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DJ of the Week — Aurora

DJ Aurora

Every week (or so…) we introduce you to a local LGBTQ party DJ and ask them about their experiences in the scene and feature an audio mix they’ve made. If you’re interested in being featured contact alley@qpdx.com.

DJ Aurora is part of a DJ duo called What the F@*K Ever (with DJ Chubby Chaser) starting a new night at Crush Bar (1400 SE Morrison) this Friday aimed at the sexy side of queers (I mean, as if there’s another). It’s called Have a Heart on: Sexxy dance party, and it’s just in time for V Day with go go dancers, lap dances, Valentine candy and all that good stuff.

When and how did you get started DJing?

As a native of Portland OR, I started DJing about two years ago. With my love and passion for music, my good friend Owen (Queer Gothic DJ at Plan B’s night Hive) referred me to DJ Entropy for his night, Bad Music for Good People at Tiger Bar. It was a free range night so I played everything from psychedelic rock to punk to contemporary pop.

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Basic Rights Oregon responds to today’s Prop. 8 decision

Following a decision from the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals that California’s Prop 8 is unconstitutional, Basic Rights Oregon Executive Director Jeana Frazzini released the following statement today:

“Today’s ruling is a victory for all loving and committed same-sex couples in California and across the nation,” “We applaud the 9th Circuit for standing on the right side of history. Today’s ruling, if upheld will restore the freedom to marry in California and add our nation’s largest state as another engine of progress for the country.”

“Here in Oregon this issue will be decided not in a courtroom by judges, but in the court of public opinion by the voters of our great state. The Court’s decision adds momentum to our effort to win the freedom to marry at the ballot box in Oregon.”

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BREAKING: Court rules Prop 8 gay marriage ban unconstitutional

Opponents of the controversial Prop 8. Image courtesy the LA Times.

A federal appeals court Tuesday struck down California’s ban on same-sex marriage, clearing the way for the U.S. Supreme Court to rule on gay marriage as early as next year, according to the Los Angeles Times. Opponents are expected to continue appeals to that highest level.

The 9th Circuit Court of Appeals found that the California measure restricting marriage to between a man and a woman violated the U.S. Constitution’s right to equal protection. The 2-1 decision is in line with the earlier ruling of retired Chief U.S. District Judge Vaughn R. Walker, who declared it unconstitutional in 2010.

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Photos from the first installment of Portland Drag Race season 4

Contestants at Portland Drag Race season 4. Photo by Marty Davis.

The Portland version of the popular drag reality competition Drag Race is back (and at the same time as RuPaul’s national Logo television show). The first “episode” happened last Thursday at Red Cap Garage and photographer Marty Davis was there to catch some snapshots, which you can see below the break

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Gladstone police officer already entwined in murder investigation fired for further allegations

Sgt. Lynn Benton

Police officer Lynn Benton has some soap-worthy headlines attached to his name. The FTM Gladstone sergeant has been implicated in the 2011 murder of his wife Deborah Higbee-Benton, but these are not the allegations for which he was recently fired.

Benton was fired last December following a memorandum (PDF) issued by Gladstone police chief Jim Pryde. This memo has just surfaced, thanks to an appeal The Oregonian filed with the  Clackamas County District Attorney’s Office which ordered the release despite the city of Gladstone’s decision to withhold the document.

In it Pryde recommends termination based on the following accusations:

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2 Girls, 1 Podcast ep#9: A chat with Amber Rowland of Feminist Agenda PDX

Katie Carter and Amber Rowland of Feminist Agenda

This week Lyska and I talk with Amber Rowland, one half of the newly launched Feminist Agenda PDX. This podcast is only half of our fantastic (and long conversation). It’s the slightly more serious one so stay tuned for more feminist outtakes in the next few days.

For this podcast expect to learn about the FA mission, how its […]


This weekend Drag Race returns, Homomentum gets Love Knots, and it all ends Easy

Dan Ostergren's portraiture exhibit, 'Queers, Queens and Everything In-Between' opns Thursday at the East End

Thursday

Portland Drag Race – Our local version of the popular drag star competition returns to Red Cap for its 4th 12 week run. The format will be a bit different. Each week a cash prize to the winner instead of one big prize at the end. So be prepared for some great new talent that was much to busy to commit to the long haul in past seasons.

Queers, Queens and Everything In Between art opening – Gender blending art photographer Dan Ostergren has taken some of the most loved queer portraits in town and this is the night to show them off. To help him celebrate the drag stars, local celesbians and other PDX characters he’s shot is a great 3 set show my up and comers directly below.

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ChatPDX’s Ernesto Dominguez receives Youth Leadership Award (video)

Task Force Deputy Executive Director of External Relations Russell Roybal presents Ernesto Dominguez with the Youth Leadership Award.

Local youth, HIV/AIDS and immigration activist Ernesto Dominguez isn’t new to winning awards. A year and a half ago Dominguez received the HRC’s student activist award and he just recently accepted the the Paul A. Anderson Youth Leadership Award for his work with ChatPDX, a collaboration between organizations and individuals working to curb HIV and AIDS transmission among young people through peer education and outreach, HIV testing, youth services and social media, and with Advocates for Youth, which also aims to help teens make informed decisions around sex.

You can see video of Dominguez’s acceptance speech, given at the Creating Change conference in Baltimore, MD, Tuesday January 31st, put on by the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force. In it he powerfully equates LGBT and immigration rights saying, “LGBT rights are immigrant rights, and immigrant rights are LGBT rights,” and basically gives us all hope for the future of our young people. (I can say that now that I am a solidly adult 30 year old right?)

The video, as well as a transcript of his acceptance speech, are below.

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Saturday in the Park seeks logo submissions

Van, WA's Saturday in the Park. Photo by Kathy Belge.

The 2012 Saturday In The Park Planning committee invites you to submit your logo ideas to be used in conjunction with our advertising and our event on July 14, 2012. This is a great chance to have your talent and artwork viewed by a wide range of individuals, businesses and community sponsors. It is also a way […]


2 Girls, 1 Podcast ep#8: Double duty with LIPDX and Wax Wing’s Anna Crandall

LIPDX's Alex Nguyen, Rachael Swedenborg and Ashley Shumaker

This week the podcast has 2 parts. In part 1 we talk to the ladies behind the newly launched LIPDX (Lesbians In Portland) Tumblr blog and in part 2 we talk to Anna Crandall, Director of new play Wax Wing, opening tonight as part of the Fertile Ground Festival.

And don’t forget you can subscribe in iTunes! Don’t miss an episode! Get it downloaded automatically.

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