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Gaymes, dancing, sizeable fashion, holidaze and academic gayness this weekend

Size Queen clothing comes to the catwalk and to Fat Fancy, just in time for holiday shopping

Thursday

Opening night for GenderFantasy should be off the chain. For a full preview of what to expect check out our interview with creator Kaj-Anne Pepper.

Size Queen fashion show at Fat Fancy – Our favorite QPOC and locally owned plus size clothing store is having another one of their fabulous events. This time it is a fashion show featuring another local big girls and boys clothing shop, Size Queen, in honor of their lines coming to FF. These events often include a DJ and/or lovely nibbly things so it’s the perfect place to shop and schmooze with folks that are both fashionable and personable. And don’t forget to check out their new Indie Go Go video to raise money to open an online store. It’s both adorable and informative.

Growing Up Policed: Surveiling Racialized Sexualities – If you’re a grad who misses the academic speak from time to time this conference will quench your thirst in a queer way. The daylong conference uses a recent legal case that occurred in Portland, Oregon to highlight how young people marginalized through sexuality and race are targeted. It’s extremely relevant and a great place to start dialogue with other academics, activists and interested community.

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Think Twice About Giving to the Salvation Army Bell Ringers

During the holiday season, the Salvation Army bell ringers are out in droves. You may know that the change you throw into their buckets will go to assisting many of the hungry and/or homeless folks in Portland this winter, but what you might not know is that none of those folks will be queer. The Salvation Army, an evangelical Christian charity, is actively homophobic and discriminatory toward LGBTQ people who seek their services, as well as our community as a whole. For these reasons, I urge you not to donate to them.

On their website, The Salvation Army speaks to the “standards and principles,” which all members are encouraged to review and reaffirm. Among a slew of position statements, there is one entitled  “homosexuality”, which explains that “sexual intimacy is understood as a gift of God to be enjoyed within the context of heterosexual marriage.” They go on to speak about how homosexuality is not “blameworthy in itself,” but that gay people should act “responsibly” by not acting upon our feelings. They explain, “The Salvation Army believes that Christians whose sexual orientation is primarily or exclusively same-sex are called upon to embrace celibacy as a way of life.”

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Translady Fanzine, mens baths products and frou frou vodka, a few of my gayvorite things

Zackary Drucker on the cover of Amos Mac's premiere issue of Translady Fanzine

This is something of an addendum to the Holigay Gift Guide. I occasionally get requests to review random products and, as one who loves to try new things, I usually give them a shot. Recently I received a line of mens skincare called Organic Male as well as some new and sweet holiday appropriate vodkas from Smirnoff. I’d also been putting off reviewing Amos Mac and Zackary Drucker’s Translady Fanzine from a couple months back. The procrastination was wholly my own schedule and not due to the amazingness that awaited me in the full color pictoral magazine premiere.

But I did want to eventually visit each of these things. So what’s a queer to do but take a weekend morning (or, let’s be real, midday) to draw a bath and take in all 3 pleasures. And just in time for you to consider buying them for yourself or others, holiday gifts or parties.

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Gifts for the Body Beautiful

Nailed by Ally's Twin Peaks set

#1 Bodywork

Whether it’s acupuncture, massage, rolfing or reiki Portland has no shortage of homos and homo-lovers practicing amazing bodywork.  Reiki practitioner Venae Rodriguez  will help clear and balance your chi, or essential life force for relaxing and renewing break as well as a healing from the holiday craze you’ve just endured. If you want to get poked, Avi Brockman and Alison Carr at Alberta Street Acupucture (1829 NE Alberta St #A) or Green Wayland at Seven Star Acupuncture (436 SE 12th Ave) are good bets. And if you’re ready for the hardcore re-structuring of rolfing check out Adam Persinger (2100 NE Broadway) and Karin Edwards (1707 SE 33rd). Sheila Rasari of True North Massage (1603 NE 16th Avenue, Suite B) has also been recommended with a host of types of massage available.

#2 Holistic Health Coaching

Whether you need nutrition consultation, meal planning or just healthy cooking class Erica Blair is the one to visit. With knowledge about gluten free, macrobiotic, vegetarian and countless other diets she knows that each person needs a unique program to for their unique body.

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Presents for the Documentarian

Topp Twins characters Ken & Ken

Doc lovers are a special brand of film buff and while there’s plenty of good gay box sets of movies out there here’s a special subset of gifts about the “real thing.”

#1 Now out on DVD

Untouchable Girls – This year America experiences the Kiwi invasion when dyke music and comedy sensations from New Zealand, the Topp Twins, finally showed us they exist. The duo had a television show that still hasn’t come to the states but they have finally begun touring here over the past couple years, including a visit to Portland a year and a half ago. But the big news is that their documentary Untouchable Girls is finally available on DVD in the US. You can read our review from QDoc 2010 here.

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Gifts for the Sporty dyke and Jocks of all genders

Ben Cohen modeling one of his Stand Up tees

#1 Sporty and Activisty

Any and all merchandise from Stand Up, super-ally and rugby player Ben Cohen’s anti-bullying foundation. Ben’s practically an honorary Portlander, having worked extensively with Nike and making two official visits out here in the last six months. In purchasing Stand Up’s merch for your nearest and dearest, you’ll be supporting a great cause — plus, if you choose the calendar, they’ll get to stare at Ben’s hunky self all year long.

#2 Sporty and smarty

A copy of Best American Sports Writing 2011 . For the literary sports fan, there’s no better pick than this annual anthology, which compiles outstanding long form pieces from the heavy hitters of the genre as well as from virtual unknowns.

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Stuff your Stocking with Queercore!

Bonus Gift Guide musical stocking stuffers!

 

Queercore is where it’s at this Holiday season! Stuff your stocking with more than a packer and give the gift of music! Here are a few of my favorite Portland based queer artists. If you haven’t heard of them already, make time to hear them NOW!

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Top 5 Gift Ideas for the Homo Hipster

Looking for that perfect gift for that homo hipster? Have no fear; the list is here- with the top five gift ideas and where to get them!

# 1. Clothing & Accessories

Stylish shirts are important to most homos but for hipsters, it’s flannel or bust! A pair of skinny jeans would not be complete without those tight Tee’s! And don’t forget about the belt buckles, Ray Bans and those “classic” high-tops! Looking for the spot in the city to find all these wonderful fashions? Here are some of my favorites!

Red Light: 3590 SE Hawthorne Blvd. Naked City Clothing: 3730 SE Hawthorne Blvd. Hollywood Vintage: 2757 NE Pacific St. (off of NE Sandy Blvd.) Compound Gallery: 107 NW 5th Ave. (off of Couch St.) Land: 3925 North Mississippi Avenue, Fat Fancy, 1013 SW Morrison, Sword + Fern (811 E Burnside).

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Gay ol’ Holiday Gift Guide

Welcome to an advent calendar of qPDX holiday shopping, a guide to local, queer or just plain random gifts that we think your loved ones will enjoy. This year for the 2011 Holigay Gift Guide contributors chose a theme, from eclectic to traditional and chose a few highlights of their favorite things. For the next few days we’ll add a new theme each day. So don’t worry that you […]


Thanksgiving weekend with Tristan Taormino erotica, Just Us! for Monica Taylor, a Peaches Christ Blow Po and an Inferno of women

Have a gay Thanksgiving with this rainbow turkey and be thankful I didn't choose the image of the naked bear as meaty centerpiece

Wednesday

Riot Wednesdays present Riot: RewindDJ Rhienna keeps it real with cross colors early 90s hip hop style so you can go into the holiday season with a fond memories of Christmas music and fashion wishes past.

Thursday

Portland’s young crowd from across the country often doesn’t have family in town or needs a break from family on holidays so nightlife goes on. But this year it seems everyone decided to stay in with wine and tryptophan induced coma. I’m totally ok with that…Happy Thanksgiving!

And for those of you who don’t have plans and are at a loss as to what to do our friends over at Dave Knows Portland put together a list of things to do on Thanksgiving (and Christmas day) every year!

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