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About Just out. (Portland, OR) 1983-2013 | View Entire Issue (March 18, 2011)
march 18,2011 Like being green, being trans isn’t easy. Port landers who take the brave step of embracing their trans identities, though, can turn to a number of groups for much needed support. I, ~ The most venerable of these is the North west Gender Alliance.The NW GA was formed in 1980 by three middle-aged transwomen. In the words o f group spokesperson Jackie Stone, the founding trio “decided that there should be a safe place for transgender people to meet, ia l ! i&i&ür&Ot'Îf compare stories and support each other and socialize.” The group was careful in choosing places *: d and planning events that would be safe, but also bold in their outreach. For instance, early members approached the Portland Police De partment in an effort to help the department definitions of identity—what it means to be The NWGA marching in the 2009 understand the truth about transgender people trans, or to be a ‘transman’—but Portland’s com- Portland Pride parade and dispel harmful myths. munity has become pretty inclusive.” As time went on, NW GA chapters formed Each Tranz Guys meeting focuses on an is- others,” says group spokesperson Yin. “W hile in Seattle, Vancouver, B.C., Spokane and Sa- sue, such as body image, gender socialization, Gender Queery does instill the values o f the lem. The Portland chapter currently meets coming out, etc. genderqueer and the massive umbrella this monthly at Q_Center and can be found on the On the opposite end of the spectrum is Port- might encompass, it also offers many answers web at nwgenderalliance.org. lands Trans Fern* (TransFemGroup#gmail. to those just joining Portland’s queer commu At the meetings attendees can find personal com). Trans Fern* offers support and community nity. It could be to get answers about one’s self, and social encouragement. “Support is provided to individuals identifying as trans feminine. This or it could simply be to meet and chat with on a one-on-one basis where new ones can talk includes a wide swath of Portlanders, so much so others that might be sharing similar feelings.” with members who have shared similar situa- that group spokeswoman Chloe Flora is loath to The group, which meets every first Monday at tions,” says Stone. define a “typical attendee.” QCenter, does not take a dogmatic or doctrinaire The NW GA continues its tradition o f out- “A variety of people attend the meetings,” approach to the complex genderqueer label. reach through its speakers bureau. The bureau Flora says, “diverse in the age, presentation, iden- “Genderqueer is a broad label often used by is an educational effort, in which group mem- tity, transition status, political beliefs, class, etc. people that do not identify or fall within the bers appear on panels, telling their stories to No one is turned away as long as they identify most common binary labels,” says Yin. “Since churches, schools, universities and human somehow along the trans-feminine spectrum.” there are so many things queer you can call rights organizations. Like the other groups,Trans Fern* meets once yourself, it may be confusing to many just en Those identifying on the trans masculine a month at Q_Center, holding a mediated dis- tering the community. This likely makes gen side of the spectrum can find support at Tranz cussion about a chosen topic as well as arranging derqueer an easy label to take on for self com Guys (tranzguys<®gmail. occasional social outings fort, even if just for a short time. Others still "We have non-discrimination com). The group, which also around town. believe that genderqueer is a valid label worthy Ul.Ni u bhip.com 16 years young, locally owned, modern & moving forward. “There really is no place like hip.” meets once monthly at Center, draws a diverse laws, it’s relatively easy to open daity 12-6 Sunday 12-5 l8 2 S n * 2 5 t h W hen asked about com mon myths concerning j find competent and trans- transwomen in society, Flora “The age range goes from friendly health care and seizes on the “femme” label. teens to fifties and sixties,” “The biggest misconception services, and there is a large says a group member, who I see around transwomen in wishes to remain anony and increasingly organized our culture is a preponder mous. “There are people who ance for transwomen to be trans community." are just starting to explore femme, and that any trans -TRANZ GUYS MEMBER their gender identities, peo women who aren’t femme ple who transitioned decades ago, people who are either somehow ‘fake transwomen’or unskilled are gender fluid. Some people identify as gay at makeup and fashion and thus pitiable,” she men, or queer, or straight. Some are very active says. in the trans community, some come to the A fourth support group here in town is group once a month and that’s the only place Gender Queery. Just as “genderqueer” can be they can meet with other trans people and get used as an umbrella term for those questioning support.” or challenging common ideas about gender in The group member views the community society, Gender Queery welcomes all individu- hcre as harmonious and cohesive. “Portland has als doing the same to its meetings, more integration between different facets of the “Gender Queery offers a social support community than in some places,” he says. “Some group that can serve to help its members self transmale communities can get polarized over define through the stories and experiences of of a lifetime of contentment.” Nearly everyone contacted for this story agreed that, while identifying as trans is never easy, Portland is a hospitable and, generally, safe city to do so in. “Portland is a pretty good place to be for transpeople,” says the Tranz Guys member. “We have non-discrimination laws, it’s rela tively easy to find competent and trans-friendly health care and services, and there is a large and increasingly organized trans community. Ap parently word is out that Portland is a good city for trans folks.” JG The N W G A meet nextfrom 2 to 6 p. m. Sat., A p ril 9 (second Saturdays) at Q Center (4115 N. M is sissippi). Tranz Guys meet next at 6 p.m. Sun., March 2 0 (third Sundays), Trans Fern* meetfrom 7 to 9 p.m . every third Tuesday, and Gender Queery meet 7-8:30p. m. every first Monday, also at Q Center. Information fo r all fo u r groups can be fo u n d at Q Center's website, pdxqcenter.org. NIK RAPIER 14
