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I was in attendance last Saturday (the night of wildly competing queer events) for drag raunch queen Gula Delgado aka Eric Sellers‘ video release party. Held at Maricon at the Matador, the tiny dive bar west of downtown, the space was incredibly packed and difficult to navigate but the drinks were cheap and everyone was friendly despite (or perhaps because of) the lack of personal space.
A brilliant rendition of Robyn‘s Dancing On My Own, Delgado’ not only donned the parody outfit but actually sang the tune herself in the video directed by Devon McGrath. It wasn’t quite as out there as one might expect after seeing Gula do some really nasty things on stage, such as the sex, drugs and scattalogical references during her ‘Twas the Night Before Christmas performance but it was satisfying and easy to dance to. Some fans thought this might be an attempt not to completely scare the mainstream (or Marty Davis, who has already admitted her fear).
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Producer Ryan Murphy, left, kisses actor Chris Colfer, both of television's "Glee," as they hold their awards at the Fox party following the Golden Globes. AP Photo
Although The Social Network took the top prize at last night’s Golden Globe Awards several LGBT themed shows and/or actors also took top honors.
Many of these movies also appear on my best gay movies list of 2010 as well as the best LGBT on TV over the years. There’s several that I hardly know at all and certainly didn’t know the queer connections the shows have on their staff.
A complete list is below.
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The Dream of the 90s is alive in Portland
Those of us that missed the special Portlandia premiere that Portland’s Hollywood Theater got this weekend may be sad, but we have this coming weekend’s television premiere to look forward to. And besides, web savvy qPDXers can watch the first episode now on Hulu (and right here below!) for 3 more days.
The early leaked opening video, Dream of the 90s, did end up being the funniest part of the first episode but it was a great first start. The sketch with SNL‘s Jason Sudeikis as a polygamous organic chicken farmer was pretty hilarious. I have faith that it will grow as we get to know our mirror town and its inhabitants.
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Kendall Clawson at the Q Center's ribbon cutting
It’s been a week since Governor-elect John Kitzhaber announced the appointment of his closest aids. I would like to join with the rest of the queer community in congratulating Q Center‘s Kendall Clawson‘s hiring as Director of Executive Appointments.
This is a joyous, if slightly bittersweet, occasion, but will ultimately benefit the entire LGBT community. The Q Center might be losing its first permanent Executive Director, and a great one at that, but she will be in a position of power in the Gov’s office, a queer voice in our state politics.
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Katastrophe performs Saturday with Athens Boys choir at Gaycation
Whew! So one small weekend of only a few events and we’re back to the melee of 20 million dueling events. Here’s what you got to choose from.
Thursday
Triskaidekaphilia (Just My Luck) – Former Just Out arts writer Jimmy Radosta hasn’t had the best of luck. But his loss is our comedic gain with his one man show that highlights his growing up in Salem and other gay misfortunes. Billed as blending the dry wit of David Sedaris with the political humor of Jon Stewart and the cheeky musical stylings of “Weird Al” Yankovic, this love of 13 is surely a good luck charm for the rest of us.
Radical Act at the Reel Music Festival –Radical Act may have been made in 1995 but women in rock still have a glass ceiling. The film screened at Outfest in Los Angeles and appeared in 1999 as part of Miranda July’s “Break My Chainletter” collection, and now it’s being revived at the Reel Music Festival.
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From left: Mary Timony, Janet Weiss, Rebecca Cole, Carrie Brownstein
Amidst all the hype surrounding former Sleater-Kinney band member Carrie Brownstein‘s comedic project Portlandia, I hope you all haven’t forgotten that the funny lady still makes music. And her new band, Wild Flag, plays tonight at Bunk Bar (1028 SE Water St). With a tour in March, recording in April, and an album out in fall in the Flag is already flying.
To learn more about the super group, which also includes Janet Weiss (Sleater-Kinney, Quasi) and Mary Timony (Helium) and Rebecca Cole (Minders) check out an introduction to Wild Flag penned back in September. And to check out some of their angsty anthems check out videos from Portland live shows below.
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'Coal to Diamonds' book jacket
Dynamic and always on the move, southern chanteuse Beth Ditto has a lot more to her story than just music — as if that wasn’t enough. So the buzz has begun over her much-anticipated memoir, Coal to Diamonds, even though a release date has still not been set.
Hipster dyke novelist Michelle Tea, author of occasionally shocking but sincere stories such Rent Girl, or the seminal San Francisco dyke manifesto Valencia, is helping her craft the tome. This should be an interesting mix. Gregarious but very down to earth, Ditto is usually pretty straightforward in the way she communicates, using her southern drawl to tell it like it is. Tea, on the other hand, is free and frisky as any fiction writer with her adjectives, describing details in a way that the boisterous Ditto might merely proclaim.
It is also going to solidify its readers as queer bohemian feminists with just an edge of cool. Successful in targeting an audience, it remains to be seen if reviewers will take a sort of grown up riot grrl aesthetic seriously. My hope is that they will. The rambunctious ’90s teenagers have grown into sophisticated artists with a keen third wave feminist perspective that definitely could use a little more notice and critical acclaim.
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Best Pride backup crew! Photo by Diana Edwards
So it’s been quite a week of reliving 2010. Truthfully I’m a little burned out. But before you shed all your summer skin and head into the depths of 2011 fresh and new here are a few last looks back at some of the “best” random sh** of the year…
Most asked question
What time is the dyke march? (A wink and a nod to the amusing insights of Katey Pants).
Best LGBT quote of the year
“You know if I could go back in time, I would lez it up 24 hours. Believe me, one thing I would not miss? Balls. Terrible little things.”
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Clockwise from left: Saturn, Sally Ingus Wilder, Bulimianne Rhapsody and Kaj-Anne Pepper at Blow Pony
This what what caught your eye or sparked heated debate on these very pages in 2010.
5 – Hot gay boys do Katy Perry’s “California Girls.”
Gay version of the biggest pop hit of the summer went viral. So hot it melted your popsicle.
4 – Aden Jaric jailed after Miss Thing […]
E Room/Weird Bar owner Kim Davis. Photo by Jamie Francis / The Oregonian
Portland is a very homo-aware town but we are still small, and news travels fast. Here’s some of the things that caused the most uproar.
5 – Duende censorship, and the Pride parade route change
It was much more upsetting to witness the Rose Festival quash a chaste kiss in the Circus Project’s Duende, nearly forcing the performance to be canceled. There was nearly as much kerfuffle internally in the community when the Pride parade route was taken off the traditionally Stark Street triangle (aka Vaseline Alley). Sometimes the struggle comes from without, but the struggle within is just as powerful.
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