Tracy: And to raise children that know it’s not okay to hate.
Peter: Marriage equality is important too. It’s a symbol of equality overall.
Lisa: It’s a bigger issue here but access to healthcare for transgendered people is important too. We
all need access. These are symbols of bigger issues.
On activism and advocacy.
Chris: You need to get out there and advocate. Just joining PABA or throwing a check
at the Q Center is not enough.
Tracy: I’ve taken it upon myself to educate my family. My father was very [ho-
mophobic] but his first trip to Portland we took him to CC [Slaughters] and
he loved everyone. My farmer father supposedly never met a gay person
until his 60s, but that’s all it took to turn him around.
Mark: When I was a kid I was sarcastic and chubby so I really know
what it’s like to be picked on. I identify with that. When any one
group of people is made to feel less-than or discriminated against
it sets me going. There’s really only one group left that it’s “okay”
to do that to and it’s wrong. In a generation we’ll look back at
that and know it’s stupid but until then [my advocacy] has to
continue.
Peter: We would do what we do here anywhere and in an-
other city we might be considered activists but here we’re
just Portlanders.
Lisa: We donate a percentage of sales to non-profits and
probably 70% of that goes to LGBT or AIDS related
causes. It was kind of scary knowing that might alienate
some of our customer base but the reward has been well
worth anything we might have lost.
O n what else keeps them busy.
Peter: CAP. Our House. P:ear. Red Dress Party.
Chris: Q Center. HRC. BRO. GLSEN. I’m passionate about that one
because it’s for the kids. We donate to all sorts of organizations but
to LGBT ones the most. And I get business from this community. I
didn’t start out with the great idea to create change. A friend told
me if you get involved in this community you will have the most
loyal customers you’ve ever had. He was right.
Lisa: At a marketing class given by Travel Portland about market-
ing to the LGBT community, they said that people will recognize
if you’re authentic, if you’re doing it just for the business or if you
really support these causes. It rang true to me.
al
ly
Tracy: It’s hard to break into this community. You have to re-
be there and do your part, be a voice, have personal relation-
ships.
Mark: When we first moved here we didn’t know anyone and just
wanted to meet like-minded people. This community was welcoming, and
growing my busines was just a great byproduct.
Chris & Monica Reed
30
JustOut.com
Tracy: These people have become more than friends. They’re our family. §
January 2013