T
he weather was kind and so was the crowd
at the 16th annual Peacock in the Park on
June 30. Bursts of color, strings of beads,
coifed bouffants and feathers aplenty combined
to make the event, according to co-hostess
Poison Waters, “an overall success.”
A total of 30 acts from Portland, Salem,
Eugene and Seattle converged on Washing
ton Park with more than 4,000 spectators to
raise money for the Audria M. Edwards
Scholarship Fund, which awards grant money
to students who are queer or whose parents
are. Admission was free, but the $11,000 in
tips for performers went to the fond.
N ine students were awarded scholarships
at the event: Charyse Appledom, Chad
Chamberlain, Gregory Lloyd, Jesus Morales,
Damon Thompson, April Sunrise, Kelly
Hoepner, Miriam Volpin and Morgan Hawes.
“It’s amazing every year they all just
show up with minimal advertising,” Poison
notes. “Peacock in the Park has become a
wonderful tradition— a real gathering o f the
community.”