MAY 21 2010
OREGON S LESBIAN/GAY/BI/TRANS/QUEER NEWSMAGAZINE
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president of Pride Northwest, spoke to at
tendees on the importance of political orga
nizing. Kelsey Jarone, a University of Oregon
student and the outreach coordinator for the
university’s Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans and
Queer Alliance, gave the keynote address,
which focused on how she dealt with a break-
in at the alliance.
Though she can walk Eugene’s streets
holding her girlfriend’s hand, she said after
ward, obstacles for the queer community per
sist. “We can’t lose sight of that,” she added.
Mason Leed, 17, the president of Gresham
High School’s GSA, attended the summit to
“learn how to do activism” and make the alli
ance more politically active. She already felt
that her past activism had made “it safer for
myself and other people.”
Students in attendance from the Kenne
wick, Wash, area described a challenging high
school environment.
“A lot of the students are homophobic,” said
17-year-old Echo Shimer. Shimer identifies as
transsexual: “You can’t be open about it.”
The words “faggot” and “gay” are often
used derogatively, and people have to “stay
quiet” about being queer, he said. Shimer felt
encouraged by information he received during
one workshop about the transition process,
and meeting other queer youth inspired him
to speak out more.
A workshop on the sexual and gender
spectrum’s terminology took place in Mayor
Adams’ office. Eight youth sat around a shiny,
dark wood conference table and considered
an acronym much broader than the oft-used
“LGBTQ:—LGBTQQIIPAA2S (lesbian,
gay, bisexual, transgender/transsexual, queer,
questioning, identifying, intersexed, pansexual,
asexual, ally and two-spirited).
In an energetic and politely argumentative
discussion, participants noted that there are
other terms and accompanying letters. Court
ney Turley, 17, together with Olise Johnson,
facilitated the workshop. One topic of conver
sation was the term “questioning.”
“Is there a difference?” Turley asked,
between identifying as “queer” and
“questioning.”
“Yes, but I don’t see it as necessary to
include the same letter twice,” said Phoenix
Ryan, 16.
“Should it be a more used term?
It’s not as widely used,” Turley said.
“Or people say they’re bi when they’re ques
tioning,” Ryan responded.
“And you can be questioning your whole
life,” Johnson said.
“And you are questioning a lot of things,”
Turley added.
“I think it’s cool that there are words for
these things,” said Gabe Petegorsky, 15. But
he wondered if such terms should be read
ily accepted as the best way to refer to one’s
sexual orientation and gender identity. “They
almost sound a bit clinical,” he concluded.
Youth left the summit with ideas, inspi
ration and an excited resolve to take what
they had learned back to their communities.
“People will be able to express themselves
the way they are and be able to be honest,”
Britadesco said.
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