qPDX.com – Queer news, views and events for Portland

What a wonderful way to participate in American tradition and culture, I thought, when I heard about the hundreds of gay parents planning on participating in the annual Whitehouse Easter egg hunt. And while all the little families were adorable, leave it to the politicians to find a way to still take a happy day and a very small gesture and darken it will scandal and just plain meanness. I especially like this tongue-in-cheek take from Wonkette.
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I’ve recently shared my minor obsession with the still fairly new MTV-owned gay cable channel Logo. Though, to be fair to myself, I have voiced my numerous reservations about a gay channel, a channel called Logo, and even TV in general. Still, when I heard the station would not air a commercial for the all-inclusive United Church of Christ, I was a bit disappointed. And yet, though I’m sure it is only clever PR speak, Logo’s response, if infallibly wimpy, does have a point.

When pressed by the church for an official reason, MTV Networks responded, “Our guidelines state we will not accept religious advertisements that may be deemed as disparaging to another religion.” “I guess the idea of gay TV doesn’t really mean it’s your community’s network,” Ron Buford, director of the UCC’s Stillspeaking Initiative, told United Church News. “It’s just something that’s targeted at you to sell product.”

And indeed, while Logo does give various opinions by way of those in their prgramming, I suppose advertising is a whole other matter. Does the station have any religious advertising at all? If not, perhaps it’s not such a bad thing to refuse. I have actually seen this commercial recently, and in the Portland market, so it is not totally squelched, and perhaps this extra little nudge of controversy even helps. Even if no thanks to MTV. Viacom I know you are not looking out for me but I will probably continue to catch a program or two on your channel, if only slightly more often than I give into the tempation of a fast food hamburger.

Sidenote: The Logo site seems to have a video clip from yesterday about networks who won’t air the ad. Unfortunately, I can’t seem to get it to play. Interesting…
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As a press conference within the hour will relate, Basic Rights Oregon, is filing suit against the state of Oregon beginning today. This case involved the parental rights of two women, Jeana Frazzini and K.D. Parman, and their son Emmett Rocco. Bryan Boyd, formerly of GayRightsWatch and now of BRO says: “This case, and the following cases that will be filed are, for the most part, based on the Tanner decision in 1998.” A court decision that said the state is contitutionally prohibited from discriminating on the basis of sexual orientation as it relates to state benefits, priviledges, services, and immunities. The argument here, then, being that Frazzini should not have to file for second parent-adoption because she and Parman were not married but that, as they would have gotten married if they could have she should both automatically be considered the child’s other parent. This, simulataneously, makes the case for the marriage as well as the parentage. A bit roundabout but a positive step nonetheless. Below are three PDFs of the formal complaint, the press release, and a fact sheet. Check these out, and for continuing coverage be sure to check the BRO blog.

• Press release
• Fact sheet
• Formal complaint

Willy Week also lays out some news.
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So I’ve been sitting on this news for a couple months now. It was told to me in two parts by bandmember Dr. Dresch amidst nights of drinking and loud surroundings. This may explain why I was not sure whether or not this information could go public yet. As of this week, I know it certainly can, and I am now playing catch-up with at least 5 days of general knowledge. So forget the drumroll, but I’m still immensely excited that the most infamous dyke punk band of all time, Team Dresch, will be reuniting with its original cast.

Close to home shows will be on May 26th and 27th in Seattle and Portland respectively. Now, the last time I saw the team was at Homo-a-Gogo in Olympia 2 summers ago. And though I’ve been a fan since their original shows in the mid-90s, this one-time-only (or so it seemed) reunion sent this crowd into a frenzy I have not witnessed since. An though I returned home smelling of all kinds of punk lady sweat I was exhilarated and enchanted.

Can we be given this gift again? No one can be sure. But we may be given an even greater one. You see, there are a few shows scheduled, and over the course of several months. And when I did speak (shout, strain to listen, whatever) to Miss D, I got the impression that this may not just be another reunion show, but a complete revival of the band. Could this mean new songs, a new album, a complete rebirth of Portland’s once-thriving dyke music scene? One can only hope. And, of course, I would also love to see what the ladies do a decade later in this new music landscape, new sounds, and a very different layout of PDX clubs and neighborhoods.

Kaia’s more recent band, The Butchies, was quite successful. And Donna’s newest venture, Davies vs. Dresch, though short lived, also had much potential. But a regrouping such as this has the power to truly transform a scene. Team Dresch played a pivotal role in the young ladies of my generation. Personal Best seldom left my walkman in high school. I spent my very first hours on the internet in the Chainsaw chatroom in in their message boards. I think they have the power to do it again.

And for just a little nostalgia’s sake, and because everyone loves to see embarrassing moments in a blogger’s past, I’ll show you my Chainsaw chat profile from those times. (I really don’t look much older now). This site is a very slightly updated version of the original Geocities hosted site, but all of the text and images were copied directly and have not been altered. I’m sure these profiles bring up memories for more folks than me. Donna’s record label was a forum to speak the dyke punk language globally. Chainsaw records, and the message boards, still exist, if not with the same fervor. Nevertheless, Chainsaw continues to put out great music and gives helpful news updates as well. And so will I, as I follow the saga but the BEST. BAND. EVER…

The wackiness of any Ringling Bros. show seems queer enough already but the sight of sequin-laden, heavily makeup-ed and muscled acrobats twisting their bodies into highly irregular poses as they flip through rings in the air is enough to make anyone’s gay pheremones flair. And this weekend I got to experience queer circus extravaganza under the big blue and yellow tent on the Willamette, watching Cirque du Soleil’s traveling show Varekai.

The Cirque never fails to amaze as you crane you neck to try to figure out where, exactly, that body part is coming from. And Varekai did not disappoint as it sparkled with its mystical story, lavish costuming and live music. And plenty of homoeroticism accompanied the vaguely heterosexual main plot. Namely, with an act performed by two bulging gentleman who tumbled around each other’s bodies as they flew through the air supported only by a single strap and each others strength. My housemate kept saying, “Oh that one was so powerful…It was my favorite.” And I can scarcely blame her.

And yet, while I cannot deny the magic of Varekai, I would also recommend making a weekend trip to Vegas in order to experience a range of Cirque choices, including underwater, Egyptian themed, and a special risqu version. Only the last of which, called Zumanity, have I seen. And while some might snicker at what they see as a low-brow, naughty version of Cirque du Soleil, I have to say I might have liked it a touch better than Varekai, in part, perhaps, because it lacks pretension. And it may be even gayer still than the rest of the shows…if that is possible. Besides the drag queen emcee there are two scenes that are explicitly for us. The first is a watery dance between two women sharing the pool of an over-sized goblet. The second begins as a lady tries in vain to get the attention of several men watching football on television. After her failure and subsequent departure the men proceed to battle in a Thunderdome-like cage that descends from the ceiling until the culminating action, which is not a TKO, but instead a passionate embrace…No, Zumanity is brash and blatant, and for that I appreciate it.

Still, if you can’t get to Vegas, Varekai is certainly work braving the crowds for, even if the outdoor bathrooms are 2 urinals to every 3 unisex facilities. (There’s just no excuse for that). The show will be here in Portland through April 23rd before it moves on to Seattle and Vancouver, BC.
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Despite the disturbing parallels between the married life of HBO’s Mormon family in Big Love and gay families, living in secrecy, wishing for legal recognition, I’m starting to get a bit annoyed by the show. Queerty considers it to be giving “shoutouts” to gays. But the ridiculousness of getting business help from religious loan sharks and then complaining about the cost of supporting 3 suburban mansions and 7 children just does not apply to most gay couples I know. Of course, most gay shows aren’t particularly reflective of those I know, but I don’t give them props for accuracy so I refuse to give any to Big Love either. Worse, though, for Love is the complete lack of likeability of the wives, especially 2nd wife Nikki (even though she’s played by Chlow Sevigny, whom I adore), and continual stupidity of the main character, both of which make it scarcely entertaining.

I could certainly admit to a certain amount if distaste with the attitudes and content within the show but I know that bias is not completely responsible for my boredom. Big Love has an incredible timeslot after morally corrupt The Sopranos (though this doesn’t seem to be helping its ratings). And though the characters of that 6 season show are also often not easy to like, the content is so compelling I was sucked in from the moment I visited that ugly suburban home. So too, could my interest be piqued in 3 ugly suburban homes in Utah, if the writing was decent. Instead, my interest continues to wane.
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And I thought those atrociously garish gay pride rings were bad enough. Perhaps we can all embrace the inner gay nerd and just say it with a computer key. Really people, all of the above are just our own queer celebrations are just as tacky as any class ring or bigger-than-a-knuckle amythyst. If I were to really don the ring of quasi-marital bondage (ladies take note), personally, I’d go for Teno…
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Ok, so I haven’t been to Cupcake yet, so no new night out review, and perhaps there has been a bit of laziness on my part in general. Nonetheless, it seems that, despite the coming of the sunshine, and shedding of the winter coats, there is very little queer happenings, or even that much queer news in general. Really folks, I only blogged about the fairly lackluster, if somewhat amusing, final episode of the L Word, because I had to. Please tell me my impending 25th birthday is not making me blind to the goings-on of queer events and party life?

Nay! Perhaps it is just swaying from Clubland to Literaryville. There is but one event I can think of to highlight at the moment. That is this Thursday’s reading at Powells Book by Sarah Waters. The woman who brought you the sexy, if sad, tales of Victorian lezzies is back with new social outcasts in a new decade. Waters will be reading from her new book, Night Watch, which is set in 1940s London. I do love to read about our gay gay history and watch it on screen as well. Water’s most popular book, Tipping the Velvet, (oh, the title alone is enough to scandalize…) was made into a 6 hour mini-series and screened at numerous gay film festivals. Though the casting was all wrong, and the BBC made a mostly serious story quite silly at times, the film still preserved the super sexiness that Waters always infuses, even amidst the tragedy. To me, a film with 19th century sex toys is always worth watching. I expect, then, that Sarah Waters’ reading will also be worth listening to.
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Oh Shane, oh Shane, thou art not thy father, though you seem to be trying your damnedest to be.

Max, the moment you desired to pass and become a boring privileged man you ceased to have any interest. What would your coworker buddies say if they knew you canoodled with a gay man, let alone that youre a transsexual…

I love you Peggy Peabody, you’re the most interesting character this season and I am anxious to see what becomes of you’re newly poor daughter.

Bette, please. You’re hysterics are beginning to be too much. And Tina, don’t trust that selfish man you’ve hopped into playtime with just because Bette can match his horror.

And Kit, that man is adorable. Keep him and the baby.

It does appear that the writers have saved at least some interest for the seasons final two episodes. Barely any, but (and I can’t believe I’m about to say something nice) I think enough to make me want to stick around for Season 4.
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Seems Eugene’s daily, the Register-Guard, has a birth announcement policy that states they may print the names of only married or (interestingly enough) unmarried biological parents. (So basically anyone but a same-sex couple…or perhaps an infertile unwed hetero pair?). When Sharon and Rebecca Flynn tried to put announcement in the paper for the birth of their daughter they were told it must list only Sharon and the sperm donor. And while on one hand this seems trivial, or at least sad mostly to the couple who had to go through the pain of a media outlet telling them that they were not a family. On a larger scale, however, it is troublesome to think of what news we may not hear based on a paper’s personal and/or moral policies. Thank goodness college independent press tells it like it is.
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