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About Just out. (Portland, OR) 1983-2013 | View Entire Issue (June 18, 2010)
M 24 W W W JU ST O U T C O M JUNE IB 2010 20I0 P R ID E EVEN TS Motes of Stote Statewide Pride celebrations break urban and rural barriers BY RYAN J. PRADO cell 5 0 3 .7 0 8 .9 5 0 8 K e lle r W illia m s R e a lty 700 M Multnomah. #050 je \s e lr» c k s (g g m a il.c o m liezi a ll Portland urea listings at W H W .je w e lA ro b in s o n .c o m W eddings 4» C om m itm ents 4* Retreats Where everyone is Family 503.656.1894 BAB?Pv Sw web for Spring t NWweek Spend'* w w w .Ainsw ortkH M te.net Kevin@ Ainsw ortkH M se.net I’m here— even when nothing’s wrong. At American Family, we work to make sure things go right with your insurance, today and everyday. Because peace of mind isn’t something to be turned on and off. f Colleen L Humphrey, Agent 12923 NW Cornell, Suite 102, Portland OR, 97229 chumphr1@amfam.com • (503) 626-2129 AMERICAN FAMILY N S U R A N C E American Family Mutual Insurance Company and its Subsidiaries American Family Insurance Company Home Office - Madison, Wl 5 37 8 6 amfam.com O 2009 002932 Am 3/09 The vast expanse of Oregon—its snaking rivers, jutting arboreal ranges, snowy peaks and wind-swept desert tundra—is often an un fortunately sidestepped state in the shadow of the progressive fortitude that is Portland. As if within the city’s concrete limits there were any more of the stuff that makes “pride” a meaningful expression! Truth be told, though most denizens of Southwest Washington and Oregon view Pordand’s Pride weekend as the bejeweled tiara atop a whole summers worth of activities and celebrations, statewide Pride committees, volun teers, performers, LGBTQjfriendly organiza tions and more are most certainly in the mix. And they welcome you to crash their party. Pride festivals and celebrations from all over Oregon’s diverse landscape pool resources year in and year out to provide an opportunity not only for their local LGBTQ_communities to march, dance, eat and revel, but for all Oregonians to join in. “Embracing, learning from, enjoying and growing from diversity is important for the entire fabric of society, both rural and urban,” explains Nichole LeSage, special events coordinator for Lincoln City and the Iris Pride Festival. “I t’s not a city issue; it’s a human issue, and we all must own it.” Pride in Salem has been a public event since the beginning, and Chuck Simpson— Capitol Pride board secretary and one of the original members of the Capitol Forum, which held the first Salem Pride in 1978—insists it will stay that way, albeit on a smaller scale, outside the scope of Portland’s festivities. “Portland Pride has much to offer and is an event that no one should miss, but the smaller communities offer more relaxed events,” says Simpson. Attending Pride events outside of the Port land Metro area also gives the larger community the chance to learn about local organizations, businesses, services, LGBTQjfriendly churches and politicians. Bend Pride, organized by the Human Dig nity Coalition, hopes to offer a safe space to the Central Oregon LGBTQcommunity in lieu of a consistent cultural awareness or visibility in more rural areas. “In Central Oregon, there are no gay bars, community centers or openly ‘out’ events,” ex plains Jenni Peskin, executive director of H D C . “Pride is the one time of year when the LGBTQ_ community can come out in a safe space and be who they are. Our goal is to create a family- friendly environment that feels safe for LGBTQ_ people and their allies. We want to connect people to this community and know they have a place to belong.” And pride, of course, is not something that can be felt only when the eyes of the “movement” are upon you. It is a sentiment controlled not by advertising on the sides of city buses, or rainbow billboards roasting in the sun, or the lure o f elec tronic music blurting through the mains on an outdoor stage. Pride is controlled by you, and you can take it anywhere you want. “Pride is being able to live fully who you are and be accepted as a part of the bigger commu nity,” says Peskin. “It means valuing diversity and finding the strength in our differences as well as our sameness. Pride is community.” W ith that spirit intact, what follows is a rundown of Pride 2010 activities across the state, as well as community-specific celebrations right here in Portland. Given that some of these events are still months away, details regarding times and locations are somewhat limited. The power of the grassroots, volunteer-led community, however, appears to have no limit. events with a busy day o f family fun. Attendees can visit local vendors and statewide progressive nonprofits, learn about activism and events throughout Oregon, enjoy live music and dance performances, munch on great food and enjoy the beauty o f Bend in the summertime all while gathering together in support and celebration o f Pride. Featured performances by local artist MOsley W O tta, Sahara’s Dream belly danc ing, local singer-songwriter Kit Foreman, the music o f YEnn, martial arts demonstrations, hoola-hooping, music by DJ Ish-u and local singer-songwriter Nancy Stevens will provide an essential backdrop to the stunning Central Oregon locale. r- For more information , contact ojfce@human- June 19-20 Asian Pacific Islander Pride Stop by the Asian Pacific Islander Pride booth from noon to 6 p.m. at Tom McCall W aterfront Park in Portland. The booth will have “gaymes,” goodies, and “H ot, Queer, A P I” t-shirts for $10. A PI Pride is a group led by and for LGBTQ_people o f Asian and Pa cific Islander descent in Oregon and provides safe and supportive environments to celebrate, educate and bring communities together. For more inform ation , v isit api-pride. blogspot.com. June 13-20 Black Pride: An Urban Xperience The 2010 Black Pride celebration began on June 13 with a series o f gatherings including comedy nights and the City o f Roses Pageant at Darcelle XV.The festivities continue, though details are scarce, with June 18’s Blatino N ight— a Black N ’W hite Party at LaFonda’s N ight Club from 9 p.m. to 2:30 a.m. Also scheduled is a BBQ^Park Social at W ilshire Park (NE 33rd Ave. and Skidmore St.) from 3 to 7 p.m. Saturday, June 19, to be followed on Sunday, June 20 with the Black Pride march in the Portland Pride Parade and the organization’s booth at W aterfront Park. For more inform ation , contact Cory M urphy a t stajj@pridenw.org. June 26 Bend Pride: A Celebration of Gay Pride, Family and Friends Held in Bend’s McKay Park (166 SW Shevlin Hixon Dr.), Bend Pride is slated to expand on its excellent track record o f Pride dignitycoalition.org or call 541-385-3320. June 25-26 Corvallis Pride: Over the Rainbow In just its second year, Corvallis Pride is revisiting the successes o f its inaugural celebra tion with more notoriety and a blueprint from which to progress. As it did in 2009, the Corvallis Pride cel ebration begins with the Stonewall Dance and Social on Friday, June 25. Running 7-11 p.m. at Adair Village Clubhouse, this 21-and-over social event features a light buffet, no-host bar and door prizes. Tickets, $25, are limited to the first 200 sold, with none sold at the door. You can mail-order tickets until June 20 by writing a check with your name and return address to SWB, 8080 N W Skillings Dr., C or vallis, OR, 97330. Tickets are also available di rectly from the Grass Roots Bookstore, located at 227 SW Second St. in Corvallis. Questions regarding tickets can be addressed by calling 541-754-7668 or sending an email to swbeor- vallis(®yahoo. com. The party continues Saturday, June 26 during the Corvallis Pride celebration and parade. The parade will start at 11 a.m., spotlighting Grand Marshal Sarah Gelser. Featured events will be gin at noon at Central Park, and will include food, vendors, a nonprofit fair, entertainment and children’s activities featuring face-painting, a scavenger hunt, storytelling and more. Enter tainment by Vixens of Johanna, the Confluence chorus, Tirade, belly dancing and a very special drag show will provide the icing on the cake. Visitpridecorvallis.com fo r more information. July 10 Saturday in the Park: Vancouver, Wash. In its 16th year, Vancouver’s Saturday in the Park event is a well-respected Pride sea-
