach. “It’s a
very popular program,” Franks comments.
A nd there’s always more to be done. The
only limitations on the Pride Project’s expansion
are resources, namely a lack of time and money.
“If there were five of me, I’d love to do more
focus organizing with specific schools. As it is, I
do that, but on a really limited basis,” says Franks,
who would love to see Washington County open
a facility similar to the Sexual Minority Youth
Recreation C enter in Southeast Portland.
Still, the Pride Project keeps growing. Mem­
bers always are coming up with new plans, and
the television programming is a “bottomless pit
of fun,” as Franks puts it.
“There are youth everywhere with all kinds
of ideas and enthusiasm,” she says. “Way more
great stuff can happen.” J H
The W ashington C ounty P ride P roject
meets 4 p m. Wednesdays and Thursdays. For
details call Molly Franks at 503-260-5792.
Anyone interested in volunteering should call Tma
Barfoot at 503-872-9664, ext. 27.
E mma R ood is a 16-year-old high school escapee
who just fulfilled her life’s dream of becoming a
Lesbian Avenger. She attends Simon’s Rock
College in Massachusetts and can be reached at
erood0l@simons-rock.edu.
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