Joy of Freedom
Parade and
celebration to
honor Juneteenth
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‘City of Roses’
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for entire Portland
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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
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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
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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