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 Parade route controversy…at least we’re not in a kerfuffle over taping the streets right? (Oh damn, that big Rose Fest parade is this weekend isn’t it? I won’t be anywhere near downtown…)
 An Open Letter to the LGBTQ community from the President of Pride Northwest:
Questions continue to be raised about the intentions, responsiveness and decision-making process of the Board of Pride Northwest. Since we are responsible to the entire community for our actions, we feel a need to answer these questions in a public forum, directly and, we hope, definitively.
One of the greatest misperceptions about Pride Northwest is that we make closed-door decisions that ignore the community will. Nothing could be further from the truth. Your feedback is key to our development as a community-based organization. We have listened for four years to a community that has felt abandoned by Pride, to other community organizations who felt no connection to Pride; to the marginalized communities within the larger LGBTQ community who have been searching for a voice with which to make their presence and needs known; all while still respecting and celebrating our diversity. Yes, we have been listening, and we are proud of the decisions we have made as a result.
Two years ago, for example, a few members of the community complained about our decision to restrict smoking on the festival grounds at the waterfront. In making that decision, we were responding to the serious concerns of our youth and non-smokers, including families, who objected to the health risks of exposure to second-hand smoke. That risk has been well documented and we believe it was the right thing to do for our community even in an outdoor venue.
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  When last year’s Pride weekend gay bashings came to my beloved city, and a place where I usually feel very safe, I was shaken. But it seems the battle is not over yet. Pride season, the heat of summer, have barely begun but already there are reports of more than one attack on a gay community member in the last couple days. This is all coming on the heels of a recent phone tree rumor warning of Neo-Nazi attacks in the area. This was never confirmed.
Reports are still sketchy, and major news sources don’t seem to have picked up on much, but local CC Slaughters DJ Robb Nelson says on the Facebook page for Red Cap Garage:
i…was walking then approached by three guys…next thing i remember i was home. hit in the face a few times, scraped up arms . i dont remember but i called someone that came and got me . my jaw is swollen and messed up a bit, but ok. the not remembering is what scares me
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  QDoc is happening! June 3rd-6th Everybody knows I’m a huge film fan. The Incredibly True Adventure of 2 Girls In Love gave me my first pseudo-butch role model, while the Celluloid Closet taught me to see film and culture differently. There was no way I would have ever become the fabulous queer you see showboating around nightclubs, street corners and dark alleyways without the profoundly formative films I consumed in my youth. I even came out to my mother after spending the day watching Jeffrey and The Birdcage back in 1996. (She didn’t take it so well. I wish she were a bit more like Nathan Lane!) Things also really changed when I discovered Bruce LaBruce, Fatih Akin, Todd Haynes, John Waters…
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Westboro Baptist Church gay protest
The Q Center and the Blow Pony Crew are organizing a strategy meeting in order to come up with some plans for civil obedience action against the Westboro Baptist Church. The strategy meeting will be held at the Q Center from 7 to 9 pm on the 26th. (you may want to consider coming early to get a seat) . The Q […]
 Click for larger version In collaboration with PSU’s Queer Resource Center, the conference for self-identified “Butches, studs, aggressives, Machas, etc” is coming to Portland! (October 2nd) Next to hoping for strong attendance, the conference organizers are seeking workshop leaders and conference facilitators. Basically, if you have something to say, wantt to lead session, or have an art project you want to show, they want to hear about it!
Full text of their call for submissions under the cut. We will be posting more information closer to the conference.
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 San Franciscans respond humourously to WBC hatred
The Westboro Baptist Church, notorious for it’s anti-gay stance (“God Hates Fags”and other tripe) and aggressive, homophobia filled picketing, is coming to Portland to picket Grant HS on June 3rd. The WBC regularly pickets anything that is not a supermarket trolley, but why they are suddenly descending on Grant HS isn’t quite clear. (They aren’t that rational.)
An anti-picket demonstration […]
  She Bop co-owners and founders Jeneen Doumitt and Evy Cowan The vodcast hasn’t forgotten about you! Queer Agenda is back this month with an episode dedicated entirely to newly opened women-centric sex toy shoppe She Bop (909 N Beech). Co-owner Evy Cowan leads us through some of the store’s most popular items including vibrators that thrum to your dance club beat (Blow Pony watch out), double dildos that engage the kegels, and beautifully blown glass pieces that are great for temperature play. And though perhaps less sexually useful, but just as entertaining, is the selection of vibes of yore. I do so love a history of sex.
We open up this month with a brand new Oregon AIDS/STD hotline commercial.
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  Vote Karol Collymore for County Commissioner County Commissioner candidate Karol Collymore may not be gay, but she gets an honorary badge…so says fellow queer journalists and shakers Stephen Marc Beaudoin, Byron Beck, Caryn Brooks, Jim Radosta, Bryan Boyd and others. She’s received the endorsements of The Oregonian, Willamette Week, NARAL, and several elected officials. Her policy and personality make it a no-brainer for qPDX to add itself to this list of supporters.
Running in District 2, encompassing North and Northeast Collymore has a solid record of LGBT support and community activism including work with Basic Rights Oregon, Hands on Greater Portland, Planned Parenthood Advocates of Oregon and a year-long experiment hosting progressive dinner parties for small non-profits like Schoolhouse Supplies and P:ear. She was also a longtime staffer for Jeff Cogen, current commish and in the running for Multnomah County Chairman.
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  Oregon men have something to be proud of, according to Condomania, who just released a study ranking the state of Oregon second only to New Hampshire in penis size. They also ranked the top 20 cities in the USA and Portland takes a respectable 6th place, with the largest members found in Nola, DC, NYC, San Diego and Phoenix.
In business for 20 years, Condomania, gathered their data from the launch of TheyFit Condoms, the world’s first line of tailored-fit prophylactics, in 76 sizes. Since their debut in 2004 they have sold over 27,000 men in 70 countries, and now have just begun to analyze this cache of data.
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  Darcelle will Grand Marshall this year's Portland Pride Parade Pride season is quickly marching upon us and Pride NW has just announced its 2010 honorees. Grand Marshall this year is the fabulous heart of the Portland drag scene, 78-year-old Darcelle, a performer and fixture for over 35 years.
Just Out staffer and former qPDX contributor Erin Rook does a great job of announcing the 3 places of honor, Grand Marshall, Spirit of Pride Award, and newly implemented Pride in Action Award, so I’m going to let her take it from here:
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