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About Portland observer. (Portland, Or.) 1970-current | View Entire Issue (June 17, 2015)
Joy of Freedom Parade and celebration to honor Juneteenth QR code for Portland Observer Online ‘City of Roses’ See Local News, page 3 Parks Go Smoke Free Ban begins July 1 for entire Portland parks system See Health, page 4 Volume XLIV Number 26 www.portlandobserver.com Wednesday • June 17, 2015 Established in 1970 Committed to Cultural Diversity Black Pride! Gay rights supporters celebrate O LIVIA O LIVIA T HE P ORTLAND O BSERVER June marks the 40th celebration of Portland Pride, a c celebration of the LGBTQ community, but the month i is also shining a light on the powerful emergence of several leaders in the black community advocating f for gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender rights. One organization in particular, the PFLAG Black Portland Chapter, has extended its reach since its EHJLQQLQJV MXVW D IHZ \HDUV DJR DV WKH ¿UVW $IUL- can-American PFLAG chapter of the nation, the or- ganization that formally was called Parents, Families a and Friends of Lesbians and Gays. Khalil Edwards, the Portland chapter’s president, h has been working on a full slate of community cel- e ebrations for Portland Black Pride, with most of the e events for all ages and families taking place this week. (See Metro, inside) w PFLAG acquired management of Portland Black Pride in 2011 and it has grown immensely,” says Ed- P wards. w “We did our best to revitalize it and bring it new e energy,” he said. The chapter is also celebrating some major gains f for gay rights in Oregon and some vital partnerships, i including with the Urban League of Portland and Ba- sic Rights Oregon, another LGBT advocacy group a and an organization where Edwards is a racial justice o organizer. The support has made it possible for PFLAG to h have some paid staff and increase its capacity as a an organization, expanding its reach and political weight. w The chapter runs a policy and advocacy program, BY B PHOTO BY O LIVIA O LIVIA /T HE P ORT ORTLAND R LAND O BSERVER Celebrating Pride Month and a 2015 proclamation by the Multnomah County Commission supporting the LGBTQ community are (pictured from left) Giovanni Blair McKenzie, founder and executive director of Queer Intersec- tions Portland and a former youth ambassador for the Human Rights Campaign; Antoinette Edwards, director RIWKH3RUWODQGRIÀFHRI<RXWK9LROHQFH3UHYHQWLRQDQG(GZDUGV·VRQ.KDOLO(GZDUGVRI3)/$*3RUWODQG%ODFN Chapter. Kourtni Capree salutes a captive audience DV3RUWODQG·VWK annual Pride Parade moves through the streets of downtown Sunday, giving support to the LBGTQ (lesbian, bisexual, gay, transgender and questioning) community. PHOTO BY O LIVIA O LIVIA / T HE P ORTLAND O BSERVER C ONTINUED ON P AGE 14