Q+A
JeN HuGHeS
How do you IdeNTIFy?
lesbian, gay, queer.
wHAT do you do FoR A lIvING?
I am a social worker. I work with low in-
come, refugee and immigrant children
and their families as a Family Advocate.
How loNG HAve you BeeN IN PoRT-
lANd? wHAT do you love/HATe
ABouT IT?
Almost 20 years .I love the beauty that sur-
rounds us here. I love having such easy
access to forests, rivers, mountains and the
ocean. I love that I can get all of my needs/
interests met here. I can see live music any
night of the week, go for a hike, attend a
meditation group, get out on the water,
enjoy some fabulous food/drink...it's all
here and more! The opportunities to re-
ally experience life in this city are endless.
However, I do wish that there was more
diversity in Portland.
wHo do you looK uP To/ReveRe IN
THe GAy CommuNITy? In the Portland
gay community I look up to my dragon
boating coach and my teammates. The
team that I am a member of is the Ama-
zon dragons Paddling Club. It was started
in 1992 as part of the lesbian Community
Project and is still going strong. my coach
and the amazing women on my team
inspire me on a daily basis.
Photo by Horace long
HAve you eveR eXPeRIeNCed GAy
BASHING?
I have experienced slurs/negative com-
ments from others when I have been in
groups of lesbians.
wHAT IS AN ImPoRTANT ToPIC THAT
THe lGBT CommuNITy SHould Be
TAlKING ABouT ANd ISN'T?
we should talk more about giving back
to and supporting our lGBT elders who
cleared the path for us. we need to spend
more time and effort honoring those who
fought before us to give us the freedom
that we have today. g
September 2012
Justout.com
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