Just out., July 06, 2007, Page 24, Image 24

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24 JUStOUt
JULY fl. 2007
weekend, as well as some with suggestions for improvement.
Those suggestions are very much welcome, as is any offer of
participation in the planning and execution of all of the Pride
events. 1 hope to continue with Pride for a long time to come.
—Debra
I’ve been to a few of the big West Coast festivals and they are
grand, but they also charge like $20 per day to get in. 1 was
impressed with all the great music and all for a $5 donation.
Also it was fresh music and not that tired old Pride one-hit­
wonder ’80s crap. Just because I’m queer doesn’t mean I love
disco. Thanks to the organizers for realizing that.
—Redheaded Stepchild
The parade was cool, and so was the Dyke March. I love the
energy they bring! The festival wasn’t as good as last year.
Stage shows were good though. The dogs didn’t bother me
because 1 am a huge animal lover.
—Teresa
I had a blast. The crowd was great. So was the whole mood
of the day, from what I saw. People with dogs and smokers:
It’s a mass of humanity sharing a day and a small space. Let’s
be tolerant and kind.
—Mark
Continued from Page 23
COMPLAINTS DEPARTMENT
1 just moved here from Southern California, and I have been
leash and got caught in the middle of two large dogs attacking
to Prides in San Diego, Los Angeles, Long Beach and Palm
each other. The jerk who wasn’t watching his dog that gave me
Springs. This was by far the most pitiful display of Pride I have
the nice scar on my leg didn’t even apologize. People shouldn’t
witnessed since becoming a lesbian 25 years prior. Booths
have to be injured or attacked by dogs at the festival. Ban dogs
closed at 6 p.m., unbeknownst to those of us who arrived lat­ . altogether inside the festival area!
er. No dance area. Too small overall. Dyke March sorely lack­
—Anonymous
ing in participation. Entertainment was less than interesting.
Portland is supposed to be a huge and dynamic gay community.
There was a separate “pet parade,” so why does there have to
be dogs inside the festival area?! The festival crowd is shoul­
What happened?
—KDL der to shoulder,"and I, too, was hurt by a dog, and I will not go
to another festival as long as they allow dogs inside. There is
1 live here (actually native Portlander/Oregonian), and 1 agree
barely enough room for humans, let alone dogs on leashes
with KDL’s statements. I have traveled to a lot of Pride cele­ tripping people up and barking and snarling at people. 1 talked
brations, and yes, the Portland show is not that great. Much
to a half-dozen people, and all were pissed off about the dog
better in several other West Coast cities. Face it: Portland
situation inside the festival area!
Pride is the “redheaded stepchild” of the West Coast.
—PDXer
—/ Agree
Hey, you didn’t have a dog take a leak on your leg. It hap­
Pride, like most queer events, is fading. The big dance . pened to me and three other people. I don’t mind dogs if they
parties, Coronation, the big Halloween events and theme
are well-behaved. But as someone suggested, this may not be
events were all much better years ago. Just not as good, fun,
the best place for them.
affordable and inspired like they used to be.
—Jeffery
—Old Fart
The parade route (moved off Stark Street) still pisses me and
many people off. What happened to having a separate area
for drinking? There were underage people with drinks all
over the place. Smoking and dogs were a bit out of control
as well.
—Jack
I’ll stop bringing my dog if you stop smoking at the festival.
The smoking was out of control this year, especially with all
the kids at the event.
—Smoking Pooch
Forget dogs and smokers. Did anyone else see the guy carrying
the gun? At that point I gathered up the kids and went home.
—Anonymous
No Nxiths to buy cool stuff like previous years.
—Cody
I had a lot of fun with the parade, but in less than five jninutes
of entering the festival, 1 received a bkxxly rope bum from a dog
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[Pride Northwest responds: “The gentleman meant no harm. He
was just exercising his right to carry a handgun, and he did have
a permit, but due to the complaints we received, the security staff
did ask him to leave.”]
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