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2 Girls, 1 Podcast ep#14 talks with lesbian werewolf author Allison Moon

This episode we talk with author and educator Allison Moon, author of a sci fi lesbian werewolf romance Lunatic Fringe and then make her comment on the Mars Hill vandalism, primary elections and QDoc. […]


Sex Nerds Unite: Rachel Kramer Bussel kicks off Best Sex Writing 2012 Book Tour at Powell’s

When Rachel Kramer Bussel was in Portland last year, she had a serendipitous experience at Powell’s Book Store.

She was at the end of putting together the book Best Sex Writing 2012: The State of Today’s Sexual Culture [Cleis Press], which she edits, and most of the pieces were already finalized. But as she was walking around she saw and bought a copy of Ms. Magazine, because of the article, Sex, Lies and Hush Moneyby Katherine Spillar. Bussel ended up getting the rights to the article, which for her was perfect since she was looking for a piece that touched on politics to round out the book.

Rachel Kramer Bussel

“I try to read a lot, but I don’t always see everything,” Bussel said. “So this was a great opportunity for me. I don’t think it’s something you can do when you are just shopping online because you don’t browse a newsstand in that way. It was only because I was standing in front of this magazine. So I’m extra excited to go back to Powell’s.”

Bussel, who is a New York-based author, editor, blogger and event organizer, will be back in Pdx to kick off her West Coast book tour for Best Sex Writing 2012 at Powell’s April 6 at 7:30PM. The event will include a reading and discussion with contributors Tim Elhajj (author of Dopefiend, contributor to Guernica), Kevin Sampsell (author of A Common Pornography) and Lidia Yuknavitch (author of The Chronology of Water). And there will be free cupcakes.

The book is a collection of nonfiction spanning from journalistic pieces such as Camille Dodero’s Village Voice article “Guys Who Like Fat Chicks” to Amber Dawn’s personal essay, To All the Butches I Loved Between 1995 and 2005: An Open Letter about Selling Sex, Selling Out and Soldiering On.”

What it isn’t, though, is erotica. And a lot of Bussel’s readers are surprised that the anthology isn’t necessarily getting them off.

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DJ of the Week — Wam Bam Ashleyanne

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. You might think this week’s is late but it’s actually for a party next weekend, so we’re a little early. Stay tuned for updates.

Wam Bam Ashleyanne is not a local DJ but PDX kinda has a little thing going with our Bay area neighbor if you know what I mean. And we’re excited to have her guest appearing at the next installment of popular newish queer soul night Sugar Town. Despite some bumps in the road and yet another new venue queer folks are excited about a dance night with an alternative to pop music and the soulful spinning of resident DJ Action Slacks is just the ticket for getting a dance party out of the gay doldrums.

DJ Wam Bam Ashleyanne

When and how did you get started DJing?

I started spinning records at dance nights in London in early 2009. I had been painstakingly over-crafting mixtapes and CDs for over thirteen years at that point, and I knew that I wanted to start playing mixes live at parties, and make a connection to more people through the music that I cared about the most. A dear friend of mine had been casually playing American soul and folk records for dance nights and gigs around London and Norwich, and I approached her to teach me her magical ways around a mixer. She showed me how to bring me and my records to life, and DJing felt like such a proactive pathway to engage with my musical obsessions on. Shortly after I moved back stateside, I began DJing regularly at several all-vinyl soul nights around the bay area, and later that year, I was also chosen to broadcast my own music review show on the public station, KALX 90.7FM.

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Fill your weekend with an Inferno of Madge and Blow Po, comedy, lit and country dance

All the events you don’t want to miss in Portland’s gay weekend. […]


Win tickets to see comedian Dana Goldberg

There seems to be a renaissance among lesbian comedy and it’s an exciting time to see ladies up on stage making us laugh from the big names like Ellen Degeneres taking over JC Penny ad campaigns or locals consistently making it happen in P-Town such as Belinda Carroll. The latter will be opening for the hilarious Dana Goldberg when she comes to town Sunday March 25th at the Star Theater, in a show sponsored by Inferno/Hotflash Dances.. And you and a guest could see her for FREE if you’re clever enough to come up with a comment that convinces me you deserve the tickets.

But first, a little more about Dana. As the youngest child in a single parent household run by a Jewish mother in which two out of three kids are gay, she focuses many of her routines on her family including a great bit about the correlation between lactose intolerance and gayness. But one of my favorite lines questions why lesbians can walk about without gloves and have it not be considered indecent exposure.

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Get ready for a Gaycation, new Trans(It) night, March Madness and the end of the world

You’re weekend picks for queer Portland […]


2 Girls, 1 Podcast ep#13 talks with Glitterfruit’s Max Voltage

This week Lyska and I talk to Max Voltage of Glitterfruit and Pants Off Productions (the folks behind Homomentum, Homo’s Got Talent etc) who will be performing at a free, all ages concert for the culmination of the 31st annual Lewis and Clark Gender Studies Symposium. […]


DJ of the Week — Huf N’ Stuf

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. This week we’ll be featuring 2, as there are 2 great upcoming parties, one brand new and one only quarterly. So while I’d rather space them out this is an exception. If you’re interested in being featured contact alley@qpdx.com.

DJ Huf 'N […]


DJ of the week — Bender

DJ Bender aka Christine Martins

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. This week we’ll be featuring 2, as there are 2 great upcoming parties, one brand new and one only quarterly. So while I’d rather space them out this is an exception. If you’re interested in being featured contact alley@qpdx.com.

DJ Bender has been known by many names in our community, but has consistently put good tunes into a successful party, whether it was early gigs at Booty, the dualistically themed Sluts’n’Squares or her brand new night debuting this Thursday at Crush, Trans-It! With this new monthly cocktails and dancing hosted by Tammy Whynot, Christine Martins is back to take the night by storm with once of the first queer nights directly catering to a cross-gendered trans community.

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Lewis and Clark brings its Gender Studies Symposium for a 31st time around

For those of us no longer ensconced in the world of academia but who want the opportunity to have thought-provoking discussions on gender and sexuality the annual Lewis and Clark Gender Studies Symposium is the perfect opportunity. This three day exploration, now in its 31st year (whoa, that’s a long time, longer than I’ve been alive) takes place this Wednesday through Friday. (Complete schedule linked below)

The 2012 […]