Premiere: Issue 5 by PremierePDX

Issue V August 2014

Notes from the Editor

Hello beautiful people! Can you believe Pride was over a month ago? Where in the world does time fly these days? One day weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re legalizing marriage equality in Oregon, then celebrating Peacock in the Park to floating into the Month of August. One thing thats so wonderful though is that our Pride is really never over, day after day we celebrate who we are and what we as a group and individuals bring to the community. Whether youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re a musician, an artist, a performer, or even a trainer. You bring so much to a community thats diverse with needs and expectations, its greatly appreciated. I asked the wonderful Diana Wood to design our cover this issue keeping solidarity and community in the arts in mind, and she did such a marvelous job. With that being said, i hope all of you enjoy this issue, next month we will be celebrating our half birthday(which is just crazy sauce let me tell you) and we canâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t wait for you to join in the festivities! Remember solidarity in the community, its vital.

Bruce Ross 4

Staff Credits Editor in Chief: Bruce Ross Design Editor: Jennifer Howe Photography: Avishai M. Writers: Perry Larkin Amanda Russel Avishai M. Shai Micaiah

FREATURED

IN THIS ISSUE

#PREMIEREPDX 7 Makinâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Life Meaningful 9 Peacock in Park 12 10 Things I Love About PeepShow 13 9 Questions with Benj and Xel 15 Reflections of an Idol 20 Being Your True Self 21

Upcoming Events 27

A Night at the Movies 26

Stuff I showed up to.. 28

#love #premierepdx #icecream

#portland #oregon

#spikes

#lgbt

#leo

#FourthOfJulyRealness

#Amurica #premierepdx #WaterfrontRun

#selfie

#CCSlaughtersPDX #FourthOfJuly

#creative #beautiful

#Fashion

#HogHeaven

#DidntLoseTheGlass #SpinMeRightRound #birthdaymonth

#portlandoregon

#pride

#ivanahafusionn

#portland

#sauvies #rupaulsdragrace

#premierepdx

#love #life

#KimChi #premierepdx

#DragQueen #MichelleWestwood #MissGayOregon

#FishyQueen #Ladyboy

#tranny

#premierepdx

#cautiontape

# c o s t u m e #mcdonalds #pdx #gay #yum #ladies

F: https://www.facebook.com/CascadeAIDSProject T: @CascadeAIDS W: www.http://cascadeaids.org #PremiereVolunteer

GlitterbookPDX recently popped up in Portland and started giving positive shout outs for people in our community. I was fortunate to be one of the people highlighted on their blog, but recognition is not what I seek when doing my part and volunteering to help in our community. What I do seek is to make sure these wonderful and vital organizations thrive, and the best way to do that is to donate to them. Donations don’t always come in the form of money, although money is integral, a donation of time can be just as important and often incredibly more rewarding. So each month, I’ll be focusing on organizations that can use your time and other ways you can give back to the community. Cascade AIDS Project (CAP) was founded in 1983 and is the oldest and largest community-based provider of HIV services, housing, education and advocacy in Oregon and Southwest Washington. Their annual AIDS Walk Portland is coming up September 6th, for which they will need 200 volunteers just for the day of, so I sat down with Volunteer Coordinator, Marc Kochanski to write

ment team with the next Art Auction when they bring it back to Montgomery Park. The last time they held the auction there was 2004/2005 and no one on staff has been there that long, making her experience and memories especially vital. Marc remembers one volunteer about a year ago that came in, extremely nervous about their HIV status, not having yet shared it with anyone. It was great to observe the volunteer coming to terms with their status in a beautiful way. The volunteer found a home where they fit in and were doing something meaningful in their life. Not only do the volunteers learn and gain value from their time, Marc loves how much he and the organization learn from the volunteers. Along with being inspirational, the volunteers give constant feedback and each year the events get better and better because of this feedback. Recently a transgendered volunteer brought it to their attention ways CAP could be more sensitive to the transgender community, and now on the volunteer applica-

Makin’ Life Meaningful

By: Perry Larkin Photo: Christine Cearnel

my first article in the Makin’ Life Meaningful series. Marc left his job in at a labor union in New York, with a passion for activism, and moved to Portland in 2006 seeking a nonprofit where he could turn his passion into work. It was easy for him to find CAP, a respected and notable organization, and he got hired on in the development department. Realizing that working with the volunteers was what he liked the most, he moved to Volunteer Resources, where he and Volunteer Resources Manager Judith Rizzio have worked side-by-side for six years. As you would expect from someone who coordinate volunteers, Marc is an easy to talk to person, and his passion for his work seeps into his facial expressions and tone of voice as we chat. “There is no gift of volunteer time that is too small,” he says as I seek words of advice for readers looking to give their time. He suggests that you “give a gift of time that is meaningful to you,” and comparing time to money, a college student might only be able to give $20, where as a CEO can easily give $2,000; a full time employee with children might have three hours to give on a weekend once or twice a year, whereas another person might be looking to fill five hours a week with volunteer work. Many people only volunteer once or twice a year, while others intern 15 hours a week. One thing he finds inspirational about the volunteers is how many of them have given so much longevity to the organization. Many volunteers have been around longer than staff members, including one volunteer who will be helping the Develop-

tion it asks for the volunteers’ preferred pro-noun. Are you inspired to volunteer with Cascade AIDS Project yet? Of course you are. The first step is to attend a volunteer orientation. You can use this link go to CAP’s website and find out when the next orientation is (they are held twice a month). At the orientation you’ll learn CAP’s history, their services, and current opportunities, and then they’ll walk you through filling out the application. There is no online application because they want to keep it personal, “volunteering shouldn’t feel like online banking.” Last year CAP had 700 volunteers do approximately 22,000 hours of volunteer time. Some of the major events are AIDS Walk, Art Auction, Bat ‘n Rouge, and Pride Weekend. As of when I sat down with Marc, besides the huge need for volunteers during the upcoming AIDS Walk, there are also opportunities with Prevention Gay Men’s Outreach, the Oregon HIV/STD Hotline and coordinating a monthly book club at Pivot. This list is constantly changing, but it is a wide spectrum where anyone’s skill set can be useful. The one thing great about Marc and the Volunteer Resources department at CAP is they are great at helping determine your skill set and placing you where you’re most helpful. So put yourself out there, determine the amount of time that is meaningful to you, and give it back to our amazing and beautiful community that makes Portland the place we love to live. Link for Volunteer info http://cascadeaids.org/donate-or-volunteer/volunteer/become-a-cap-volunteer

W: http://www.peacockinthepark.org E: info@peacockinthepark.com #PeacockInThePeacock

Photos & words by Bruce Ross

Peacock in the Park was so successful here's a quick recap from Kimberlee Van Patten, with a couple quotes from the community of what they thought of this wonderful event this month. "Peacock in the Park was a wonderful success in every way. The event raised just over $30,000, boasted a capacity crowd of enthusiastic supporters and allowed us to grant $14,000 in Grants from the Audria M. Edwards Scholarship Fund. Thank you to everyone who participated, sponsored, donated, entertained, set-up and cleaned-up. We are thrilled to be back in the Park and look forward to making next year even bigger and better. Mark your calendars for June 28, 2015! Peacock Productions, Inc."

"I thought is was amazing. It was so nice to see the faces of people that I don't ever see around anymore. We tried the theatre peacock the first year they had it and never returned. It wasn't the same. I hated being confined to a seat. It's nice to be able to walk around and visit with people. We will be back in the park next year!"- Alyson Timmel

"It was fun. It brought back many of great memories from previous years." -John Kuehn

"Fucking fantastic" - Thomas Schmidt

"I loved it. I thought it was very family friendly and a great day in the park. Every show I saw was on point and I felt like every performance brought their best to the stage. Definitely a great day." - Cory Golladay

Obviously the community was impressed by what all the wonderful performers brought to the stage and just can't wait for next summer. Good work to all the people who tirelessly put so much time into making it one of the best events of the summer! We applaud you!

F: https://www.facebook.com/peepshowpdx I: @artemischase T: @ArtemisChase #PeepShowPDX E: https://www.facebook.com/events/1452424085033609/

By: Shai Micaiah Photos: Avishai M.

10 THINGS

I Love About peep Show

Your compère Artemis Chase is without compare. Her unfiltered, rowdy emcee stylings are a performance unto themselves. She knows what you’re thinking and because she’s more intoxicated than you, she isn’t afraid to say it. The fact that she’ll be “with the fairies” before you’ve finished your first drink allows you to order your next round guilt-free. But a word to the wise (and modest): Artemis has an uncanny ability to convince people on and off the male-to-female gender continuum to take off their clothes, should the fancy seize her — or if she’s sensing an impulse in the audience. So try to stay out of her line of sight. Especially around halftime…

You might need an exorcism the next day. From masturbating nuns to Sapphic representations of Jesus Christ, Peep Show isn’t afraid to take iconoclastic to iconostrophic. So check your firmly-held religious beliefs at the door. Symbols will be inverted and messages upturned. Like tectonic plates colliding to create the high topographic relief of a mountain chain, sometimes this horrific pile-up of ideas will collide to create something high-concept and lofty. Other times it’s just in bad taste.

Nobody just shuffles around lethargically lip-synching to songs a la Britney Spears Gimme More. A typical Peep Show line-up will feature multiple performances heavy on movement, physicality and prowess. Singers will sing, dancers will dance, acrobats will demonstrate strength, balance and agility. To keep up with the unbridled talent, the drag performers up the ante and push themselves out of their comfort zones, whether by way of clever and crude costumes and props, or by stretching their own limbs themselves.

Peep Show’s transcontinental when it comes to procuring talent. Special guests have included RuPaul’s Drag Race Season 6 favorite MILK (cooing to Lana Del Rey while dressed as JonBenét Ramsey, naturally) and San Franciscan comedian Ronn Vigh. While we take a certain pride in the breadth and diversity of our local talent, it’s always refreshing when someone from the Land of Faraway pays us a visit.

Photography is allowed. For those of you who enjoy shooting wildlife in their native habitat, Peep Show offers unprecedented access to vaudevillians, grotesques, burlesque performers and gender illusionists in a territory where they call all the shots. Just be respectful when the clothes come off!

The Analogue’s top-of-the-line sound system is one of the best in Portland. Hell, it might even be THE best. Owned and operated by DRD Records, a Portland, Oregon-based record label co-founded by Smoochknob front man/ drummer Donnie Rife, Analogue was created to make a special venue that artists would love to play. That means it’s in a sonic category all its own. The acoustics, top-shelf sound system and stainless steel arms built to reinforce the ceiling promise to deliver an auditory experience that can only be described as aurgasmic. You really have to hear it to believe it.

While Peep Show is a tumultuous cauldron of artistry and thaumaturgy, Saturn’s projections deserve their own shout-out. And Saturn’s generous— these projections have made appearances in multiple artists’ performances. Every time, it’s mind-blowing and moving, expanding the possibilities for performance artists and what they can do on a stage.

It might be the only place to catch some acts. Characters seem to be birthed, live and die on the Peep Show stage. Afterwards they might fade into nothing. Aunt Judith and Harlequinn (and their horrid cook Gertrude) seemed bemused when asked if their act “had a name.” Despite being a crowd favorite, good luck tracking that hilarious trio down. (Though I heard a rumor a certain John A Renner on Facebook was accepting inquiries.)

. Did I already mention people get naked? Yeah, if you like nudity — and who doesn’t in a city with more strip clubs per capita than any other in the country — Peep Show more than lives up to its name. There’s no knowing who might end up shedding their petals… and like I said earlier, if you aren’t cautious, it could be you!

And finally, because this. Sometimes, there are no words. It might make you laugh, cry, think, shudder, wet your pants or sleep with the lights on, and could be in next month’s Peep Show.

questions with

Benj By: Perry Larkin Photos: Avishai M

Xel

First Thursday in August at Scandals brings us a wonderful new art show by artists BenJ Curtis and Xel Moore. BenJ’s art can be seen in Scandals daily, just look for the giant Pink Absolut bottle with the Peacock adorned Giraffe. Xel’s graphic design work can be seen in Willamette Week and he was the designer for Pride Northwest’s t-shirt this year. They both have previously contributed to Scandal’s little art/BIG CAUSE, and we look forward to their upcoming show where we can expect colorful humanized animals and the intricate details of beautiful structures. What’s your medium? BenJ Curtis: A mixture of watercolors and acrylic. Xel Moore: Pen and Paper, Graphic Design, and various forms of Printmaking. What’s your inspiration for your pieces? B: The use of characters from past and transforming them into animals with human characteristics. Especially Elephants and Giraffes. He’s currently moving into larger stuff and is definitely inspired by vintage clothing. His paintings can come from sadness but he hopes they transpire to joy for the viewer. X: A lot of different things, as he’s still exploring the art world and different techniques. People definitely inspire him. Kate Bingaman-Burt, a local illustrator and designer, has inspired him in many ways. Under her wing Xel was able to experience a lot of the art/design world and meet many creative people. He was able to take part in a few installation shows with Kate and learned to create an environment that the viewer steps into. Mainly he sticks with pen on paper illustrations but enjoys trying all sorts of mediums. It’s the process of creating that truly inspires him. He appreciates the small details. When did you start focusing on your art? B: 2 years ago when focusing on an art show in June dealing with gay stereotypes. X: Xel has been seriously focusing on his art for about 6 years. It was school and the people that he met there that kept him motivated. Give us a little background B: He’s been drawing since he was 4 and wanted to animate for Disney. He went to fashion design school and lived in New York City interning for Betsy Johnson, which he attributes the whimsy-ness too. X: He started art at a very young age but gave it up after 8th grade art. He tells me that his teacher was an asshole and made art no longer fun. He gave it up in search of something else. In college he was attempting to study computer science and, just before losing his sanity, took an art class for fun and fell in love with it all over again. It came back very naturally. He gave up his futile effort of becoming a programmer and followed his heart back to the arts. He would like to make it clear that he has nothing but respect for programmers and considers them to be extremely talented and creative. It just wasn’t for him. B: “When I’m alone in my crazy” BenJ tells me, that’s where his art comes from. “I was such a control freak,” and now he lets the art come out. X: “Yeah I just like making things,” Xel says, he likes to make it interactive and have people “want to step into it.” Xel likes to see all the imperfections and just give in when painting. What do you hope people get out of your art? B: He hopes it conveys joy through a whimsical use of colors, and its bright and lively tone. Look closely at his art to find the pictures within pictures. The art is created through the contrast of specific watercolors and random acrylics. X: “Nothing is precious” he describes the tone. “Anything can be done by anybody”, so he encourages everyone to just try and do what they love, “if it makes you happy, just do it.” After a little contemplation, Xel repeats, “nothing is precious.”

How do you feel about the digital world merging into the art world, even more than it has 10 years ago? B: “I feel the merging of the digital world has allowed artists to expand their artwork to a larger audience and add art to a wide array of products. It allows people to instantly get your work if they feel it speaks to them.” He believes in a modern age, where people want instant gratification, the digital world allows himself to connect with people all over the world. X: “It’s just another tool, another medium”. He believes that purists, whoever they are, would disagree. He admits that there is a lot of crap and plagiarism that is produced digitally but the same can be said for analog art. “When photography was invented, painters thought that they were being replaced with a non-creative and un-talented scientific replication of a scene”. Though Xel works a lot with pen and paper he still uses a computer to sometimes achieve a certain look or feel. “Plus the exposure you can have through digital copies and social media is a wonderful tool that everyone by now should be using to promote their work”. Any local people you would really like to collaborate with? B: He is open to collaborations with artists, feeling that each artist can learn something from each other. “Artists are meant to continue growing, learning and stretching their craft. If we aren’t constantly learning we become stagnant.” X: So many! He would like to work with Kate BingamanBurt some more. Kathleen Marie is another local designer that would be a great partner on a project. Will Bryant, a local illustrator/designer. He has high energy and a great process for making. Chris Ritter, she’s semi local. She lives in NYC at the moment but is from here and will be back. Chris is another illustrator/designer. Kayla “Kaylar” Newell, a local drawer/painter/printmaker. Many more that Xel can’t think of right now. He is always looking for someone to bounce ideas off of and collaborate with. If you were an element, what would you be? B: “A slow burn wild fire.” He describes this as grounded but the passion is there. It should be noted BenJ is a Taurus/Aries cusp. X: “Glue”…he decides that’s cheesy and goes with “Antimatter” because chaos and destruction is beautiful. Xel is a Capricorn. Make sure you come check out Benj & Xel’s art show at Scandals, opening first Thursday, August 7th, with the Artist Reception starting at 8pm. For this show, Scandals has invited Pablo and the Strings for live music entertainment. Pablo will be singing and playing the guitar with amazing backup support from the very talented Laurent Nickel on the stand up bass and Max Amory on percussion. Contact the artists at: B: Twitter: @benjcurtis1 Instagram: benjcurtis Facebook: Benjcurtisdesigns blog: www.benjcurtis.com Online store: www.society6.com/BenCurtisDesigns X: Twitter: @xeleanth Instagram: xeleanth

So what can we expect from your August show? B: Everything is new and not something you can find on social media. This is a big deal for BenJ who is a self-proclaimed “social media slut”. He hopes to showcase new techniques and a new point of view. X: It will all be revealed when the display opens August 7th, but he was kind enough to say it will be a mixture of mediums. Mainly illustration and printmaking and maybe he’ll throw a painting or two in there. Over all, the theme is: “Do what you love!”

Featuring the art of

BenJ Curtis & Xel Moore

August 7, 8PM | sCAndAls PdX

I’ve been singing for as long as I can remember. My mom will tell stories of me, standing in front of the sliding glass door, with a slip on my head and a turkey baster microphone in my hand, singing my heart out (insert eye roll here). My “career” hit a snag when I auditioned for the high school concert choir. I was devastated when the choir teacher told me that I couldn’t sing, single-handedly destroying any confidence that I had that day. Well, Mr. Wisely. I’m singing, Sir! Fast forward to today: I sing because I love it; I love connecting to the music and expressing myself. But I always have that negative voice ringing in the back of my mind.

Reflections from an Idol By: Danie Ward Photos: Avishai M.

I decided to audition for Portland Idol (after wanting to for the past four years) to feed my love of music in a fun, challenging environment. I was terrified that I might fail and even more that I might actually succeed. I decided to audition and I am so happy that I did! The experience was awesome, made even more so by being able to share it with all the other contestants. They are an incredibly talented group and I am so happy that I got to share a stage with them! Portland Idol has helped me gain back some of the confidence that I lost all those years ago. I’m not afraid to sing in public (*cough*SOBER*cough*). I can take a compliment without putting myself down in the process and I feel so proud of myself! Who knew that a small, local competition would be so life changing!? I am so grateful for this experience and so excited to see what happens next! Thank you friends, family and new friends for being so wonderful!

F: https://www.facebook.com/dianawood7070 E: diana.wood70@yahoo.com www.dianawoodart.wordpress.com

Being Your Real Self Artwork and Article by Diana Wood

People will always fear other people for looking or acting different. Or simply resent you for “daring” to be different. Again, I think it’s best to ignore them and even pray for them. Getting upset at them won’t help. Being nice to everyone, I think, is the great key to success at anything. And that includes being a lady. A nice lady will do better with people than a mean lady-- that is for sure. I was lucky I never went through a period of self hatred. I was confused as to how my personality came to be but I was afraid of it. I was afraid that if I revealed my true self to others I would lose all my friends and my family. How could I explain that I was the same person I always was, but I had a highly evolved fashion sense that I had been keeping a big secret? I needed to work, liked my identity and had no idea how “revealing” anything about myself could possibly help my cause (which is to support myself). So I did my best to ignore my wants to be a girl and lived a boys life. And for the most part I was happy. I think I am one of those people that is generally happy (despite some bouts with depression) so that should be considered. So suppressing my “fem” self was not a cross to bear. But like some things in life the moment I had a chance to “unwind” and dress up, even just for an hour, I would. Even now as I write this I use my boy identity to deal with people and situations that demand a “boy”. Some people, and I would be a fool to deny their existence, find someone like me so scary they can’t deal with it. And I don’t need the hassle. I don’t need to be in there face. Still it’s not how I would like to be all the time. So when do I act like a boy? Places like..teacher parent meetings at school. I don’t want my daughter to be tortured because of me so I always go into the school in full boy mode. Moments like that. In my normal day to day world, I don’t hide. I just don’t present 100% as a girl (full face) all the time. And that itself has an impact. The other night I was “looking like a boy” no face, but had on girls clothes, purse (shirt, shoes, jeans), and was out shopping. Something I do more and more now as I am going along. I know most people that see me dressed like this as a freak or at best a gay men. 80% ignore me. 20% stare and gawk. I feel like I should wear a sign, “I am just a girl that looks like a boy, don’t panic.” Or something like that. I was in line buying some clothes and make up.

The man behind me was in his 40’s, and looked like a mule skinner by trade. Big beard and hunting vest. His mouth was open so wide and his bushy eye brows rolled up so high he looked like he had seen a ghost. Remember buckwheat from “The Little Rascals”? Like that! And he stood 20 feet back, afraid to get close to me clutching his box of oreos and bottle of soda as if I might run up and steal them from him. His face also remained locked in that shocked state the entire time he stood in line. People lined up behind him but he would not come any closer to the register till I left. So there he was 20 feet back with 6 people in line behind him. Only when I walked away in my fashion jeans and girl shoes did he dare approach the register. Usually I ignore all this sort of behavior. And I did ignore this. But the person with me could not get past how rude the guy was and how weird he acted. She described everything to me as we left. She kept staring back at him. I am sure this goes on a lot and don’t notice it. I like how I look. I don’t want to “change” to fit into society (unless something else is riding on it). So I go out a lot acting and looking like a very fem man. For the most part no one cares. But like I said 20% stare like a Goblin was before them.

I am not sure why it doesn’t hurt my feelings. And I am not trying to make a statement. Or anything. I am sad that my look upsets people. People always do stare at my shoes (I see it all the time as I approach them they look down). I get it that it can be jarring. I don’t want it to be. I want to “blend in”. But to blend in I would have to “act” like someone I am not. I like being my genuine self. It completes me. And I like meeting people as my “real self”. That way there is no surprise. If they don’t like Trans people or people like me, they will see me coming and run the other way. And if they like people like me or don’t care, that happens to! There are some people that are very positive to me. I get compliments like I like your shoes or jacket or something. So there is part of society that is kind and even encouraging. When I am in full drag, it’s the same story. Many stare, but many accept me and don’t say anything about it. And I don’t think they care. There is a cool thing that happens once in awhile. I meet someone, always a girl, that treats me like she has just met a rock star. They are always nice. They come up to me, out of no where and say things like, “Hi my name is Fay. I love your look. I wanted to come over and meet you. You are so

“She is [Diana Wood] a great performer and knows how to paint a mean mug.” -Jayla Rose

beautiful.” And so on. It’s really quite flattering. It happens mostly in night clubs. There is type of girl that “likes” someone like me. I mean really like. And they are drawn to me (or the look). It’s been going on for years. There are girls that just like trans woman. It’s a fact. There are men that like them too. But they are very secretive, for the most part, about it. Not long ago I was an event and a guy followed me around all night. I did not notice him but again, my girlfriend did. “There is a guy following you.”. I never know what to think about stuff like this. It can be good or bad. You never know. After a while he stopped following me. I was at another event, about a week ago, where I was sitting at the bar, looking amazing, when a man sat down next to me and said hello. He as very casual about it all. Like he really did NOT want to meet me. It was all an “accident”. He and I chatted for awhile. After a while I got up, said nice to meet you, and sat with some girls at a table near the dance floor. Not too long after the same guy comes up and sits down next to me..again. more “small talk”. Then he asks me if I am single. Yup he is definitely hitting on me. I tell him I am not single, I have a boyfriend. He gets quiet after that but never leaves. Finally I decided it was time for me to leave and I slipped out into the night and home. So being a trans girl is not all bad. People do stare but that is where it usually ends. And some people are very nice to me. I have lost many of my old friends, but I am hopeful, with my new friends, as they meet the “real me”, that they will be able to be my friend…not because I am a boy or girl or something else, or even despite it, but because they like me and judge me by my character. I know that it’s hard for some people to see past the dress or the adams apple. I don’t resent them or blame them. It’s just how it is. My goal is to try and turn people around one heart at a time. Diana Wood is a writer and artist living in Oregon. She describes herself: ” I live as a girl, think as a girl. Look like a boy. Sigh... Work as an artist. Fearless but never reckless. I like boys and girls. I like girls that act like boys and boys that act like girls. Go figure. I love shopping. Movies. Theater of all sorts. And eating out. Shoes and stockings are my best friends. I illustrate and draw my own comic books for many years books, on the themes of crossdressing, sex, and anything that you might call “gender bending” adventures. Everyone in my books is pretending to be someone else or has a dual identity. All my books are available on amazon.com if you search under “Transvestite Diana Wood”. Diana does portraits and commissions full time. “90% of my art life is drawing people.” If you would like to hire her for a portrait or project please email her at diana.wood70@yahoo.com. She is also on Patreon, a website to support artists. I have all my books and a creative blog on Patreon, so in two clicks you can see lots and lots of my art. Go to Patreon.com and search for Diana Wood. I come right up. Thank you for looking.

below: Hiroshima, Diana Wood, and KimChi

A Night at the Movies Snowpiercer by Shai Micaiah

Humanity shoots itself in the foot when it discharges an experimental substance into the atmosphere in an attempt to combat global warming. More effective than predicted, the earth is plunged into a Second Ice Age. But this time nothing can survive the chill; moments after exposure, bodies calcify into icy husks. In a previous lifetime, Wilford was a mad scientist, inventing a perpetual-motion train that doesn’t require fuel and spans the globe in a ridiculous circle. Now he’s humanity’s last hope to avoid extinction and worshipped as savior of the precious few who escaped the chill. A rigid class system is in place to maintain order on the train. There are first class passengers who enjoy the luxuries of “the Front,” and pitiable people living in Third World squalor in “the Rear,” with various workers and a militia separating them in the middle. When the alluring Woman in Yellow Who Likes to Measure Things assembles the Rear for inspection and makes off with two kids who are pleasing to her measuring tape, it’s the catalyst that activates a long-simmering revolt from the Rear. As the ragtag group of revolutionaries, led by scary, brooding Curtis (Chris Evans) passes their “preordained station” and moves forward through the train, each door unlocks not only the cabin in front of them but also the secrets of the train. Their destination is of course the Engine, and “Wilford,” but when they get there, do they know what they’re going to have to do? Like Frankenstein’s monster, Snowpiercer appears to have been assembled piecemeal, grafting director Bong Joonho’s South Korean filmmaking style onto the vacuous Hollywood genre film. It keeps one leg firmly planted in Tarantinoesque violent humor, another in Terry Gilliam’s eclectic visual style so eloquently described by the late, great Roger Egbert as “hallucinatory in its richness of detail.” Plot-wise, there are echoes of The Hunger Games, traces of Children Of Men and generous sprinkles of Animal Farm for good measure. It lurches forward with all the grace of a miscreation, alternating rapidly between camp, hilarity, visual splendor, terror and thrills. It shouldn’t work… but then, it does. The film has already inspired dozens of essays critiquing, expounding and exploring its themes; the train might be a metaphor for society, or capitalism. It’s a rare film in the action-thriller genre, one that suspects – without outright accusing – its audience of intelligence, giving you the opportunity to emerge from the viewing experience brimming with ideas and opinions. If that doesn’t float your boat, it offers plenty of grisly action scenes, extravagant set pieces and colorful, memorable performances from an international ensemble cast. Fun fact: Infamous blowhard Harvey Weinstein requested Bong take out 20 minutes of footage and bookend it with a prologue and epilogue; Bong refused to cut it, and in retaliation, Weinstein gave it only a limited release in art house cinemas. The scene-stealer: A tie between Tilda Swinton’s deranged Minister Mason, who spits fanaticisms like a cobra expelling venom and is entirely transformed by prosthetics, and Allison Pill’s exuberant, pregnant teacher who spends all of her time indoctrinating children into worship of Wilford – and who, be advised, you should watch very carefully. GAYwatch: Two of Mason’s henchmen are, bizarrely, gay lovers. The kind of gay lovers you do not want to come between, which leads to an unusual gay revenge plotline I kind of loved for its brazen abnormality. Best line: “Passengers, this is not a shoe. This is disorder. This is size ten chaos.” Snowpiercer is now playing at Cinema 21 Theater.

UPCOMING EVENTS

Have an upcoming LGBT friendly event? Be sure to email us at Premierepdx@gmail.com

Saturday, August 2nd Queer Music Showcase (Part of Portland Queer Music Fest) Rotture (315 SE 3rd) 8PM, $5 Mattachine Social, Towering Trees, Noddy PLUS Kizmet’s hip-hop showcase, featuring: Boy Funk, Rap Girl, GarlicMan&CHIKN, Body Academics, and more TBA Sunday, August 3rd Bat ’n Rouge Erv Lind Stadium at Normandale City Park (57 NE Halsey St) 11AM-4PM, $5 suggested donation (benefits AIDS Walk Portland) A drag queen softball tournament! Featuring Bolivia Carmichaels as umpire, announced by Honey Bea Hart and Lulu Luscious. There will be a beer garden, concession stand, and a dance performance by Nonsense Dance Company. “Bring your friends and watch the most outlandish sporting event Portland has ever seen.” Sister Bingo! Crush Bar (1400 SE Morrison St.) 1PM, $15 for 10 games. Bingo games organized by the Portland Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence! Awesome prizes from local businesses, including Radio Room, Russell Street BBQ, Shebop, Three Monkeys, Cupcake Jones, and HipChicks. Also up for the winning: a two hour house-cleaning session from Cub Cleaners ($80 value), a photoshoot with Jeffrey Horvitz from Queer Aperture Photography ($400 value).

Thursday, August 7th BOYeurism Star Theater (13 NW 6th Ave) Doors 9PM / Show 10PM, $10 gen, $20 stageside VIP “Don’t miss Portland’s Hottest All Male Revue! Burlesquire and Star Theater Portland bring you a cast featuring Portland’s hottest male talents, including pole dancers, dancers, drag professionals, and more!” MC’d by Alexis Campbell Starr, and featuring performances by Isaiah Esquire, Curtis Carlyle, Niki Villiarimo, John-Nuriel, Fenix, MoNika, and more. Saturday, August 9th

Bridge Club Vendetta (4306 N Williams Ave) 3PM-9PM Dance party featuring tons of DJs: Il Trill, Hold My Hand, Orographic, Huf’n’stuf, Pocket Rock-it, Gossip Cat, and a super secret guest DJ to be announced on August 1st. Featuring roaming photography by PB Arson.

Mystery Box Show Mississippi Studios (3939 N Mississippi Ave) Door at 7pm, Show at 8pm $12 in advance $14 at the door The Mystery Box Show is a live sex-themed storytelling series based out of Portland, Oregon. The show features real people sharing true personal stories about the many ways that sex influences our lives. www.mysteryboxshow.com

Necronancy: Gay Goth Night The Lovecraft (421 SE Grand Ave) 9PM, no cover Gay goth dance night, occurs every first sunday of the month. Featuring music by DJs Stormy Roxx, Shachristmas Lamiracle, and Prince$$ Dimebag.

Mrs. Superhero Mississippi Studios (3939 N Mississippi Ave) 10PM, $5 Costumes for superhero theme encouraged! Monthly all-inclusive, body and gender-positive dance party. Music by DJs Beyondadoubt and Il Camino. Featuring photography by Bloodhound Photobooth.

F: www.facebook.com/amandamrussel T: @todoeralindo W: http://www.amandarussel.weebly.com

Stuff I Showed up to... Carla Rossi’s Purity Ball (Featuring Courtney Act and Bulimianne Rhapsody)

By Amanda Russell Photo Gulo Delgatto

To quickly recap, the Purity Ball is a fancy ceremony thrown by conservative Christians for their young daughters to pledge their purity - namely, abstinence until marriage- to their fathers. There is an exchanging of vows and rings, and fathers and daughters share a “first dance.” Dress typically runs on the formal side, with the girls wearing white gowns to symbolize purity, much like the traditionally white wedding gown. The creative mad scientists behind Genderf**king Takeover, Samuel Thomas and Carla Rossi, designed the night keeping this ceremonial framework in mind. As attendees we were told to bring a father figure for the first dance, and also that there would be a Daddy Auction for those who wished to purchase a father figure for the night. The show portion was to bring us lessons in purity with various performers, and of course, the two out-oftown headliners, Bulimianne Rhapsody (formerly of Portland’s Sissyboy, who now resides in Austin) and Courtney Show highlights: Ivizia Dakini walked onstage wearing a horror mask and carrying a small suitcase. Act, who made it to the top 3 of RuPaul’s Drag Race She performed a striptease, during which, in the process of removing articles of clothSeason 6, as well as the finals in 2003 Australian Idol. ing, she removed her original mask to reveal another mask. And then another. And another. They were all creepy. When she finally took off the last mask to reveal her The Purity Ball took place on a miserable, sweaty, humid Sunday night at Branx and Rotture (VIP only were face, she proceeded to pull a Jesus puppet from the suitcase and perform a duet with it - “Jesus Christ Superstar.” The dynamic between woman and puppet became increasallowed into the upstairs Rotture part of the venue), so ingly sexual, and in a grand finale, the Jesus puppet went down on her. it was a relief that the requested attire was white. The Hot Mess contestants Marla Singer and Katrina Khaos came onstage as a bibleplace filled up slowly but surely and turned into a dance party fueled by the tunes of DJ Roy G Biv. In one corner of thumping couple dressed in their Sunday best. Performer Aphasia, dressed as Jesus the space, Michael Horwitz drew portraits for everybody, with a crown of Christmas lights instead of thorns, came out and performed a theatrically while carrying a huge wooden cross around with her for the duration of the numfree of charge as always (though he welcomed tips). ber. Carla Rossi, of course, opened her own show. In Bulimianne Rhapsody, who had gold glitter in her beard, ended her number with typical Rossi fashion, her first number was a collection of recordings she had done herself, spliced with audio clips. two men blasting her from either side of the stage with water guns. Courtney Act appeared onstage near the end of the first act, talked for a bit about It was intelligent and funny, and touched on both the political (Hobby Lobby, specifically) and the social, also in her impressions and then sang a Kylie Minogue song live. She is unquestionably has amazing vocal talent, and upon hearing her sing live, I understood how she got so far typical Rossi fashion. in Australian Idol. The audience and I loved her. I was afraid the woman next to me up against the stage wanted to eat her. Courtney is extremely charismatic onstage, incredibly sweet, and small in stature. The Daddy Auction, facilitated by Bearracuda, separated the two acts. The Daddies were auctioned off, and those who purchased them (all proceeds went to the Portland Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence, who do great service work) shared their first dance with their new Daddies. The second act included a second number from Bulimianne featuring an impressive Mary costume, and then Courtney Act again, who sang her own song “Mean Gays” to wrap up the performances. After the show, the dance party continued. I ventured upstairs for the VIP meetand-greet, which included a photo with Courtney taken by Gula Delgatto in a gold-lined photobooth. Courtney was extremely gracious and kind and genuinely seemed to be having a great time taking all sorts of crazy pictures with the VIP guests. She took a minute to talk to everybody and never once looked bored or annoyed at being swarmed by people. When it was my turn, she asked if she could sit on my wheel to pose, but ended up sitting on my lap, balancing as if reclining on a fainting chair, as Gula snapped a photo. She is small enough that I wasn’t afraid I would drop her, and the pictures ended up hilarious. More info: Check out Michael Horwitz at ihearthorwitz.tumblr.com Listen to Roy G. Biv’s music on her soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/mr-roy-g-biv 5

"To community, unity and the arts. Together in Portland we have the power to make us one of the most inviting and accepting LGBT communities in the Nation."