Portland Events for the Queer Community, July 2018

What interests you? Have photos to share from a recent event? Let us know!

Gay Gardens: Madonna Loathes Hydrangeas.  But You Don’t Have To.

"There are a large variety of cultivars available, and quite a few of them are double (several rows of petals), leading to a much more complex flower structure than you typically get with a mophead.  The single variety ‘Munchkin’ is great because it’s reliably dwarfish, for places where you want a smaller plant, but my favorite in the heavily double ‘Snowflake.’" -- Dan Lynch, GayGardensPDX on Instagram,

State Representative Gets Hate Mail

"My PRIDE in being a member of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer communities is so much greater than any nastiness or aggression you’ll ever send my way because of it. This is a battle you can’t win." -- Rep. Brian Sims

Is Criminal Being Sentenced to Death Because of Sexuality?

What do you think? Please share your thoughts and opinions on the Facebook comments link to this story.

Portland Progressives Host Remembrance and Celebration for the Late Donna Red Wing

Celebrate the life & legacy of one of Oregon's leading LGBTQ+ pioneers, this Wednesday evening. A fitting way to close out Pride Month.

Peacock in the Park Celebrates 31 Years of LGBTQ+ Visibility, Diversity, & Inclusion

Portland's favorite summertime spectacular takes place on Sunday, June 24th, from noon until 6PM in the Washington Park Amphitheater. "No use of sitting alone in your room. Come to the cabaret!"

“Blame It On Bianca Del Rio: The Expert on Nothing with an Opinion on Everything” by Bianca Del Rio

Some of the problems here may be yours, though, and Del Rio offers “help” – first on health and grooming. This includes bad smells and what to do about them, rocking a bald look, dealing with serious illness, preparing yourself for a loved-one’s death, and looking one’s best (or lowering one’s standards). -- Terri Schlichenmeyer

Come Celebrate The 10th And Final Portland Women’s 3x3 Basketball Tournament!

"Each year at least 20-25 teams of women of all ages and skill levels participate. Whether they’re gym rats, college hoopsters, league champions – short, tall, queer, straight, young or old – it’s a tournament for all women." -- Shaley Howard

“And Then We Danced: A Voyage into the Groove” by Henry Alford

"Dance, he says, is a “universal language.” If you suddenly found yourself in Siberia and you began dancing, nobody would mistake what you were doing. It’s an art, yes – but it’s so much more." -- Terri Schlichenmeyer

Who Was Chloe Sagal?

Developing Story: if you knew Chloe Sagal and would care to speak with PQ email sebastian@proudqueer.com. If you know a friend of Sagal’s, please direct them to us.

Come Celebrate the Willamette River at Big Float 8

"For the past eight years the event has functioned as a fundraiser for HAP. He explained the event generates only a modest profit most years, for their volunteer organizations. Instead, the benefit from the event is to foster a connection between the community to the river. He calls it “a grassroots movement of people who want to relate differently with our river.” -- Willie Levenson

Portland Opera presents Rossini's "La Cenerentola."

“La Cenerentola is the perfect family-friendly opera, and a great production for the first-time opera-goer,” says stage director Christopher Mattaliano. “I love directing this bright and heartwarming piece about true love and generosity of spirit, and I can’t wait to share it.”

Pride Journeys: Philadelphia

After dinner, head to the Gayborhood. Yes, that’s the actual name of their gay neighborhood. There are dozens of gay nightlife venues in this part of town so and it’s almost impossible to visit them all. Usually I like to highlight a few venues that I enjoyed, but Philadelphia’s Gayborhood really offers so many nightlife options that it’s hard to focus on just one or two. There really is something for everyone. -- Joey Amato

Gay Gardens: Easy Patio Plants, Flowering Cacti (and Other Succulents)

"You don’t normally think of cactus and the Pacific Northwest in the same sentence, but if you provide them the right conditions, they’re a delightful combination.  And your sunny patio is an easy place to provide the right conditions." -- Dan Lynch

Fire On the Mountain Supports Medical Bills of Local Student

Unfortunately, embracing Pride isn't always a celebration such as we are treated to in June. Sometimes, it means having to deal with discrimination we experience as a community. Fortunately however, the LGBTQ+ community has always taken care of our own. In the spirit of Pride Month, if you’re in the mood for a meal out tonight in the Fremont district, or if you just want to eat there to support the cause, head to Fire On the Mountain on Fremont, where your purchase fosters a much-needed, charitable cause.

Pride Northwest Discusses the 2018 Festival

There are a couple things in the festival that I think people wil be highly interested in. We partnered with the Portland Gay Men’s Chorus to put together an LGBTQ+ arts pavillion. That’ll be near the Morrison Bridge. It’s a collection of nine LGBTQ+ arts organizations partnered together in one space. They have never partnered together before at this level. There will be performances, art, all kinds of interaction happening. And even some seating, so it’ll probably be a pretty busy part of the festival. It’ll be almost like a whole other event. -- Debra Porta

Michael Wheeler: Portland’s Pride Guru

For nine months out of the year Portland is inside. Once summer is here the city transforms. Everything opens up to the outside. I love that transformation and appreciation of the sun. Growing up I never understood how amazing sunshine is, but here the appreciation runs deep and it is great to see that. -- Michael Wheeler

Gay Gardens: Easy Patio Plants, Carnivorous Beauties

Stunning, easy and not remotely vegan. Meat eating plants are an easy addition to your patio garden. -- Dan Lynch, GayGardensPDX

Happy Pride 2018: Am I Queer Enough?

As I sat there, in a fairly fitted, short-sleeved buttondown, patterned shirt, a brown 1960s YSL tie, wearing tortoise Rayban Wayfarers I wonder, “Am I dressing, am I presenting, ‘queer enough’ to be a member of my own community? Am I taking enough fashion risks?” -- Sebastian Fortino

Two Spirit Nation rejects Supreme Court decision, Citing Sovereignty rights

The Supreme Court recently ruled 7-2 in favor of a Colorado bakery to discriminate against  LGBTQ2S couples, citing an exemption due to religious freedom. This is one of many attacks against the Two Spirit community who stays resilient in the face of racism, homophobia, and transphobia every day. -- Two Spirit Nation

"Us Against You” by Fredrik Backman

But, though Theo demanded it, could a lesbian coach, a few uncontrollable players, and some “hooligans” finish what Peter had been unable to do?  What price was he willing to pay for himself, his family, and his town to get his club back?

Celebrating LGBTQ+ Artists

Progress: A Pride Flag for Today

I was seeing the adjustments being made around the country in the last couple years, from Philly's flag last year to Seattle's flag this year. They came with wonderful messages and I wanted to see if I could redesign the flag to bring more emphasis to those messages. Obviously, whether a design is good or not is subjective but my intention was to bring more design into what was already being done. -- Daniel Quasar

Wet, Wild, Summer: A Word from Portland Parks & Recreation

We can't get to Rooster Rock, Sauvie Island, the Coast, or out to the suburban home of that lucky friend who has the house with the pool every time we want to take a dip. Right? Here's a list of family-friendly pools & splash pads throughout town. Stay cool! It's gettin' hot!

Meet Your Meet-ups: Jen Roberton of LesBiOUT!

Pride is about being proud of who we are in our sexuality, so it only seems natural to celebrate that concept at this Portland Pride. Yes, we love rainbows, unicorns, and equal rights, everyone knows that, but we also love kissing each other. Also, a sexy party is a fun one, and something that people will talk about for years to come. -- Jen Roberton

Part Two: Umpqua’s Last Resort

Fire was so close and so big. It was incredible. As it came up and over the mountain I was thinking, “It’s all over. It’s all gone.” The fire came up to the very first building right up to the corner post of the deck. The firefighters, and my brother who volunteered to stay behins, would not leave. So I took all the family & the pets--paintings, keepsakes, etc.--and we evacuated. So for the first three days I was trying to come back. I ran against, through, the blockades until the sheriff told me I couldn’t do this anymore. So, we watched the fire in the forest, up on the mountain, across the river. - Dustin Ashleigh

Gail Frederick, eBay, General Manager of Portland Office

As Gloria Steinem wrote in Nov 2016, the old hierarchies re-asserted themselves, and we need to remember that the majority of Americans support equality. It’s even more important to be out at work. Even today, in America we LGBTQ+ folk live far more safely and freely than others around the world. We must use our freedom and privilege to help our global queer family.

Category Is: POSE—The New Ryan Murphy Series on FX

Set in the 1980s, Pose is a dance musical that explores the juxtaposition of several segments of life and society in New York: the ball culture world, the rise of the luxury Trump-era universe, and the downtown social and literary scene.