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About Just out. (Portland, OR) 1983-2013 | View Entire Issue (Aug. 5, 2011)
HO®. AUGUST 5. 2011 us m* some love... events WWW.JUSTOUT.COM T o Leather, W ith L o v e Oregon Leather Pride 2011 is back in black “Like” Just Out on facebook Now Serving Beer HI M i N G 0 in Beaverton 503 646 6464 WWW.MiNGOWEST.COM COVERAGE BY RYAN J. PRADO As visibility and understanding increases toward the world o f leather enthusiasts here in Oregon, so grows the booted footprint of the subculture. The leather community has come a long way, having distanced itself from the biker aesthetic, the brawny bear milieu and the misconceptions stemming from a never-ending onslaught o f largely negative pop culture references. Even 2010’s Portland Pride Parade debacle, wherein a sex sling display threatened to alienate the community at large, has done little to discourage the leather loyal. Leather pride is alive and well, its faithful welcoming anyone interested to learn more during the 2011 Oregon Leather Pride week, taking place August 5-14 all over Portland. Building upon 2010’s banner Leather Pride program, O L P co-chair Ben Brown Jr. aimed to further the outreach o f the events slated for this year’s lineup. W ith a now 16 group- strong showing, O LP 2011 actually packs in more events in one less day than last year— 27 in all, a feat made even more mind-boggling consid ering that O L P didn’t receive the grants it sought to help fund this - year’s festivities. W h at’s more, the majority of the leather-clad soirées run under $10 for admission, and half of the events are free. “A lot of it had to do with building on successes and showing other groups that we could actually pull this off once again, and do it in a way that we’ve never done before,” Brown Jr. explains. “We didn’t get the grant funding wè were hoping to this year, but rather than be bitter about it, we decided to make lemonade.” Instead, O L P received a small grant from Pride NW, which organizers utilized to manufacture official O L P 2011 T-shirts. Sales from these shirts— competitively priced at $15 a piece or two for $25— go directly to cover the core expenses for this year’s smor gasbord of events. O f O L P ’s DIY approach, Brown Jr. adds, “Even if the funds are dry, there’s no reason not to move forward with your goals, and do it in a very-positive way.” Oregon Leather Pride began as a weekend- long event in June of 1989, held during the 20-year anniversary o f the Stonewall Riots and the 12th Portland Pride Festival. The festivities gained momentum in 1991, evolv ing into an entire week’s worth o f leather shenanigans, and soon taking on more leather, BDSM and kink groups to carry the weight. In 2003, several o f the Portland area’s most involved leather and leather-friendly groups— including the Portland Leather Alliance, Blackout Leather Productions, the Imperial Sovereign Rose Court and Bad Girls— met to discuss creating a more unified Leather Pride Week. The result was the Oregon Leather Pride committee, which has grown every year since its inception. Among the more familiar events at OLP: the popular Leather Family BBQi taking place this year Thursday, August 11 from 6 p.m. to dusk at Overlook Park; the 15th A n nual Mr. and Mrs. Oregon State Leather contest on August 13; and the Rose & Thorn Awards Sunday, August 14. O LP 2011 also welcomes a few new kids to the block. First, on Tuesday, August 9, Brown Jr. facilitates an online media campaign geared Brian Johnson marching with this year’s Pride Parade contingent toward reducing men’s syphilis rates. The ef fort is in reaction to recent data suggesting a rise iri STD rates among men who have sex with men. “W e’re starting to trend to some very scary data,” Brown Jr. says. “The last thing we need to do is replicate w hat’s been happening in San Francisco, New York and Seattle. It’s be come an incredibly serious problem. This is something that’s from the men’s community, for the men’s community, just to look out for each other.” From 5 to 7 p.m. August 11, the first Leather History Exhibit hits The Conserva tory (5224 SE Foster Road) to showcase a collaboration between Andy Mangels— Mr. Oregon State Leather 2004— and his Oregon Leather History Project, the Portland Leather Alliance and O LP 2011 co-chair Chelsea Watson, who has been instrumental in bring ing archives from the Leather Archives and Museum in Chicago, 111. “The Leather History Exhibit, o f all the new events, is the one I’m most excited about," Brown Jr. enthuses. “W e’ve never attempted anything on this scale during Leather Pride. I t’s still going to be small with the hope that over the next several years we can really grow it out. It gives people the opportunity to see what we’re really about and see how long and rich our history is—rnot just as leathermen, but in the broader queer community.” O ther established events during O L P 2011 include the Portland Leather Alliance’s Leather Tastings event at The Conservatory on Saturday, August 6 (noon-4 p.m.); the Leather & Lace Show on Wednesday, August 10 at Embers Avenue (7 p.m.), hosted by the Imperial Sovereign Rose Court; and the Portland Leather Men Potluck on Saturday, August 13. Held from 4 to 6 p.m., it is the Rose C ity’s i oldest men’s-only leather n J i group meeting. ' In another new addi tion, Blackout Leather Productions is instituting an Oregon State Boot- black title, given to those whose bootblacking prow ess reigns supreme. The winner of the contest has the option to compete for International Mr. or Ms. Bootblack in Chicago come May o f next year. “It’s a nice addition be cause it recognizes a whole segment o f the community that is dedicated to service, which is one o f our founding prin ciples o f the leather community, and leather pride is service to your community,” says Brown Jr. Through an even more diversified parade of leather-loving happenings, the O LP 2011 committee hopes above all else for people to keep an open mind, and to explore the scope of events whether you’re new to the scene or not. And for those uncertain of where to be gin, Brown Jr. has another suggestion. “Contact one o f us and let us have a discus sion about where your comfort level is at,” he pleads. “A big public event in a park may not be your thing, but something small and inti mate with people that you have an interest in might be. It’s about where people’s comfort level is and, most importantly, deciding for themselves where their comfort level is as an entry level. “W ere incredibly welcoming and an in credibly friendly group o f people. More than anything, throw caution to the wind and have a great, great tim e.”
