OREGON S LGBTO NEWSMAGAZINE
--I
eveninglife*
Flash, Miriam insists, “This is not discrimina
tion, this is female empowerment.”
The dances policy on trans attendees also
attracts complaints. The policy states that
FTMs must identify at the door. “MTFs al
ready have their identity established as female,"
Miriam says. But “if somebody comes in with
a beard and moustache,” she wants to know
that person’s identity in order to keep Hot
Flash a female-oriented environment.
“It’s one of the best policies that we have__
It also gets me in trouble,” she admits. Miriam
adds that she sees a generational gap wherein
“when an FTM comes in looking like a male
... younger women are usually fine, older
women get angry.”
The idea for Hot Flash came to Miriam
about 10 years ago, following the end of a
long-term relationship and, two years later, the
death of her mother. In a time of despair, she
was visited by the Celtic goddess Brigid, a pre-
Christian power with ties to fire, Miriam ex
plains. She first began dreaming of Brigid in
her early twenties, at which time the goddess
told Miriam she must leave her but that she
would return when Miriam was 47-53 years
old. The goddess returned, as promised, and
gave Miriam the vision and strength to create
this female-affirming event, Miriam says.
Brigid is “the energy force in the universe
that has compelled me to provide a safe place
for women to gain empowerment, strength
and vitality,” she shares. Miriam is always
looking tor new ways to foster connections
among women in general and in the lesbian
community, and Hot Flash is not only a party
but also a place where women form business
networks and meaningful friendships. You’ll
find carpenters, roofers, real estate agents, cops
and attorneys all having a good time under
one roof, she notes.
The weekend of May 29, Hot Flash hosts the
Lezberados, a comedy duo consisting of Latina
lesbian comedians Mimi Gonzalez and Sandra
Vails. Sometimes political, sometimes bawdy,
Gonzalez has been performing for almost 20
years, and Curve magazine included Vails in its
top 10 lesbian comedians list. “These women
are two of the funniest women, in my opinion,
in the ‘celesbian’ scene,” Miriam says.
Fans and women unfamiliar with their
comedy will have a chance to meet the funny
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ladies at Hot Flash the night before their Sun
day performance at Aura. While the dance is a
female-only event, the May 29 Lezberados
show is open to all. The Pride dance in June is
also not gender exclusive.
Miriam and her partner, Joyce Schiltz, who
works as Hot Flash/Inferno Dances’ accoun
tant, are always busy—the weekends usually
find the two women overseeing dances in dif
ferent cities. According to Miriam, even
though managing the parties takes a lot of
energy and work, her love for women and be
ing able to provide this event for them keeps
her going.
As for those dark days of the past, she says,
“Up from the ashes came Hot Flash, and how
much better could that be?” T0!
L ezberados perform at 7 p.m. Sun., May 29
at Aura, 1022 W. Burnside; $15-$20, available
at the door or online at brownpapertickets.com.
M eet M im i Gonzalez and Sandra Vails at this
month's H ot F lash , 6 -1 0 p.m. Sat., M ay 2S
at Barracuda (9 NW Second Ave.), $8 cover.
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