Ml fe JANUARY S 2010
W W W .JU S TO U T.C O M
N W NEWS IN BRIEF
by R y a n J . P ra d o
/
Drag Show featuring
Performers with
Developmental Disabilities
to Benefit Bridges to
Independence
Bridges to Independence, a Portland non
profit organization serving adults with devel
true for those whose sexual orientation or
gender identity classifies them as outside o f
the majority.
/
CAP Wins Bid for
Free Clark Count/ Men’s
Health Testing
“Coming out as LGBTQ_is fraught with
difficulties for any person,” continued Koyama.
Cascade A ID S Project has been awarded
“But it is especially so for people with develop
a contract to take over the free H IV testing
mental disabilities, many o f whom rely on fam
and prevention work in Clark County as o f
ily members for housing and daily support.”
January l.The process o f securing the contract
opmental disabilities, will hold a drag show
The members o f the L G B T Q + D D pro
was the result o f Clark County’s decision in
fundraiser on Monday, January 11. Dubbed
gram will collectively plan out the scope o f its
summer 2009 to outsource the H IV testing
CELEBRATE!, the evening will feature drag
facilitation, along with Bridges’ staff.
and prevention work historically conducted
in-house.
performances by Bridges’ clients, as well as
“W e plan on form ing the group, and
other artists with developmental disabilities
have the group discuss what people want to
The county released a request with an open
and their allies. The event will take place at the
see,” Koyama told Just Out. “I’m expecting
competition to various HIV-focused organi
'in Vancouver ceased, C A P decided to close
historic Interstate Firehouse Cultural Center
that it will be a mix o f some social activi
zations, and as C A P Executive Director M i
it down. Kaplan, who took over as executive
(5340 N. Interstate Ave.).
ties, events like the upcom ing drag show,
chael Kaplan explained, they were delighted
director o f C A P in September 2008, made
some discussion, and some relationship and
to bid and, ultimately, win the contract.
it one o f his priorities to engage Southwest
Bridges’ Board President Emi Koyama
has also announced that in conjunction with
“We had verbalized among ourselves that
safer sex classes.”
Washington in C A P ’s overall planning and
outreach efforts.
the benefit show, CELEBRATE! will act as a
Emceeing the event will be perennial
we needed to do better via Clark County and
launching pad and fundraiser for a brand new
Portland luminaries the Sisters o f Perpetual
wanted to get more engaged in Vancouver,”
“Since the time I arrived, I’ve heard a lot o f
program called L G B T Q +D D , which will aim
Indulgence, and a performance by special
said Kaplan. “So it was great that this oppor
fair flack from folks in Vancouver and Clark
to close the gap in services offered to support
guest Masaki and his M om from Japan
tunity came.”
County saying, ‘W hat do you mean you’re
Bridges’ developmentally disabled clients who
rounds out the evening. Masaki is a self-de
The contract requires C A P to invest
•in Oregon and Southwest Washington? W e
also identify as gay, lesbian, bi and trans.
scribed “homosexual Asian male butch from
some o f their own resources in the program
don’t see you in Vancouver and we resent that
California/New Zealand/Japan.”
to make it happen.
you guys aren’t present and that you’re not
“In our society, adults with developmental
disabilities are frequently treated as if they are
Bridges to Independence and the newly
“This is important enough and clear
more engaged on the other side.’ So we were
children,” said Koyama in a recent press release.
formed L G B T Q +D D group are also making
enough o f a priority to C A P to be operating
very clear about a year and two months ago
“The most telling example o f this prejudice is
preparations to participate in the 2010 Port
in Southwest Washington,” Kaplan stated.
saying that at a minimum, we were going to
the societal taboo against adults with devel
land Pride Parade.
“W e’re excited and absolutely committing
start planning more meetings there, reaching
the additional resources vjt need to make this
out, getting engaged in Clark County and our
contract happen.”
planning efforts.”
opmental disabilities being sexually active or
having sexual desires and lives.”
CELEBRATE! takes place 7:30-9:30
p.m. Mon., Jan. 11. Doors open at 6 p.m. For
Koyama explained that the prejudices
further information on Bridges to Independence,
C A P did have a facility in Clark County
toward individuals who are developmentally
LGBTQ+DD, and CELEBRATE!, visit
for H IV prevention and testing prior to Ka
disabled, and sexually active, are especially
www. bridgestoi ndependence. org.
plan’s arrival, but after funding for the office
Testing will take place at the Harm Reduc-
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