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About Just out. (Portland, OR) 1983-2013 | View Entire Issue (July 1, 2011)
latinogaypride think for us what’s unique is [that] we’re not a part of anything, we’re just volunteers and we try to bring everyone together.” Each year, “everyone” seems to include more people, and from farther-flung locations. “We’ve been growing each year and I thin), this year, with what we’re doing, we’re expecting to continue to draw [people] and become a destination for folks throughout the nation,” Martinez adds. PLGP already draws people from the greater Portland area—Multnomah, Wash ington and Marion counties—as well as con tingents from Seattle and Los Angeles. Port land is in a unique position to put on such an event—its Latino LGBTQ_ population is large enough to organize, but not so big that it overwhelms the greater LGBTQ_community. That’s the case in cities such as San Jose and Los Angeles, Martinez says, where there is often a Latino tent and a Latino event as part of the main pride celebrations. “I think in Long Beach someone com mented, ‘Well, it’s Latino pride all the time because of the sheer numbers,”’ Martinez shares. “Here, I think we need to have this very specific focused celebration because the population numbers aren’t as high.... To have a very targeted celebration and to bring [the] community together around the Latino gay pride experience is important.” PLGP is strengthening the community behind the scenes, too. In the process of planning an event to unite the Latino LG- BTQpopulation, new leaders (like La Torre, who is in her first year on the committee) emerge to make significant contributions to the celebration. “What I’m most excited about, actually, is the volunteer planning committee,” Marti nez says. “To me, personally, that is what in spires me. As long as there’s that energy, that interest and that pride—‘cause that’s the other part—we can all throw great parties, but this is more than a party for us, this is an opportunity to have our Latino gay GLBT experience shine. And that’s why we do it.” For more information on / CelebrAccion! visit latinogaypridepdx.com or search “Portland La tino Gay Pride" on Facebook. ¡CelebrAccion! La Lucha 2011 at a glance Thurs., July 14 Dance Party and Social Voz Alta: Amor Indocumentado 6 p.m. social, 9 p.m.-2 a.m. dance party at Crush, 1400 SE Morrison St. Co-hosted by Chicas and Chocolate City An evening of music and poetry with Edna Vazquez and Joaquin Lopez. 7 p.m. reception, 8 p.m. performance at The Little Church, 5138 NE 23rd Ave. S15-S25 Sun. July 17 La Lucha Latino Gay Pride Festival Fri., July 15 Featuring performances by entertainers La Lucha Dance Party including Los Gallos Rumba, Tryniti La- 9p.m. at BoxxeSy 1035 SWStark St. $5 Croix, Ballet Folklorico Lo Nuestro, Chi- Chi and Chonga and Meesha Peru, live Sat.v July 16 music, a deejay, an Under U4 Men fashion Chicas Celebration show, vendors, an exhibit area, food carts 11 a.m. brunch at Q Center, 4115 N. Missis and a beer garden. sippi Ave. tl0-$15 Noon-9 p.m. at Eastbank Esplanade, Water ‘Cycle Ride: Motorcycle & Bicycle front Park (SE Water Ave. and Hawthorne Scenic Ride Blvd.). $5 donation, all ages welcome. 2:30-4:30 p.m., start at Q Center, 4115 N. Mississippi and end at Colonel Sumner Park in To get involved, contact David Martinez at 503- 307-9143 or email lalucbachair<(Pyahoo.com. SE (20th and Morrison) Eyes On The Prize Portland Latino drag world gets international spice with Latin Look Portland’s Latino drag circuit is shooting to be more than events for locals. I t’s going international. The annual pageant run, called Latin Look, is a competition for local crowns, of course. But organizers are attempting to expand it to other parts of the country, and the world. In addition to crowns for Miss and Mr. Gay Oregon Latin Look, another pageant, now in its sixth year, is held for International Latin Look. In 2011 the global event will have its first truly global contestant—a performer from Mexico City. Pageant producer David Zambrano, 48, is excited that the international pageant is gaining momentum. Contestants have come from other states before and from Puerto Rico. The winner of Miss Interna tional Latin Look 2010 was a New Yorker, Eva Zanzler. A few small preliminary pag eants have even been held in other states. Zambrano aspires to one day produce a U.S. pageant in Portland and the interna tional event on an island like the Domini can Republic. An international location would make it easier for contestants from other countries to participate, he says. “It takes time to prepare papers for people coming to the country,” Zambrano explains. “We have to send letters to em bassies and immigration and do a lot of paper work.” Closer to home, though, the Oregon Latin Look pageant enters its 14th year. The name “Latin Look” is a sign that the pageant is open to all contestants, not just Latinos. Latinos look different all over the world, Zambrano says, so no particular “look” is a standard. But Jeffrey Rivera, 21, who as Ashley Jo’Elle was named Miss Gay Portland Latin Look 2011, says the event is about “being spicy.” ► Maloy's jewelry Workshop M-F 10am to 5:30pm Sat 1 lam to 5pm 717 S W 10th Ave Portland, O R 9 7 2 0 5 5 0 3 .2 2 3 .4 7 2 0 w w w .m alovs.com JULY 1. 2011 ► Fire & ice. M aloy’s offers a fabulous selection o f antique and estate jewelry and fine custom jewelry, as well as restoration and repair services. MARTY OREGON'S LGBTQ NEWSMAGAZINE “It’s not necessarily about looking Latin,” he says. “It’s just about looking beautiful.” As for Miss Gay Oregon Latin Look, this year’s champ says he was shocked he won—it was his first competition. “It was a total surprise for me because I saw some really pretty contestants,” says Isabel Castillo, 32, who competed as Ebony Welch. “And, like, I’m a little, um, big, so I was kind of intimidated by all the girls.” Castillo adds, “I’m really thankful to these people who are doing the pageant because there are a lot of people like me that want to do it, and sometimes there isn’t an opportunity.” — A aron S pencer
