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About Just out. (Portland, OR) 1983-2013 | View Entire Issue (Nov. 1, 2002)
40 2QÛ2 D IV E R S IO N 'S Multi-everything Magdalen Hsu-Li Pepe’s Masquerade the fight against hunger (Nov. 11, Pacific Crest Community School, 116 N.E. 29th Ave.); Lan guage of the Body: “explorations,” featuring the comeback of the unbelievable Human Sculp ture and nationally acclaimed queer perform ance artist Jeffery Byrd (Nov. 23, Center Space, 420 S.E. Sixth Ave.); and Language of Fetishized Others, a presentation of the video work of Guillermo Gomez-Pena (Nov. 24, Center Space). For a complete list of events, visit www.2gyrlz.org. Performances and workshops will vary in price from free to $12. ake a ltxdc at the accompanying nless you live in a cave, you photo of Pepe Raphael of Pepe & know the big Creating Change the Bottle Blondes. conference is Nov. 6 to 10 at Just Out gets a press release the DoubleTree Jantzen Beach. The about Pepe’s fourth annual Exotic annual event is a chance for queer Masquerade Ball on Nov. 8 at the movers and shakers from around Crystal Ballroom. We read, we assess, the country to dialogue and present we kxik at the Weh site. workshops and discussions around We then make the requisite inquiry myriad issues affecting the gay, les via e-mail: “ L'Xies Pepe and/or either bian, hi and trans community. Bottle Blonde identify' as a member of And that’s all fine and gcxxl and the queer community?” Usually, we get necessary, sure, sure. But the big one of two e-mails hack: a defensive news is that some really cool famous “no" or a resounding “yes.” people will entertain the masses But Pepe, being the kind of guy he is, Nov. 8 as part of the Columbia calls us right up on the phone. This turns he Rose City G ay Freedom Band has River Cabaret. One of those is the out to he an excellent strategy because spent three long years in its search for the nearing-pop-stardom Magdalen the Spanish cutie is so charming we perfect musical director, and now they have Hsu-Li. wouldn’t care if he wanted to marry his one in the fonn of Rice Majors, who will dehut Yeah, she’s a gorgeous lesbian, and sofa, we are covering this event. that alone is enough of a reason to during the fall concert Voices of Am erica: Suffice it to say, Pepe is, well, eva A Salute to Am erican Composers, 8 p.m. show up. But her multidimensional sive. But playfully so. “ 1 love to make Nov. 9 at Rose City Park United Methixlist artistic perfonnance is a gtxxl reason, them wonder," he admits. “Tell them Church, 5830 N.E. Alameda St. tcx>. Her shows are a mixture of piano, I’m a hi...cycle,” he quips. “Yes, I’m a The hand has been without a musical guitar, vtxrals, impromptu standup, bicycle!" director since Boh Mensel left in 1999 to focus theater, ptK'try and percussion Pepe is understandably concerned on his position as musical director of the Port improvisations. Also a painter, Hsu- that if he attaches a queer identity to him land Gay M en’s Chorus. Majors moved hack Li twists her varied art expressions self, all the straight costume- and glam- to his native Oregon from the East C oast last together, simultaneously twisting the loving weirdies will wonder whether they audience around her lit should come to the party. But ultimately tle finger. he’s honest: “I’m from Europe— you As a first-generation know, we swing all ways there." Chinese American, fem That Sit id, queer and straight alike will want to walk through the dtxirs of Pepe of Pepe & the Bottle Blondes has killer new boots for the inist, lesbian musician, this popular funky event. It’s masquer- Exotic Masquerade Ball on Nov. 8 at the Crystal Ballroom she has plenty to say about sexuality, racism ade at its finest, “no kitty cats or little and women. Her two albums, 1999’s that way and hopes his and the hall’s fans do devils," warns Pepe; if you’re going to come to Evolution and 2001’s Fire, walk the what they feel. But, he warns, “You cannot have this thing, do it right. You can be a devil so long line between social commentary sex on the stage. As long as you’re going to do it as you are a fabulous devil. and mainstream pop. Pepe himself is, at press time, unsure what he somewhere else....” The Exotic Masquerade Ball is from 9 p.m. to “I try to incorporate as much will wear this year. “Last year 1 looked like 1:30 a.m. and is 21 and over. Other entertain universality into my songs as 1 Tammy Faye Baker. I kxiked like a float. W hat ment includes Rick Bain, Sumerland, Sabor can,” she told the Asian American ever made me think a tight, yellow Spandex Latino Dance Co., 6 9 a Go-Go and D J G re A ction Figuie Internet site. dress would make me look gixxJT’ garious. Tickets are $20 in advance from the “ Being universal exposes your He hopes to improve on this. “I just got some box office or Ticketmaster. You’ll pay $30 the music to a broader audience of killer boots, so we’ll see.” (Once again, see day of the show. people who may not he aware of accompanying photo.) minority subgroups.” Some compare this event to the now-defunct Dada Ball in terms of style and Also part of the lineup are actor/singer Wilson Cruz (My So dress. “Taking their cue from Called Life, All Over Me), singer/ the name, our fans designed songwriter Doria Roberts and Multi-artistic pop singer/songwriter Magdalen Hsu-Li will and established the nature of actor/comedian Alec Mapa (from delight audiences at the Columbia River Cabaret iterary Arts’ announcement of the the event,” says Pepe. “Just cel the short-lived Some of My Best nominees for the prestigious Oregon ebrate yourself, whatever it is.” Book Awards includes Portland hi year, and he and his tuba joined up with the Since its inception in Friends). Local talent includes poet Diana hand immediately. He has a bachelor’s in writer Sara Ryan for Em press of the Cohen and mistress of ceremonies M isha 1998, Exotic Masquerade has Rockafeller. music from Cornell University and has con World. gotten bigger, more extrava ducted a wide variety of choruses, hands and Nominated in the Leslie Bradshaw The Columbia River Cabaret starts at gant, more wild. Pepe likes it Award for Young Readers category, the 10 p.m. Tickets are $15 from Broadway Books, orchestras. “Being involved in an organization like Rose In Other Words or www.creatingchange.org. novel tells the story of two adolescent City offers us a unique chance to reach out to girls who fall for each other at summer our community,” says Majors. “We are able to camp. The hook was also nominated this provide opportunities for musical as well as per year for a Lambda Literary Award in the sonal growth, both for the people who play in ortland’s queer-run 2 Gyrlz Performative Children/Young Adult category. (Tennessee the hand as well as for the members of the audi writer Julia Watts’ Finding H.F. won that honor.) Arts is pleased to present the first-ever ence. The positive effect we can have on the Enteractive Language Festival from Nov. 1 “ I’m thrilled,” says Ryan, who has no idea community is immense.” whether she will win hut hopes that, if she does, to 29 at different venues around the city. The fall concert’s feature program will he “Art as Language” is the theme running it would mean...more schools and libraries George Gershwin’s “Rhapsody in Blue,” which would have a book on their shelves about two through each of the diverse offerings. “Each will highlight the talents of clarinetist Chris girls who fall in love.” event explores a different ‘language’ through a Cox. The evening will also include works by gay variety of visual, musical and performative Another nominee in the same category, composers Aaron Copland and Stephen Sond Monte Killingsworth’s Equinox, contains a les arts,” explains co-director Llewyn Maire. heim, lesbian composer Jennifer Higdon and bian theme: The main character discovers her "W e’ll experience street performance, spoken U.S. composers Bernard Hermann, Karl King, word, storytelling, dance, visual arts, screen mother is involved with a woman. John Philip Sousa, Samuel Augustus Ward, and music.” The Oregon Book Awards will be held Douglas Wagner, James Swearingen and Frank Some highlights include Language of the 7:30 p.m. Nov. 7 at the Scottish Rite Center, Ticheli. Word: “Obsession,” a night of text exploration 1512 S.W. Morrison St. A reception and hook signing follow the ceremony, which is hosted by Tickets to Voices of America are $5-$8. They featuring queer performance artist Lisa N ew Sherman Alexie, Native American author and can he purchased at the dtx>r or in advance from man & the gyrl grip (Nov. 7, Disjecta Gallery, Gai-Pied. |P1 director of the gay-themed movie The Business 116 N.E. Russell St.); “Peace Words II,” a “marathon benefit” of dozens of writers, musi of Fancydancing. Tickets are $20 from Sara Ryan is thrilled to gam er yet another cians and other performers to raise money for Compiled by LlSA BRADSHAW and SARAH LEIMERT 503-227-2583. literary nomination for Em press of the World New director and a fall concert to boot Baby dyke book nominated Art = Language
