"Keep Portland Queer!"
on the waterfront and beyond
An obvious riff on the ubiquitous “Keep Portland Weird!” bumper
stickers, this year’s theme for Portland Pride is more than a catchy slogan.
“It’s really great to be queer here,” says Pride Northwest president
Stef-Anie Wells. “You don’t have to go to a queer establishment to be
comfortable. That should be celebrated...Portland, the Pacific Northwest
and all it has to offer.”
According to the Pride Northwest Web site, “Portlanders and queers
have a lot in common. We like things fresh and independent. We know
how to be an individual while being part of a community.”
In line with the theme, Wells says all of the Pride Festival food vendors
are from the region (with the exception of Ben &. Jerry’s, which is promot
ing its New Avenues for Youth program). In addition, all but two
entertainment acts are locally based. Only nine booths represent national
companies, while 75 belong to nonprofit organizations and 65 to local
businesses.
Queer was selected as an all-inclusive term identifying gay, lesbian,
bisexual, transgender, questioning, intersex and ally communities. “Queer
is still a transition word that not everyone embraces,” says Wells, “but it is
an ail-encompassing word.”
Portland Pride 2007 is all about this special place where we live and the
breadth and variety of fabulous people we are. ©
3
INSIDE
Weekend Parties
page
21
Beyond the Waterfront
Statewide Pride
page
page
29
Parade Route and Festival
Schedule page 33
23