Portland's 2010 AIDSwalk. Photo by Mike Burt.
Get those boots that are made for walking out because this weekend has some great ways to enjoy downtown Portland outdoors with a gay spin.
Saturday will see the Gay and Lesbian Archives of the Pacific Northwest (GLAPN) getting together with the Oregon Safe Schools and Communities Coalition for a Queer History Walking Tours to be held as a benefit for OSSCC. The tour begins at 1:30pm in front of Hobo’s (120 NW Third Ave), an area known as the “vice neighborhood.” (Not much has changed, except this has now become the entirety of the city.) This is also where we have ghost tours, Shanghai Tunnels where sailors were kidnapped to serve. It was also at the center of he 1912 Portland Vice Clique Scandal. Think Gangs of New York crossed with Tipping the Velvet?
The tour continues through the 20th century visiting old school gay bars, the more recent history of the Stark Street Triangle and even a “men only” park at Lownsdale Square (SW Fourth Ave. and Main), which as GLAPN secretary Robin Will relates was a well-established cruising spot for gay teens of the last century.
The Old Town leg of the Queer History Walking Tour runs from 1:30 to 3 p.m. The SW Stark Street leg runs from 4 to 5:30 p.m. Tickets are $30 per person per tour, and all proceeds go to OSSCC. Tickets are available here.
An even bigger deal this Fall weekend will be Sunday’s Portland AIDSwalk. Beginning at 9am this annual event meets at Pioneer Courthouse Square to raise money for, and bring awareness to the fight against HIV and AIDS. Cascade AIDS Project, which works to prevent HIV infections and help individuals with HIV/AIDS, aims to raise $400,000 this year for its 25th annual AIDS Walk Portland, which makes up 10 percent of the nonprofit’s budget. CAP fell short of the same goal last year. The organization expects turnout for the event to exceed 2010’s tally of 11,000 people, but it hopes those people will reach deeper in their pockets. There’s still time to donate and you can do so online.
For those looking to participate Sunday’s full schedule and walking route are below and you can find more info on the AIDSwalk walker page.
9:00 AM
AIDS Walk Portland Opens
Music & Entertainment Begin
Registration & Walk of Fame Opens
Prize Booth Opens
Complimentary Breakfast Available
Team Photos Begin
Kids’ Corner Opens
Action Center Opens
10:30 AM
Official Welcome
Speakers On Stage For Next 30 Minutes
11:00 AM
AIDS Walk Portland 2.5 mi Walk Begins
11:15 AM
Music & Entertainment Continues
12:30 PM
Closing Ceremony
1:00 PM
AIDS Walk Portland Closes
