Image provided by: University of Oregon Libraries; Eugene, OR
About Just out. (Portland, OR) 1983-2013 | View Entire Issue (July 15, 2011)
JULY 15. 2011 nwnews * McVittie—Law PC JOEL HAMLEY BY RYAN J. PRADO P rin cip a l Broker, A B R The Real in Realtor Trust the Specialists Wills & Living Trusts Healthcare Directives Hospital Visitation Power of Attorney Domestic Partnerships Probate & Trust à Administration So good VU blow your hair back O For a Free Consultation 503 . 238 . 1700 , e x t . 630 M o b il e : 971 . 506.9499 f f ic e : 503 . 224.6611 1902 SE Morrison St. Portland, OR 97214 P latinum 1841 NW 23rd Ave., Portland Licensed in Oregon & Washington L icensed in O regon M ember , M illion D ollar C lub III MEADOW^ t=J H OM OWnJTV l \ r . UK AI T O M www.McVitiie-Litw.coin w ww.welcom ehom epdx.com hunt & Gather Treasures Fur The Hume 6 Suul W W W .J U S T O U T .C O M Living Room Celebrates Two Years of Welcoming LGBTQ Youth When Carolyn Russel’s daughter came out at age 14, the West Linn elementary school teacher started looking for ways to support her and found that there weren’t any resources in Clackamas County. Through her involvement with the Port land chapter of Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays (PFLAG), Russel learned about the Sexual and Gender Minority Youth Re source Center (SMYRC) and got inspired to start a Clacka mas chapter of PFLAG. “She became a SMYRC kid,” Russel says. And while she was happy to have found a safe space for her daughter, she also acknowledges, “It’s a lot of bus rides for kids out here.” After the Clackamas PFLAG sponsored an alter native prom that attracted about 100 Clackamas County youth, Russel realized she needed to get something going locally. So she collaborated with R.E. Szego to found The Living Room. “We started with two people in a church basement, now we have a board of nine,” Russel says. “It’s been amazing how fast we’ve grown, which tells you something about the need out here.” The Living Room now has a weekly drop- in for queer youth ages 14-20 Wednesdays from 4-8 p.m. at Oregon Cify’s Atkinson Memorial Unitarian Universalist Church. It also hosts events such as the Annual Gay- Straight Alliance Summit, monthly GSA meet-ups and the Clackamas County Alter native Prom. While the organization receives grants to cover some of its expenses, it still needs help .making ends meet. Enter the annual Living Room fundraiser. “Last year we did a silent auction, this year we’re doing... just a celebration,” Russel says. “We’re using the friend model—Face- book, you know—hoping people will let us ‘friend’them and give us a donation.” The second annual fundraiser will serve both as “a party to celebrate how far we’ve come in two years” and as a kickoff to the Living Room’s yearlong giving program, which allows individuals to make a one-time or monthly pledge. The party will be hosted at Oregon City’s Ainsworth House by Seattle drag sensation Jinx Monsoon and will include performanc SUBMITTED PHC J* _ « es by Clackamas County jazz band Green Machine. “She believes really strongly in what we’re doing," Russel says of Monsoon, who is a former SMYRC youth and friend of Rus sel’s daughter. So does the Oregon Safe Schools and Community Coalition, which provides the Living Room with its 501(c)(3) nonprofit status. “They took us under our wing,” Russel says. “We’re mighty, but we’re small. Still, we’re trying to grow.” Part of that growth is about expanding services to reach more youth in the large county that includes suburban cities such as West Linn and Lake Oswego but also en compasses more rural outposts such as Mol- lala, Estacada and Sandy. “I’d like to see us focus more on smaller rural communities,” Russel says, adding, “They don’t all have moms who will drive them.” Lil Piggy says... Not every Eco-effort includes sacrifice! Check out our affordable collection of local art painted on recycled materials, organic accessories & soy based cushioning ‘Like u s” on F aceb ook for ou r S p ec ia l S a le s on O ne-of-A -K ind T reasu res.! "Got a mortgage question? Go to the best!" Robert Hogg, CPA Mortgage Broker • Retired Air Force MSC (all today and find out your options Interior D esign C o n su ltin g Available IX T ill'. PEARL ~ X O T P E A R !. PRICES.' C u s t o m O r d k r f . o F u r n i t u r e , in y o u r i i o m f . in as i i t t i i . as 4 w e e k s : 1.302 \ \ \ H o v t St., Portland • 50.3-227-.3400 • lu in tg a th c r .c o m 503 . 781.4181 Robert Hogg MLO 99103 • NMLS 81395 Red Hills Robert@RedHillsMortgage.com • www.RHFinancial.net A DMsion of finn«lt Capital Morigop Carp RH Financial is not a tax consulting firm. Pleas« seek tax advke from a lox consultant ^ ^
