O C T O B E R 7. 2011
O REG O N 'S LGBTO N EW SM AGAZIN E
• p r o f i l e '
Similarly, Portland Latino
Gay Pride— co-founded by
M unguia’s late partner José
Ornelas— is a perennial part
ner, and an organization that
until this year held its pri
mary base o f operations at
the Jupiter. The hotel has also
served as host site for the
Rose City Softball Associa
tion’s Cascade Cup and Pride
Northwest functions.
“We have a saying: ‘As in
G o d ’s house, all are welcome
at the Jupiter,’” M unguia
says. “We just don’t care
w hether you’re gay or
straight, black or white, hip
ster or business suit-by-day.
We want people to be able to
come and feel accepted and
free to be whoever it is that
they may be and however it
is they define themselves.”
This June Munguia’s efforts
were recognized on a grander scale, when
Governor John Kitzhaber appointed him to
the Oregon Tourism Board. As a member of
this administrative body, it’s Munguia’s duty
to review spending strategies and allocate
funds for grants to increase the state’s viabil
ity as a tourist destination. The board’s sug
gestions and decisions are then implemented
by Travel Oregon.
Since Munguia’s appointment came after
the 2011-12 strategies were established, his
input is likely to be felt more in the coming
years of his four-year term.
“As a Latino, I bring that perspective of,
‘W hat do we need to do from the Oregon
perspective to really make Oregon attractive
to this segment of the population?”
Munguia explains. “And then as a gay man,
I bring that perspective of, ‘W hat are we as
a state doing to promote LG B T tourism to
the state?’ Those are going to be my big
focuses.”
Under Munguia’s wing, Oregon’s widely
touted hospitality isn’t just hype. It’s fact. JÜÜ
land’s first TAG-approved property, and is
also a member o f the International Gay and
Lesbian Travel Association (IGLTA).
“It really is about awareness,” Munguia
says. “Its about those micro-aggressions that
we use on a daily basis that we may not really
be conscious of in our speech, or in our body
language as we interact with people.”
Upon TAG certification, staff and man
agement take an exam designed to assure
they can deal effectively and positively with
issues sensitive to the LGBTQjcommunity—
and, most importantly, says Munguia, have
been trained not to make assumptions.
“We all grow up with prejudices, and pre
formulated ideas as to how people want to be
treated,” he says. “The certification just lets
the LG BTQ traveler know that this property
is aware of who they are.”
Linking the entire community to the expe
rience of the Jupiter was a cornerstone strat
egy for Munguia, and has established the
property as a makeshift headquarters for
many regional organizations and annual
fundraising events. The Oregon Bears’ Bear-
Town has turned to the Jupiter as host hotel For more information about the Jupiter Hotel,
and event epicenter.
v isit jupiterhotel.com.
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