Q+a
AARON RIDINGS
WHAT DO yOU DO FOR A LIvING?
I work as part of the development team at
Basic Rights Oregon, raising funds for the
freedom to marry, racial justice and trans
justice programs. This past year, I've been
taking classes at PSU towards earning a
Master's Degree in Public Administration.
HOW LONG HAvE yOU BEEN IN
PORTLAND? WHAT DO yOU LOvE/
HATE ABOUT IT?
Portland has been home for most of my
adult life. I love Portland because of its
quirks, not in spite of them. I love the un-
conventional fashion, community involve-
ment, local politics, the coffee, the beer, its
proximity to nature and the fact that it is
filled with lots of other idealists, like myself.
WHAT’S A PASSION yOU HAvE THAT
NO ONE WOULD GUESS?
I love books and spend lots of my free time
in the library and Powell's finding new his-
torical fiction books to read. I am also a
big science fiction nerd, especially when it
comes to watching Star Trek and Battlestar
Gallactica!
HAvE yOU EvER ExPERIENCED GAy
BASHING?
yes, many times over the years, both as a
youth and as an adult. I am grateful to al-
ways have had teachers and friends who did
what they could to help take the bullies and
bashers to task!
Photo by Horace long
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
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October 2012
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