Q+A
ANTOINETTE SPARKLES
HOW DO YOU IDENTIFY?
I identify as an andro-femme queer woman.
WHAT DO YOU DO FOR A LIVING?
I am a webcam model and make-up artist.
HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN IN PORT-
LAND/OREGON? WHAT DO YOU LOVE/
HATE ABOUT IT?
I moved to Portland in 2004. I am very fond of
the noble-minded attitudes. People really like to
live for something in Portland. It is so beautiful
and comfortable here though, that sometimes
people forget there is still work to do if dreams
are to be made.
WHO DO YOU LOOK UP TO OR REVERE
IN THE GAY COMMUNITY OR HISTORI-
CALLY?
Frida Kahlo, Leigh Bowery, Julia Serano, and
Donna Haraway, to name a few.
HAVE YOU EVER EXPERIENCED GAY
BASHING?
Yes. While growing up I was harassed about it all
the time, though I really didn’t understand how I
was “gay.” As an adult, I still experience hate from
time to time. Just this last year, someone threat-
ened to run my partner and I over with their car.
Thankfully words and threatened violence are
the worst I have had to deal with for being queer.
Photo by Horace Long
WHAT’S AN IMPORTANT TOPIC THAT THE
LGBT COMMUNITY SHOULD BE TALKING
ABOUT AND ISN’T?
When you identify as LGBT it is easy to general-
ize based on personal experience. The diversity
of our community demands that we listen a little
more, actively seek some knowledge and reject
this selfish sort of attitude. We all have varying
degrees of privilege and suffer different types of
oppression. We can all contribute greatly to one
another. I suggest that we talk about how our
experiences differ, and actively work to be bet-
ter allies to one another, instead of assuming
that we already are. This is what community is
based on. §
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November 2012
JustOut.com
61