OREGON'S LGBTO NEWSMAGAZINE
4
community
OCTOBER 7, 2011
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Come Out, Portland
Your local guide to National Coming Out Day events
BY AARON SPENCER
This year’s National Coming Out Day, set
for October 11, marks perhaps the easiest
time yet for individuals to come out as lesbi
an, gay, bisexual, transgender or queer.
The event, founded in 1988, encourages
sexual minorities and their straight allies to
celebrate their pride and focus on advancing
LGBTQ_rights. The date was originally cho
sen to coincide with the anniversary of the
National March on Washington for Lesbian
and Gay Rights in 1987.
But today, six states and the District of Co
lumbia have legalized same-sex marriage.
Nearly 650,000 couples identified as same-sex
partners in the 2010 census, an 80 percent
increased from 2000. The It Gets Better Proj
ect is 22,000 videos strong in support of bul
lied queer teens. Chaz Bono is on Dancing
with the Stars. The world has never been more
welcoming toward those who are out.
Still, recent headlines serve as a reminder
that timing is critical, and of the reality that
intolerance persists to sometimes tragic effect.
Last month, Jamey Rodemeyer, a 14-year-old
from Buffalo, N.Y., committed suicide after
being bullied for being out.
“In general, I do think the more people
who are out the more others will come to
know LGBT people and the more we can
advance the movement,” says Dawn Holt,
president of PFLAG Portland, “but there are
definitely times when it’s in one’s best interest
not to come out.”
For those who are ready, Portland has a bevy
of events where you can be out and proud.
Dinners,” hosts will provide the meals and
guests are encouraged to donate to the queer
community hub. But more loosely, hosts can
cook the meal, have it catered or hold a pot-
luck. The dinner party can be for any num
ber of guests, but each host has a goal of
raising $200.
Sat., Oct. 8; visitpdxqcenter.com for informa
tion on attending or hosting a dinner; $20 mini
mum donation per person encouraged.
CWC president. Local religious leaders will
be on hand to speak.
Tues., Oct. 11, 8:30-10 a.m.; Augustana Lu
theran Church, 2710 NE 14th Ave.; free, but do
nations encouraged; welcomingcongregations.org.
Coming Out Day
Intergenerational Event
LGBTQ_senior citizens will share coming
out stories with LGBTQ_homeless youth the
evening of National Coming Out Day. O ut
Count On Me/National
side In, the nonprofit for homeless youth,
Coming Out Day 2011
and Gay & Grey, a program for LGBTQ_se-
Community Event
niors by the nonprofit Friendly House, are
The nonprofit that runs Portland Pride, partnering for the event. Outside In’s pro
Pride Northwest, is holding an event at Skid gram Queerzone targets the many youth
more Fountain on National Coming Out Day who have been kicked out of their homes for
to launch the “Count On Me” campaign. The coming out to their families.
effort is meant to raise awareness of resources
Tues., Oct. 11, 6-8 p.m.; Outside In, 1132
available to the LGBTQ_community to com SW 13th Ave.;free; outsidein.org.
bat and deal with violence and harassment.
Partners in the campaign include the Sexual Portland State University’s
Minorities Roundtable, the Mayor’s Office of
National Coming Out Week
Safety & Peacekeeping, Equity Foundation,
Basic Rights Oregon, Cascade AIDS Project,
Portland State University’s Queer Re
the Sexual and Gender Minority Youth Re source Center has a week full of events to
source Center and the PFLAG Portland commemorate National Coming Day, from a
Black Chapter.
coffee klatch to karaoke. All of the events
Tues., Oct. 11, 6 p.m.; Skidmore Fountain at will be held in Smith Memorial Student
SWAnkeny St. and First Ave.; pridenw.com.
Union and are open to the public.
Mon., Oct. 10, noon-7 p.m.: The QRC will
hold an open house in its offices. Learn
National Coming Out Day
about programs offered, have some snacks
Prayer Breakfast
and “Guess the Straight” during a game
Start your National Coming Out Day with show-styled presentation that debunks
a prayer breakfast hosted by the Community stereotypes.
Night of 100 Dinners
of Welcoming Congregations, the Oregon
Tues., Oct. 11, noon-9 p.m.: A trans coffee
The Saturday before National Coming nonprofit collective of LGBTQ^welcoming hour (noon-1 p.m.) in the QRC offices pro
Out Day, Portland’s Q_Center is holding a spiritual organizations. The event is an oppor vides an opportunity to meet and mingle with
fundraiser in homes across Oregon. Strictly tunity for LGBTQjndividuals to come out as genderqueer people. Then head to the Queer-
speaking, during the “Night of 100 people of faith, says the Rev. Tara Wilkins, ies Coming Out Panel in rooms 228-29 to
hear students tell their stories (2-3 p.m.). Af
terward, from 3 to 5 p.m., you’ll have a chance
to share your own coming out story, whether
it’s on camera, written or through art. You’ll
also be provided with supplies to make a spe
cial coming out T-shirt. The space will be re
served for transgender and gender-noncon
forming individuals from 4:30 to 5 p.m. And
from 7 to 9 p.m., stay to watch Paris is Burn
ing, the 1990 documentary about drag nights
among New York’s underclass.
Wed., Oct. 12, 3 -7 p.m.: Attend a panel on
health care for transgender people from 3 to
5 p.m. in room 236. Afterward, stay for “Toys
in the Closet,” an informative program on
condoms, lube and more.
Fri., Oct. 14, 7-10p.m.: End the week with
a dance party and karaoke outside the stu
dent union at the South Park Blocks. T#]
Mon., Oct. 10-Fri., Oct. 14; 1825 SW Broad
way; free; qrc.pdx.edu.
Visit blogout.justout.com for late-breaking
Coming Out Day events and news.