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  Jennifer Cohen of the Circus Project The Circus Project seems like a great organization. A non-profit which utilizes the unique power of art to transcend social barriers and inspire personal transformation, they put on world-class aerial performances and provide expert training, all the while funding outreach to homeless and at-risk youth in the Portland metro area.
But it seems, despite prior approval (which I don’t personally think is necessary) The Rose Festival coordinators threatened to cancel “Duende,” after audiences complained about a kiss between two women. While the show does go on the times have been changed in order not to ruffle the feathers of “family friendly” audiences.
So please take a moment to read this letter and show your support in any way you see fit, be it attending a show, writing to the Rose Fest or otherwise taking up space as a big ol’ gaymo in this town.
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  Tyler McCormick (bottom left) takes 2010 IML title Those of you involved in the leather scene in Portland and beyond will likely know all about this already, but Tyler McCormick has beaten out the odds to become International Mr. Leather 2010. Tyler is the first contestant from New Mexico, the first Transman, and the first contestant who is in wheelchair to take the title.
Congratulations Tyler on your win! <3
Check out Tyler’s very moving speech in this video courtesy of ThirdRail after the jump.
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  Katey Pants for Diesel Femme. Photo by Kina Williams Community member, DJ, and femme fashionista Katey Pants has never been a qPDX contributor per se but this is at least the second time I’ve asked to borrow her erudite thoughts that she has publicly posted in other forums. Girl’s got a lot to say and I hope we all have a lot to say back.
Take it away KP!
In August, 2009, city officials in Multnomah County Oregon declared August 1st-8th Transgendered-Americans Week. In conjunction, organizers held a Gender-Free –For-All rally in Portland. I was not part of the organizing of the rally but an attendee. I also consider many of the organizers to be close allies and some friends. The march started with a celebration of the enactment of the Transgendered-Americans Week and a number of speeches, made predominantly by Portland politicians. From there our short and permitted march went through a neighborhood in NE Portland, led and surrounded by police.
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 We're sure that Gaga hates you right back,for massacring her song, or for those dodgy pants
The WBC parodies Lady Gaga’s “Telephone” with Megan Phelps-Roper on vocals. Yes, that Phelps-Roper of Westboro Baptist Church / God Hates Fags “fame” .
Includes insightful lyrics such as “Stop prayin,’ stop prayin,’ God will not hear you anymore, you taught the boys and the girls to be proud whores.”
I […]
 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 […]
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Gender Free For All: Let's build from the ground up! - A letter from Katey Pants
Katey Pants for Diesel Femme. Photo by Kina Williams
Community member, DJ, and femme fashionista Katey Pants has never been a qPDX contributor per se but this is at least the second time I’ve asked to borrow her erudite thoughts that she has publicly posted in other forums. Girl’s got a lot to say and I hope we all have a lot to say back.
Take it away KP!
In August, 2009, city officials in Multnomah County Oregon declared August 1st-8th Transgendered-Americans Week. In conjunction, organizers held a Gender-Free –For-All rally in Portland. I was not part of the organizing of the rally but an attendee. I also consider many of the organizers to be close allies and some friends. The march started with a celebration of the enactment of the Transgendered-Americans Week and a number of speeches, made predominantly by Portland politicians. From there our short and permitted march went through a neighborhood in NE Portland, led and surrounded by police.
Continue reading »