*
P lo J M S t M t * (une 6.2003
W<U ti(c
Hats off!
Cjifts and 9-(ome furnishings
Pride Northwest salutes outstanding achievements
by J im
R adosta and T imothy K rause
PHOTOS B> MARTY DAVIS
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Members of the NAM ES Project Foundation march through downtown during Portland Pride 2002
T
his year Pride Northwest is honoring two
organizations and three individuals for their
outstanding achievements within the sexu
al minorities community as well as their
outreach to the larger community.
Spirit of Pride Awards will he presented to
the Portland chapter of the NAM ES Project
Foundation, CM Hall of Basic Rights Oregon,
Carol Gabrielli of Jesuit Volunteer Corps: North
west and Sophia Lanza-Weil of the l>ay of
Silence Project. In addition, the 2003 grand
marshal is the Sexual Minority Youth Recreation
Center, and Ann Shepherd of Parents, Families
and Friends of Lesbians and Gays will receive a
posthumous Lifetime Achievement Award.
and Quilt displays, raising more than $80,000
for area organizations such as the Brinker Fund,
the Friends of People with AIDS Foundation,
Our House of Portland, Womens Intercommu
nity AIDS Resource, Catholic AIDS Ministries
and the HIV Day Center. In 1996 the Portland
group was nominated for “Chapter (if the Year”
for its extensive outreach work and develop
ment of education kits.
Like many AIDS service organizations, how
ever, the foundation and the Portland chapter
experienced reduced funding and public apathy.
Recent restructuring on the national level creat
ed financial demands the local chapter was
unable to meet. After much consideration,
members voted to close the Portland chapter
with a final display in this year’s Pride parade.
Any funds remaining will be distributed to Itxral
AIDS service organizations.
“We realized that our hearts are saying keep
it going, hut we know we can’t ask the commu
nity to pay so much. There’s just not the money
he pandemic of AIDS is not over, hut a
there to draw on,” Kibbons says. "That divsn’t
chapter in its story is closing with a mix of
mean we don’t love it. It’s just the financial
accomplishment and loss. After accepting a
aspect that’s tom us all up."
2003 Spirit of Pride Award for its nearly 15 years
As for the Spirit of Pride Award, Kihbnns
of service in recognizing friends and family lost
| adds: “ It’s a great statement of recognition of the
to AIDS, Portland’s connection to the AIDS
| years of service the Portland chapter of Quilt has
Memorial Quilt will disband.
given. The recognition is wonderful, hut it’s also
"There is a definite loss," acknowledges steer
tempered with the humility that we’ve had to
ing committee member Rich Ribbons, describ
make a very hard choice (if closing.”
ing the organizations impact in Oregon, South
west Washington and beyond. “The ideas that
we put together here have been picked up and
shared with most every chapter of Quilt."
The first panel was created in San Francisco
M Hall has raised
in 1987. A little more than a year later, the
thousands of dol
Quilt had gone national. The entire work was
lars and, subse
first displayed in Portland in August 1988 at
quently, opened thou
University of Portland, its last stop on a national
sands of minds in the
tour of some 7,000 panels. Two months later, a
fight agaiast anti-gay
Portland chapter of the NAM ES Project Foun
bigotry statewide as
dation was established.
development director
Organizers say the purpose has been to p ro
at Basic Rights Ore
CM Hall
vide a creative means for remembrance and
gon and house party
healing while illustrating the enormity of the
coordinator during 2000’s No on 9 Campaign. She
AIDS pandemic. They have hoped to increase
also serves on the local steering committee for the
public awareness, assist with preventive educa
Human Rights Campaign, which strives for equali
tion and raise funds for community-based AIDS
ty on the national level. In her limited spare time,
service organizations.
she volunteers as the youth group adviser at Uni
Through the years volunteers have held
tarian Universalist Congregation of Salem.
panel-making workshops, dedication ceremonies
Hall previously has worked with U.S. Sen.
Portland Chapter
of NAMES Project
Foundation
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