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