October 21.2005 - JUSt OUt 17
fTTTTTTTTiTlnews
Leronda, who used to draw and take pho­
tographs, says he lost his artistic drive when he
relapsed into methamphetamine use two months
ago. For now, he doesn’t want a camera for fear
of losing it, like his 800 electroclash CDs stolen
from shelters and lost while moving around.
Leronda wants to find work in the tele­
marketing or f<x)d service industries. His goals
for the future are simple and honest.
“I just want my own place and a job and a
nice, big dog,” he said. JH
sorry,
tue don’t do exotics.
The following organizations are
welcoming to the sexual minorities
and homeless community.
April says street culture has lost its sense of community.
they’ve served me with is tickets,” said April,
who is bisexual.
She says her alternative appearance is some­
times to blame for the treatment she gets in
public, as is her abrasive demeanor.
“People think I’m stupid because of my
appearance. I usually get treated automatically
like I’m a drug addict,” said April, who served in
the Army for four years. “I’m bipolar, so if you
catch me on a bad day, I’m not that pleasant to
be around.”
Drugs have been a part of April’s past, but
she says she’s trying to stay clean and better
her life.
April is staying with friends but has been
homeless on and off since she was 16, when she
started shooting methamphetamine. She grew
up in Montana.
“I ran away from home with $2 in my pock­
et,” she said. When asked why'April explained:
“I have no impulse control. I have a mental ill­
ness. I go wherever my gut takes me.”
Her instincts have led April to Heald
College, where she plans to study business
administration and eventually open her own
automotive repair shop.
According to April, kxal street culture has
let her down and lost its sense of community.
“Street culture is horrible,” she said. “I get
ripped off. A man spit in my face. When I was
here 10 years ago, people kx>ked out for each
other.”
April finds solace in writing and strolling the
downtown streets.
“I like to walk a lot. I walk from midnight to i
5 a.m., just to talk to people who most normal ; Blanchett House
340 N.W. Glisan St.
people wouldn’t talk to,” she said.
503-226-3911
April observes divides within the queer com­
Serves homeless men with work based
munity between the housed and the homeless.
recovery programs.
“Everybody’s created equal, whether we’re I
Bradley-Angle House
gay or not,” she said. “Why do we segregate with­
503-232-7812
in ourselves when we’re already segregated?”
Boi Toy
|
www.bradleyangle.org
Serves homeless victims of domestic
violence.
Central City Concern
eronda knows more about the fantasies of
232 N.W. Sixth Ave.
straight men than their wives. He says pros­
503-294-1681
tituting in Portland has kept him in drugs, cash,
a car, apartments and a cell phone—at least ■ www.centralcityconcern.org
Serves low-income and homeless adults and
temporarily.
families, including those in recovery.
Sometimes Leronda is picked up by the very
Join
same men who gay-bash him in public.
“There are lots of psychos out there, but i 3338 S.E. 17th Ave.
503-232-7052
there are some people who are really crxil and
www.joinpdx.com
become my sugar daddies,” said Leronda. He
Serves adults and families who are homeless.
describes most of his clients as “dirty old men
New Avenues for Youth
who want some little boy to be their toy.”
1220 S.W. Columbia Blvd.
Leronda, 24, came to Portland when he
503-224-4339,
ext. 203
was 16 to flee his strict Russian family from
www.newavenues.org
Woodbum.
“My whole family drxrsn’t like me because I Serves homeless youth.
I’m gay, but I’m the only one out of them that
Northwest Pilot Project
doesn’t have a [criminal] record,” said Leronda. j 1430 S.W. Broadway
Of seven sisters and five brothers, he is accepted i 503-227-5605
Serves low-income and homeless seniors.
by only two of them.
Leronda turned to prostitution after a one- j Outside In
night stint as a stripper. He has stayed in shel- i 1132 S.W. 13th Ave.
ters and slept in Washington Park last summer.
503-535-3801
He is living with friends while waiting for an
www.outsidein.org
apartment promised by a sugar daddy.
Serves homeless youth.
L
p:ear
801 S.W. Alder
503-228-6677
www.pearmentor.org
Offers art programs and mentoring for
homeless youth.
♦
/tose Gifu
VETERINARY
IIOSITI \l
♦
CRAIG QUIRK OVM
STEPHEN KOCHIS OVM
809 SE Powell Blvd
(near the Ross Island Bridge)
232-3105
LAURELHURST
DENTISTRY
C larice J ohnston
&
dm d .
ASSOCIATES
Sisters of the Road Cafe
133 N.W. Sixth Ave.
503-222-5694
sistersoftheroadcafe.org
Serves meals and provides assistance to the
homeless.
Street Roots
• Treatment explained and discussed
• Teeth whitening
• New patients welcome
211 N.W. Davis St.
503-228-5657
www.streetroots.org
Nonprofit newspaper advocating for the
homeless.
Trans/ldentity Resource Centre
1030 S.W. 13th Ave.
503535-3895
www. outsidein. org
Offers programs for homeless and queer
communities.
Leronda is transitioning out of homelessness by accepting gifts from sugar daddies.
503/233-3622
2520 East Burnside
®