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About Just out. (Portland, OR) 1983-2013 | View Entire Issue (June 3, 2005)
34 JUSt OUt ' tune 3. 20Û5 We were accepted with warmth and appre ciation, and our experience that first year was so rewarding that we have returned every year. We can’t imagine a time when we won’t partic ipate on whatever level we are able! for community contributions During one of our early years, we were assigned to work on one comer of Pioneer Square, and as fate would have it, the protesters chose the same comer to make their stand. It behalf of Peacock in the Park will be Maria XXXVI, one of last year’s hosts for the now was during Measure 9, and the atmosphere was defunct drag celebration, which enjoyed an 18- heated. That day was a trial and a spiritual awaken year nin. ing for both of us. To be given the job of protect (jl)e C omb to to Honor a Friend, ing the bigots from the community was more dif ficult than we could ever have imagined! and Stayed: Thoughts by Kraig and Barbara Bartel of Estacada, recipients of the Spirit of We found ourselves defending freedom of speech, from the other side! Pride Award We were very surprised and honored to It was very difficult to reason with the PFLAG grandmas who wanted to kick the pro receive the Spirit of Pride Award. testers’ asses and to discourage We started working on the security crew at the street kids from throwing the festival and parade cups of urine on them. But we 12 years ago as a way to prevailed with words of wis honor the memory of dom and wit, and the parade our friend, Jon Bund. was uninterrupted by any vio He was a friend of lence. Kraig’s at Sam Barlow That year, we came home High School and was mentally exhausted from the taken by AIDS long anger and hate that had Kraig and Barbara Bartel before we were ready to flowed over us (in both direc let him go. tions) all that day. But we On the first anniversary of his passing, we emerged, renewed in our belief that in America were trying to make sense of our loss. When we we really do have the right to freedom of read an article in just Out about the need for speech. volunteers, we decided to step up and try to fill We were proud that we had the calm a space that he would have taken if he had nature, and good sense, to prevail over both been here. sides, without causing even more trouble! Tk Spilli TWß Local luminaries celebrated by Sarah Dougher s they mount the stage around 5:30 p.m. June 18 at Waterfront Park, you will see some familiar faces among this year’s award recipients. This year’s Spirit of Pride Awards, recogniz ing contributions to the community Pride cele brations, honor Poison Waters and Kraig and Barbara Bartel. “These are people who have gone above and beyond the call of community service,” notes Tobin Britton, president of the 2005 Pride Northwest board. “They are always there, even when it gets hot and dusty and we wonder why we’re still doing it.” The Spirit of Pride Award recipients were nominated by the community via the Pride Northwest Web site, and then voted on by the board as a whole. The Champion of Pride Award, given last year for the first time, recognizes sustained com mitment to the community. “It is a little like a lifetime achievement award for the people and organizations who have consistently given their time and energy to benefit the community,” says Nicole Browning, sponsorship coordinator for the board. This year, Peacock in the Park and Vera Katz will be honored. Receiving the award on Since we had always tended more in the direction of “rabble-rouser,” we were both sur prised to find our success as “peacekeeper”! We saw it as an indication of personal growth. We thank Pride Northwest for the opportunity! Through the years, we have been encour aged to find that the protesters are always the same small group, with the same devoted leader. Theirs is not a point of view that is widespread or growing, and their protest in the past few years has been more symbolic than active...they just can’t stay away, any more than we can! There’s no need for us to act out defensive ly! Many of us were able to actually welcome the protesters with an open heart, and that is the true meaning of our search for diversity, after all. What everyone seeks is peace in their own hearts. If we can find that, we win. Important cultural changes take time. We are in it for the duration. We feel lucky to have the chance to participate in our own small way. The Pride Northwest board of directors puts in many hours all year-round. We appreciate them more than they can know. The festival is an event that means a lot to so many people, and it couldn’t happen without the dedication of a few leaders and many volunteers. We are grateful to be included in their numbers. We are honored to receive the Spirit of Pride Award. Tesoli (jOûÏPM 'H oubìim I for Community Involvement with Spirit of Pride Award “Community involvement is not my over whelming goal,” notes Poison Waters, aka . Your Home & Loan Team! 2 Call Today for a Free Consultation Christine Hall | Elise Campbell Real Estate Broker Senior Loan Consultant President's Club Member Graduate, Realtor Institute Accredited Buyer Representative Call: 503-698-5429 Toll Free: 800-343-9943 Pager: 503-301-1941 Fax: 800-360-7206 Call: 503-307-1353 Email: EliseC@CompassRealty.com www.EliseCampbell.com Office: 503-698-6988 hallc@eaglehomemortgage.com k REALTOR’ EQUAL HOUSING OPPORTUNITY
