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About Just out. (Portland, OR) 1983-2013 | View Entire Issue (April 17, 2009)
f<8 W« JUSTOUT COM APRIL 17 2009 NORTHWEST BRIEFS Sunday’s symposium begins at 2 p.m. at Hoffman Hall, on the west side of the PSU campus (12th Ave. and 1-405 exit). For more information and directions, visit www.keepthemseparate.org. —A. Daniels PFLAG Launches First Ever African-American Chapter The first Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays (PFLAG) chapter in the country dedicated specifically to the African-American community will open with a meeting at Ainsworth United Church this Saturday. It’s also the second culturally specific chapter in the country, following New York City’s PFLAG for Families of Color. “Right now, we just want to fill the need,” said Geri Washington, community orga nizer for Black/African-American PFLAG. Washington was deputy director for the “No on 9” campaign and is currently a board member for the Multnomah County Educa tion Services District. Her post with Black/ African-American PFLAG is the first paid position that a local chapter has offered. The nonprofit hired Washington through a grant they received from the McKenzie River Foundation to address the specific needs of the African-Ameri can population. Black/African-American PFLAG also received a grant from Equity Foundation and the national PFLAG, and has reapplied for these grants next year. “The good thing about what PFLAG did is that they went back to the old con cept of organizing. You have to look like the community that you’re organizing or else it won’t work,” said Washington. “The idea was to identify 10-12 community leaders and to focus on the faith community.” She’s been distributing flyers at area churches and meeting one-on-one with leaders, with two pastors on board so far. For Washington, the fight for gay, les bian, bi and trans acceptance in the Afri can-American community is personal: “My niece identifies as a lesbian. It’s difficult to deal with her mom saying ‘not my daugh ter, not my daughter.’ Last year my nephew came out. My brother-in-law is in denial,” she added. “We can no longer have our children go through a situation where they are being denied their true feelings.” The need for a gay, lesbian, bi and trans African-American-specific organization is felt more deeply since Unity Project, the reincarnation of Brother-to-Brother, went on hiatus. Walk«ln Clinic foreurs Who have Sex with Guys | Know your slams. Protect ouch other. 5-7 PM Thursdays « (Anoinmous and ( onfidcntial) llcpatitis A/B Vaccinations ->nol! 3701 !.. 4tli Plain Saler Sc\ Supplies ¡gg H30I3 ^SP Vancouver, WA For more information call (360) 397-8098 Brian Ramsay, Principal Broker Realty Trust Group, Inc 503.416.3380 Gerì Washington is the community organizer for the first PFLAG chapter in the country dedicated specifically to African-Americans, which opens with a meeting April 18 at Portland s Ainsworth United Church. "We can no longer have our children go through a situation where they are being denied their true feelings." “We’re going through our issues,” said Craig Tyson, chair of the Unity Project board. The organization’s executive director, Alisa Simmons, resigned and fled the state in September. She left the group fiscally devastated and faces charges of embezzle ment, theft of property and fraud. continued on page 10 ■ D avid W. O wens ■ P.C. & ASSOCIATES serving the community since 1975 A ttorneys at L aw S erving O regon & W ashington 503.224.3100 DOMESTIC PARTNERSHIP AGREEMENTS ADOPTIONS • ESTATE PLANNING Condos, Lofts, Townhomes, Commercial & Foreclosures Pearl District, Downtown, South Waterfront RealEstateinthePearl.com SUBMITTED Unity Project closed its offices in De cember. It has the appearance of being de funct—its phone is disconnected, its blog has never been updated—yet Tyson assured Just Out that the group is going through a period of rebuilding: They just hired Cory Murphy as their director of organizational development and are in the planning stages for Black Pride. “We love PFLAG. We look forward to working with them in the future,” Tyson said. Unity Project assisted with the formation of the Black/African-American PFLAG chap ter by helping them fill the outreach posi tion. Inger McDowell held the community advocate post prior to Washington, who was referred by Basic Rights Oregon. BRO is among the other organiza tions working in partnership with the new group, along with SMYRC and GLSEN. Black/African-American PFLAG is also in contact with Unity Project’s board and has tapped into their support base. Black/African-American PFLAG’s in augural meeting takes place 10 a.m.-noon April 18 at Ainsworth United Church, 2941 NE Ainsworth St. For questions or to RSVP, contact Geri Washington at 503-421-3343 or washington.geri@yahoo.com. —Adina Lepp R ealty T rust WILLS • TRUSTS • ADVANCE DIRECTIVES POWER OF ATTORNEY GUARDIANSHIPS AND CONSERVATORSHIPS www.owens-law.com • 4380 SW Macadam, Suite 590 • Portland, Oregon 97239 • Parking Validated group x I’mAVAILABLE, „ whenj;oW are! ” Careful and energetic handling of all your home financing needs £ j MORTGAGE f 4 Advocates 67(X) SW 105th Ave., Suite 2(X) Bearertt>n, ()R 97005 Toll Free (877) 82(>99(X) Fax (503) 297-0824 W E-Mail: colleeniimtgaihtx'ates.com www.mtgadvcxates.com
