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About Just out. (Portland, OR) 1983-2013 | View Entire Issue (Aug. 3, 2007)
I Kendall's a Doll Meet Q Center's new director he’s here, she’s queer, and she’s taking names. Q Center’s vibrant new executive director, Kendall Clawson, arrived this month with her feisty wife, Michele Mannix, in tow and Portland threw open its doors. First, Brian Wilson and Ramesh Manickam hosted a house full of hotties including Russ Riggs, Jody Clemmons and Tim Bloom. The next day, Gwenn Baldwin and Judith Gray greeted a gaggle of gays including Cody Bambino, community organizer for Seattle’s Pride Foundation, and Don Powell, one of the founders of Right to Privacy, the foreninner to Basic Rights Oregon. Standing around the buffet, Mark Clift and Jeff Knapp told me about their Friday night lessons with Out Dancing and made me prom ise to join them. 1 agreed, but first 1 had to waltz over to learn a bit more about Kendall, who moved here from Northhampton, Mass. (“Lesbianville, USA,” she calls it; “where Smith College is—a training ground for lesbians.’’) S Floyd Sklaver: Who are your role models? Kendall Clawson: I’m really big on Eleanor Roosevelt. She was nervy, and 1 like that about her. She was married and rumored to be queer, which is great, but she still did things that women weren’t allowed to do at the time. She put ideas out there and asked people to think in different ways. That’s how I am. I’m not saying I’m like Eleanor Roosevelt. But I want to come up with ideas and programs that are not thought about now but can make some positive change. Out Going BY FLOYD SKLAVER FS: Why Portland? KC: We considered San Francisco, but I would have had to sell a kidney to buy a house. I had just read The Secret and then watched Oprah and learned about the law of attraction. I decided to put my hands up and see what happens.... Michelle came to Portland for a job interview. That weekend, I was perusing through ldealist.org, a great Website for nonprofit people, and saw the Q Center ad. It was totally kismet. FS: Where’s the most unusual place you’ve had sex? KC: I’m not telling you that. Here’s why. I wan na stay married so no, no, no. FS: What color are your favorite sheets? KC: Light yellow, like butter. There’s nothing better than sleeping on a big bed of butter. FS: If you could meet one living person, who would it be? KC: I’d love an hour to sit down with Bill Clinton. First, he’s a sexy motherfucker.... Plus he’s the most real president we’ve ever had. Even with the blow job. Let’s face it, Floyd welcomes Kendall Clawson (left) and Michele Mannix to Portland. lots of guys are doing that.... He’s a white boy who loves the sisters. wood tree. [Or] I think I’d want to be a dog, but I don’t want to experience the whole SPCA life. FS: Why did you fall in love with Michele? 1 want to be one of my dogs, with a routine and KC: She is easily the nicest, most real and most someone to take me on a walk, give me a biscuit, compassionate person I’ve ever met. This is an hon scratch my ears and tell me how wonderful I am. est woman.... I hope people take the opportunity to know her, because what you see is what you get. FS: Do you have a personal motto? KC: To follow iny gut...it won’t lie to you. It’s FS: Storm Large/Tim Bias’ ass...what else that primitive sort of caveman thing that protect impresses you most about Portland? ed you from being eaten by a dinosaur. The times KC: There’s the fantasy right there. Me, the I’ve made the biggest mistakes were when I ignored creamy middle in a Tim Bias and Storm Large my gut. sandwich. Yum, yum. Seriously, people here have been incredibly nice. East Coasters have an FS: Any last words? edge.... The driving thing is so bizarre because I’m KC: Just know I’m not going to break into flan still screaming and honking. You’ll know me, the nel anytime soon. Don’t let the eyeliner ftxil you. one black woman screaming and honking. 1 am gay. FS: When you die, what would you like to come back as? KC: Certainly not a Body World statue. What would be long-lasting and gorgeous? Maybe a red- sviliti FS: And very Out Going. © FLOYD S klaver wants to know about your event. E-mail him at floydsklaver@comcast.net. fur 2-dPr» Arirxytl Arbor Station Townhome 3 BO. Pristine Condition! IB D/1 BA with Garage As Ranchili Smith IVIOIXIDAY REAL ESTATE BROKER æ 13 SPA ROOMS (503)471-3573 couxuaix BANIÇeR kl direct SEAL norrnTirs rnnthllMnlihmthural com rantUIhrlhhomru.rnm (503)643-7325 »TUESDAY ■WRAOir.AI. RUBDOWN PACIFIC HEALTH ADVOCATES, ADVOCATING 3i h BLACKOUT I SATURDAY ^ n u MOI\l I I I __ - J FOR LLC YOU ft it too often that families are made vulnerable by illnett and health tystem challenges. 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