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  Last week the Senate Judiciary Committee approved a bill that would repeal the Defense of Marriage Act. The Human Rights Campaign successfully delivered over 135 thousand petitions calling for this repeal. The bill’s main sponsor, Sen. Dianne Feinstein of California (D) fears that the bill will have no chance in the House that is controlled by Republican conservatives. Even with 31 Democratic Senate sponsors, there is Republican hindrance.
President Obama announced this past February that the law would no longer be defended by his administration. He stated recently that he supports “civil unions” but, what about “same-sex” marriages? This federal law has economically impacted all gay and lesbian couples around the nation, not giving them the same government privileges as heterosexual couples. There are currently six states which now recognize gay and lesbian marriages (Massachusetts, Connecticut, Iowa, Vermont, Maine and New Hampshire) however, couples’ rights are still limited. They cannot file for joint federal tax returns, nor do they have spousal Social Security benefits. Also, couples are not a part of the Family and Medical Leave Law or protected from estate taxes if their partner dies.
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  Bacon Salt man at last year's Portland Baconfest. 2011 version takes place this Saturday on E Burnside Thursday
Q center open house – Come say hi to the new Executive Director, Barbara McCullough-Jones while you check out featured art on the history of Portland drag from photographer Greg Pitts.
Kerry Hallet @ Alberta Pub – The pub may be eclipsed by its newer hipster neighbors across the street but it’s still got amazing fries and damn good acoustic music sets, like this one by local Kerry Hallet.
Friday
Bent featuring Jeau Breedlove – This months gay ass dance party up north features the homo hop stylings of Jeau Breedlove. The name will probably get old quickly but I heard the cat at the Queer Music Fest the rhymes are pretty dope.
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  There’s an exciting opportunity coming up for women who love basketball!
HRC’s annual 3 on 3 tournament is on Saturday, July 23rd in NE Portland’s Irving Park. Registration is open until 2pm on Thursday, July 21, and costs either $20 for an individual or $80 for a team.
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 Coming out in the Keith Herring era Today marks the 23rd annual National Coming Out Day. Held on October 11th every year to commemorate the first March on Washington by LBGT people. The March took place in October of 1987 and highlighted the lesbigay struggle for acceptance. The first National Coming Out Day was held on October 11, 1988.
Supported by the Human Rights Campaign and the National Coming Out Project, this year the day will focus on raising awareness of sexuality-related bullying in light of Tyler Clementi’s suicide.
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  Ernesto Dominguez qPDX would like to congratulate Portland Community College (PCC) student Ernesto Dominguez, who recently received the HRC Awards Scholarships to Student Activists Committed to Achieving LGBT Equality. Only 3 were awarded out of 400 applications from all 50 states in the categories of first year student, returning student 2-year institution, and returning student 4-year insitution. Dominguez won in the first year category.
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 President Obama signs the Hate Crimes Prevention Act Finally more than just lip service from our overly-nice President Obama today as he signs the Matthew Shepard and James Byrd, Jr. Hate Crimes Prevention Act into law.
The new law gives the Justice Department the power to investigate and prosecute bias-motivated violence where the perpetrator has selected the victim because of the person’s actual or perceived race, color, religion, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or disability.
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 Kings For a Cause PDX ediion features the River City Riders and more! Kings For a Cause, is an National Drag Event created by the Emeritus Mister King of the Desert USofA MI, Anson Reign, of Phoenix, Arizona that brings together Drag King troupes all over the country in a one of a kind fundraising event August 28th, 29th, and 30th. Now Portland is finally in on the action this Friday the 28th at the Hawthorne Theater (3862 SE Hawthorne Blvd).
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