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  Last year's Beartown 14. Photo by Stephen Cassell Can you believe that Portland has been celebrating fuzzy, round, gay men for more than half my life now? That’s right, 2010 ushers in the 15th Annual Beartown from this Thursday the 10th through Sunday the 13th at the Jupiter Hotel (800 E Burnside).
Once again, the schedule is ridiculously exhausting. Whether you’re hot tubbing, cigar smoking, or dancing in your underwear, you’ll be doing it with other friendly beasts. And boy howdy, how exciting will be be to see a bunch if hairy dudes descend on Hawthorne’s shopping district?
Of course one of the biggest events will be the Release the Beast Dance Party with tag-team DJ’s Sam Storicks (of Bearracuda Portland) and DJ BradPDX (Crush Bar, “Tilt-A-Whirl” 2009) as well as returning host(ess) Foxxy Bernadette. And if you’ve still got growl in your soul left for Pride weekend, absolutely head over to Branx for Bearracuda.
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  Stop hate crime While none of the qPDX.com staff were able to attend last night’s community forum due to conflicts in our schedules, we’re excited to see that the event, organized by JustOut columnist Daniel Borgen and Stephen Cassell, was well attended, and that Portland Mayor Sam Adams was there to hear concerns from the community first hand. According to coverage by JustOut, one of the main concerns of the forum is the difference between actual homo/transphobic incidents that we all experience, and the rate at which they are reported to the police. At this juncture, I want to share a little story with you about gay bashing, about violence, about police reporting, and about why it matters.
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 Mexican wrestlers at 2009's La Lucha. Photo by Stephen Casselll It seems the gay high holidays are officially upon us. Tomorrow begins some events, brunches and celebrations caliente with 2010’s La Lucha – Latino Gay Pride week. As you can see, last year was a blast, and I’m sure this year’s parties at Boxxes and the Jupiter Hotel will be equally filled with hip-swinging, Mexican wrestler masking wearing, rainbow orgullo y divertido. Here’s a schedule of heritage happiness.
UPDATED SCHEDULE
Voz Alta, Wednesday, June 2, 6pm – 9pm
Miracle Theatre, 525 SE Stark, Portland OR
Voz Alta or “loud voice” kicked-off the 2009 Portland Latino Gay Pride Celebration. Partnering with Miracle Theatre, approximately 100 individuals enjoyed an evening of poetry, song, dance, and dramatic performances. For La Lucha 2010, be prepared for another powerful presentation of music, drama, and song. Suggested Donation: $5.00
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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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 Queer Prom masquerade
School is almost out for summer, but the university gays and lesbians wanted to send off their lavendar grads in style with last Friday’s Portland State University Queer Prom. qPDX photographer and PSU student, CROD, was there to catch all the action in pictures.
  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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  2007 "People" category winner Lee Kyle's “Kajanne Pepper in Stripes” Even though it is still may and the rain continues to dampen our spirits as we head into the official beginning of summer, Memorial Day, and Pride Season, I’m starting not to be able to control my upcoming seasonal excitement.
qPDX has plans to march, of course, cover the hell out of our local festivities, and tweet all the cool stuff the whole time (my apologies if the tweets start to get messy by the end of each evening). But even better? We’re going to be doing it all again the next weekend from San Francisco!
But let’s not get ahead of ourselves. QDoc will kick off the season shortly, and we’ll have some stellar review coverage this year. But you can get just ask excited as me RIGHT NOW by entering Just Out’s 2010 Amateur Pride Photo Contest. It’s bound to be an interesting competition this year with all kinds of new staff at the JO as well as…drumroll…celebrity guest judging from yours truly. (You’re calling me a local celebrity? Well of course I’ll [fill in the blank]. Flattery will get you everywhere…) Here’s some of my judgemental comrades:
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  From the baby dykes to the BDOCs Portland State University is celebrating their Queer Pride week starting today. Here’s a schedule of all the college fun!
All week long:
Mask Making Party in QRC- Make your masks for prom!
Graffiti Wall in QRC- Write about your pride!
Love Makes Family- Art display at the Millar Library!
Monday May 24, 2010
6:00pm: Hip Hop Dancing<
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  Lucas Silveira, Canada's sexiest man Pride NW has officially announced their headlining lineup and the Canadians have got it goin’ on this year. I am especially excited about Ivan E Coyote, a dreamy and extremely heartfelt butch Canadian writer. Another big Canuck draw will be The Cliks, whose FTM frontman, Lucas Silveira, was recently named the sexiest man in Canada.
However, I’m sure they won’t be outdone by hop hop favorites God-des and She or the Idol produced pop of Blake Lewis.
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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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