Shoutout

18/09/2025

Check out Newport Pride.

18/09/2025

DRAG QUEEN/KING HOST NEEDED
Paid Gig/Columbia Gorge

Saturday, September 27

In the Columbia Gorge, just north of White Salmon!

Event held at ClusterFlock Farms.

https://clusterflockfarms.com/store/p/snip-and-stomp-family-friendly-u-pick-and-grape-stomp-copy

The event is a grape wrestling (like Jello wrestling but grapes) fundraiser for q***r resources and immigration support. The host need not wrestle. But they probably could if they wanted to. Are grape stains easy to remove?

The benefiting organization is the Next Door Inc, specifically the programs Columbia Gorge Pride Alliance and Equity Corps of Oregon (ECO).

Email [email protected] for complete details.

Please tag anyone you think might be interested and SHARE post in the usual places.

17/09/2025

LOVE HIKING?
Join Up With Westside QRC

Do you love hiking? Are you looking for more q***r community? Come hike with us and meet new friends!

Westside Q***r Resource Center (WQRC) invites you to join us on Sunday, September 28th 2025, for a Q***r Hike at the Forest Park (meeting at the Springville Road Trailhead)!

ALL ARE WELCOME! Our events foster a welcoming, supportive, and safe environment for the 2SLGBTQIA+ community, their families, and allies.

Timeline of Events:
8:15 AM - Meet for carpool/caravan at designated locations
8:30 AM - Depart
9:00 AM - Arrive & start the hike!

How far will we go?
This trailhead is nestled within Forest Park, which is 5,100 acres and has more than 80 miles of trails. We plan to hike to St. John's bridge from the Springville Road trailhead, which is approximately 1.5 miles away, so we expect to hike at least 3 miles, possibly more if we take detours!

Only one person per party needs to RSVP using the Google Form.

17/09/2025

ATTENTION!
Washington Business Owners

LGBTQ Business Enterprise (LGBTQBE) State Certification & Doing Business with the State

Washington launched a new state-level LGBTQBE Certification on July 1, 2025. This is different from the national certification through NGLCC, and it specifically helps LGBTQ-owned businesses compete for Washington State contracts.

Join GSBA, OMWBE, and Washington State Department of Enterprise Services for a free virtual info session to learn how to get certified and where to find opportunities.

Event Details
Date: Tuesday, October 14, 2025
Time: 10:00–11:30 AM PT
Format: Virtual

You’ll learn:
• How to apply for Washington’s state LGBTQBE Certification (free of charge)
• What this certification unlocks in government contracting
• How to find state opportunities
• Where to access technical assistance
• Live Q&A with OMWBE and DES experts

Register here: https://members.thegsba.org/eventcalendar/Details/gsba-omwbe-lgbtbe-workshop-1479171?sourceTypeId=Website

17/09/2025

A DRAG SHOWCASE
Kings & Things

Are you ready to get wild?!

These Kings & Things are on the prowl and ready to strut their stuff Friday, September 19th for Men at Werk’s animal-themed showcase, Boyz Gone Wild! Round up your herd and prepare for a fierce safari adventure because baby, it’s a jungle out here!

Take a walk on the wild side with our special guests:
Dante Infernho (Seoul, Korea)
Mantrix (Eugene)

Haus of Créme members:
Angel Face
Edd Zackly
Luke N. Good

Your Host & Safari Guide:
Heavy Cream

Tip Puppy:
Monty Moonlight

Returning is our featured vendor and raffle sponsor As You Like It, bringing lots of goodies to that will help you bring out your wild side!

Don’t miss the chance to snag something truly untamed from our other featured vendor, Boxxed Artworks, featuring one-of-a-kind designs that make each piece a unique work of art!

We will also have our extended vendor patio area again this month! Expect tables full of works crafted by local q***r artists so you can support your community, and look fabulous doing it!

Prepare for a paws-itively feral night of performers who are puting the “king” in animal kingdom!

The Hybid
Eugene

17/09/2025

MASKING AT PRIDE
Q & A

“While Pride in the Park is an outdoor event, wearing a mask protects the most vulnerable members of our community from illness and allows them to enjoy the festivities safely too.

Please bring a mask if you are able and help us normalize protecting each other in Pride spaces!

Our volunteers will be masked up and we will have free KN95 masks and hand sanitizer available at Pride in the Park entrances and at our First Aid & Cooling Stations.”

Let's keep our community healthy!

For more answers to Frequently Asked Questions, visit our website: https://salemcapitalpride.org/pride

17/09/2025

Yes, Oregon is one of the nine states pledging to support transgender youth.

"You belong here. You inspire us. And we do love you," nine state AGs tell trans youth in a new video.

17/09/2025

Thank you Oregon Representative Maxine Dexter.

17/09/2025

COMMUNITY VOICES
Guest Commentary

There's much to be said about the events and ensuing commentary of last week. But let's be clear about one thing, it's not that people are glad that Charlie Kirk died a violent death. The point is that we're relieved to turn off the fire hose of one influential source of vitriolic hatred toward our black women (and men), immigrant, transgender and LGBTQ siblings. It's a relief to have a source that uses violent rhetoric under the false guise of Christian belief to just stop. We're tired of the verbal violence and the physical violence that those words incite. And we know the truth, that Jesus welcomed the immigrant, people of color, and those who were marginalized in every way.

Everyone has a place at Christ's table.

To claim anything else is hypocrisy. I know there are many other voices like Kirk's out there. But for one moment, we get a reprieve and with the plethora of media attention, perhaps we can remind ourselves that spewing hate and calling for violence is NOT okay, it's not respectful, and it's certainly not Christian.

…

Rev. Tara “T” Wilkins (she/her) serves as pastor of Bridgeport United Church of Christ in NE Portland. With over thirty years in the LGBTQ Welcoming Faith Movement, she is a fierce advocate and justice warrior. Butch, masculine of center, pastor, leader, activist, writer, contemplative, lover and mother are just some of her identities, but her favorite job is being Gram to her grandchildren.

17/09/2025

SAPPHIC IN THE GORGE?
Come Mix

Welcome to the Lavender Lounge! This is a sapphic mixer event held on September 20th at Pine Street Bakery in Hood River. Come ready to mix and mingle with other Gorge sapphics!

TIME: 6:00pm-9:30pm.

Free to attend!

Alcohol free; beverages and small bites available.

This event is open to any woman, femme, or non-binary person who identifies under the sapphic umbrella. Trans inclusive

You must be 21+ to attend.

DRESS CODE: fine as hell, sapphic, empowered! Dress your best and treat it like it’s a first date. Everyone appreciates a little effort!

**While pre-registration is not necessary, we encourage anyone who is going to attend to fill it out!**

The first 30 people to register will receive a free goodie bag!

We will have games, music, and activities throughout the evening. Chill vibes, new people, fun prizes - and maybe even a future date?

Come see what the Lavender Lounge is all about!

Register here:

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdkcmc-RzFzAvBKVUVDhi-U5PjkzlvkrVizhKe26UNwj2c0ow/viewform?

16/09/2025

ONE DAY ONLY
Get Your Weird On

Join in for a day of unapologetic oddities, offbeat entertainment, and a celebration of Portland's uniquely quirky culture. We're throwing out the rulebook and embracing the bizarre in all its glory!

Get your tickets here:

https://www.weirdportlandunited.org/events/weirdfest

16/09/2025

IN THE NEWS
Pepper Pepper

From Oregon Arts Commission

“Things are definitely in the pink for Pepper Pepper, aka Kaj-anne Pepper, of Portland, who will be enjoying their first institutional solo visual arts exhibition early this fall!

With support from a Career Opportunity grant award, Pepper will be showing "Pink Moment and Other Works" at Seattle Central College's M. Rosetta Hunt Art Gallery.

Pepper is a multidisciplinary artist who works in performance, photography, video, drag, installation, theatre and dance. Their work explores vulnerability, artifice, technology and identity, where tragic experiences are transformed into magical spectacles and trauma becomes the raw material for compelling dramas.”

Congratulations, Pepper!

See more of Pepper's work: https://bit.ly/463U1RE

photo credit: thepepperpepper.com