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bout 40 queers and allies con
fronted the followers of the
Rev. Fred Phelps on April 18 out
side Portland State University.
The Kansas preacher, who oper
ates the Web site GodHatesFags.com,
staged the demonstration to protest
same-sex marriage. Although Phelps
was nowhere to be seen, about eight
of his followers showed up, singing
“America, the Beautiful” while drag
ging two U.S. flags on the ground and
holding signs that read, “Fags Eat
Feces,” “Repent or Perish" and
“Thank God for Sept. 11."
Across the street, the counter
protesters remained silent. U n it
ed Sexualities, a queer-positive
club at Lewis &. Clark College,
turned the Phelps appearance
into a pledge drive, asking spon
sors to donate money to the S e x
ual M inority Youth Resource Counterprotesters confront the Rev. Fred Phelps’ followers
Center for every minute o f the (inset) April 18 outside Portland State University
picket.
“The silence worked,” said Earl A. Coff
Bolles notes that lesbian newcomers to
man, Mr. Oregon State Leather 2003, who
Portland often make LCP their first stop.
organized the counterprotest. “Nothing was “I think it’s important that when you open the
being said to them and we weren’t reacting to
phone hook you can find the word ‘lesbian,’ ”
them vocally, so they lost all the steam they
she says.
had built up. They were only there for 30 min
LCP and its sister organization, the Commu
utes, hut you could see the dejection on their
nity Education Project, will hold a joint public
hoard meeting 7 p.m. May 10 at the LCP office,
faces when they left.... (Wei faced them
silently and proved that when bullies— and to
which is located in Suite 253 at 800 N.W. Sixth
me they are bullies— do not get a reaction,
Ave. Those interested in LCP membership are
they have nothing to feed off o f and they look
encouraged to attend.
like fools.”
For more information call 503-227-0605, e-mail
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L esbian C ommunity P roject
S ets O ut N ext S teps
PFLAG P ortland G ears
he Lesbian Community Project held a gen
eral meeting April 24 to discuss the future U p for E lection Y ear
T
of the organization, which has faced a number of
recent challenges.
The meeting, which took place at the
downtown Y W C A , had a low turnout,
according to board member Alyson Bolles.
The 28-year-old attributes the weak atten
dance to the urgency behind the call to meet.
“ People were scared...they would get roped
into a big thing.”
However, demanding unwieldy involvement
from members was not the purpose, Bolles says.
Instead, the meeting served as a strategy session
for the organization’s next steps. The 16 atten
dees were firmly behind the continuation of the
nearly 20-year-old nonprofit, including its
newsletter, annual softball tournament, New
Year’s Eve dance and bimonthly discussion
groups. Additional future projects will be deter
mined by members.
“In order to do more, we need more people,”
says Bolles, who has served on the board for
more than a year.
O ne issue facing the member-driven
organization is a series of recent resignations,
including Jam ie Bolyard, who stepped
down as executive director in March. Several
board members also have stepped down, leav
ing Bolles and Donna Luckett to run the
organization.
Bolles believes LCP may be experiencing
lower membership interest because “other
(queer) organizations are stepping up” on impor
tant issues.
She also thinks the rise in lesbian families
may be a factor as new mothers become too busy
to attend meetings.
But it is clear to Bolles and others that LCP
still serves a vital purpose in Portland. “We get
calls every day,” she told Just Out.
he Portland chapter of Parents, Families
and Friends of Lesbian and Gays will
hold a planning meeting from 7 to 9 p.m.
May 11 at First United Methodist Church,
1838 S.W. Jefferson St. The gathering will
start with the regular format small “rap”
groups and will conclude with a facilitated dis
cussion on how to prepare for the upcoming
election season.
“What we see coming is some sort of anti-gay
initiative,” PFLAG member Jim Morris told Just
Out. His husband, Richard Colombo, serves on
the Portland PFLAG board.
“ In the past, like many organizations,
we’ve been reactive, responding to the latest
thing,” Morris says. He hopes PFLAG can get
ahead of the ball this year and strategize in
advance of possible upcoming battles with
anti-gay forces.
Morris says family voices are particularly
effective when talking to legislators, who
tend to hear from a standard set o f activists
and lobbyists. He notes that hearing “the
words o f parents talking about their fears
and dreams” for their queer children makes
a big impact.
Meeting organizers also hope to engage more
Portlanders in the organization. Morris says one
of the myths about PFLAG is that it is only for
parents or family members of queer people.
Nearly half of the Portland PFLAG membership
is queer.
“What I would love to see," Morris says, “is
that each one of us (in the queer community]
would reach out to family and friends in Port
land and get them involved."
T
Updates on activities can be found at
www.pf1agpdx.org.
Up to a 50%
Cost Savings on
P ride N orthwest , C lubs
H ost A wareness E vents
ride Northwest— the nonprofit organization
that produces Portland’s annual gay, lesbian,
bi and trans festival and parade— will host aware
ness events throughout May at four queer venues:
• Silverado: 3 to 9 p.m. May 9 at 1217 S.W.
Stark St.
• C .C . Slaughters: 9 p.m. to 2 a.m. May 14
at 219 N.W. Davis St.
• Panorama/Boxxes: 7 p.m. to midnight
May 23 at 1035 S.W. Stark St.
• Egyptian Club: 9 p.m. to 2 a.m. May 27 at
3701 S.E. Division St.
Attendees will find out what’s in store for
this year, including who the entertainers,
keynote speakers and grand marshal will be.
They also can sign up for a volunteer shift, make
a donation to support Portland Pride 2004, reg
ister their organization as a parade contingent
and reserve a festival booth.
Pride Northwest and several Portland Pride
2004 sponsors will provide entertainment, door
prizes, special guests and much more. Cover charges
may apply; proceeds benefit Pride Northwest.
The Pride Festival takes place from noon to
11 p.m. June 19 and from noon to 6 p.m.
June 20 at Waterfront Park. The Pride Parade
steps off at 11:15 a.m. June 20 in the Pearl Dis
trict, heads down Southwest Stark Street and
winds through Old Town.
P
For more information call 503-295-9788 or visit
www.pndenw.org.
Continued on Page 10