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Diversity Summit 2007 is from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.
April 10 at the Oregon Convention Center, 777 N.E.
Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd. For details visit
www.portlandgeneral.com/diversitysummit.
Scholarship Benefits Law Students
A Class Act, the 13th annual benefit for the
Bill and Ann Shepherd Legal Scholarship Fund of
Equity Foundation, is fast approaching. The schol
arship provides financial assistance to third- and
fourth-year law students who donate their legal
expertise to fighting discrimination, chiefly against
sexual minorities. The three most Fecent Shepherd
scholars hail from each of Oregon’s law schixils:
Bryan Allan from Northwestern School of Law at
Lewis & Clark College, Patricia Migliuri from
Willamette University College of Law and Miranda
Plummer from University of Oregon School of Law.
After their daughter, Susie, came out to them in
1972, Bill and Ann Shepherd began working
tirelessly for gay and lesbian civil rights. In 1976, Bill
founded the Portland Town Council Legal Resource
Group, the forerunner of the Oregon Gay and
Lesbian Law Association, and Ann was appointed to
a two-year term on Oregon Gov. Robert Straub’s Task
Force on Sexual Preference. While speaking before
church and civic groups throughout the Northwest,
urging parents to love and accept their gay and
lesbian children, the couple helped found the
Portland chapter of Parents of Gays, which later
affiliated with the national organization Parents,
Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays in 1977.
This year’s benefit features dueling divas Diane
Syrcle and Alexis Hamilton, cherished friends of
Ann Shepherd. Doors open at 7 p.m. for the 8 p.m.
curtain April 27 at The Old Church, 1422 S.W.
11th Ave. A reception afterward offers bites of
Portland’s finest desserts. Tickets are $35 at the
dcxir or $30 in advance from Balloons on Broadway,
617 S.W. Washington St. For more information call
503-286-1752.
New VIEWS for Gay Seniors
Volunteers Involved for the Emotional Well-
Being of Seniors (VIEWS) is a free, Portland-based
support group that has been helping older adults for
nearly two decades. Today, VIEWS is reaching out
to gay seniors.
A staggering statistic shows two-thirds of gay
seniors live in isolation, while only one-third of
heterosexuals are living in the same situation. This
juxtaposition is a major cause for concern. Getting
support services to gay seniors is a high priority for
the VIEWS program.
VIEWS coordinator Quince Affolter recognizes
the struggle that the queer community has had to
endure. Today’s gay seniors matured in an era when
their lifestyles were stigmatized, keeping them in
the closet. Affolter hopes to tear down those
barriers, bringing gay seniors into the community to
mingle with their peers. “[The queer] community is
welcome to all our groups,” says Affolter.
VIEWS provides services for seniors older than
60 who are dealing with the loss of a loved one,
emotional distress and other life difficulties.
According to VIEWS staff, they understand the
tremendous difficulties seniors face with dwindling
emotional, physical and financial resources. The
organization’s peer counselors offer support and
encouragement to group members participating in
the program. Seven support groups operate around
the Portland area, and one-on-one sessions are
available for seniors with special needs.
Every VIEWS volunteer is older than 55 and
attends 50 hours of support counseling training before
becoming certified with the program. After certifica
tion, counselors are eligible to run group sessions and
work with members in need of support. Counselors
coordinate group sessions consisting of six to eight
members. These small groups help combat intimida
tion, allowing seniors to relax and open up.
VIEWS has 16 volunteers serving 60 clients
around the Portland area. New training sessions
begin in May, and gay seniors are encouraged to
volunteer. For more information call 503-661-5455,
ext. 230 or 233.
Night of Noise Celebrates
Day off Silence
The Portland Metro Gay Straight Alliance is
sponsoring the 11th annual Night of Noise from
5:30 to 9 p.m. April 18 at City Hall, 1221 S.W.
Fourth Ave.
The event celebrates the culmination of the
Day of Silence, an annual event held to commem
orate and protest anti-gay bullying, harassment and
discrimination in schools. According to Stephen
Dunlevy, who helps lead the Portland Metro GSA,
high school and college students refrain from speak
ing, wear signs and hand out fliers to highlight the
silence that exists in schools regarding queer youth
issues.
The Day of Silence is one of the largest student-
Amy Andre discusses the effects of homophobia
and heterosexism in the workplace at Diversity
Summit 2007.
led aetions in the country, with more than 6,000
expected participants. The Night of Noise, open to
all youth, will feature a keynote address by City
Commissioner Sam Adams. There will also be free
food, music and entertainment. Possibly the most
important element of the evening is the open mike,
which allows youth the opportunity to share
coming-out stories and experiences from the day.
For more information contact Dunlevy at
stephenpd69@hotmail.com or Jonathan Weedman
at jonathan@cascadiabhc.org.
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