Premiere: Issue 3

April 2013 Volume 1 Issue 3

PREMIERE Bringing the LGBTA lifestyle of Portland to light

Celebrating Scandal’s 35th Anniversary

Contents

Coffee Table of Contents 4 A word from the Editors 5 Street Spirit 13 Illiterati 19 Waking Up 28 Scandals: throughout the Ages 38 DITL: The LGBTA Youth of Today 41 Premiering Soon 43 My Little Hummingbird 49 Ask Bolivia X #PremierePDX

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A word from the Editors

I have an issue that I’d like to bring up with all of you today. It’s about the social responsibility in the digital age. We at any given time are instantly connected to vast amounts of information at our fingertips.

Such a useful tool for keeping you connected with your friends and families from all over the world. It’s really changed communication as we know it. With this, opinions gain attention when posted very quickly. Especially posts calling certain people out, making fun of them for weight and looks for example. Lying about people in general for the sake of publicity. This is a form of abuse and we being a digital magazine focusing our content on many digital platforms, are not a big fan of it. This is a community that we all live in together.

Three issues in and this is still my favorite part of preparing for a release.

The first 2 issues, I really was able to see how far I would go to see ‘Premiere’ succeed.

But with this third issue, I’m now seeing how far EVERYONE else is willing to go to make sure we are all heard and seen. I really just want to say thank you to everybody who has helped create a voice from within the ‘Premiere’ Team as well as out to all of our viewer family.

You’re all the reasons I smile and you’re all the reasons we’re here! Thank you!

Not everyone will get along, or be bosom buddies of course, but there is of course civility. If you don’t like a group of people it’s not necessary to express it in such a way. Nobody likes negativity and animosity online, it’s a monster that we in Portland shouldn’t have. People respect our city for how friendly, diverse and welcoming it is. That’s why people flock here. Let’s not start being known as the community that tears each other down.

Love, Bruce Ross Editor-in-Chief

facebook.com/brucester1 4

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Joshua DePoorter Creative Director

facebook.com/depoorterj

str e e spi t r

With i ntro duc tio

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Rai Villanueva

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Pictured: Andrew Shayde gettin’ crunk on three dollar wine.

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Photograph: detail of “Street Spirit” Mixed Media 48” x 48” Photographer: Horace Long

ya b n

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Andrew Rai Villanueva Shayde

mother teresa doesnt do keg stands -Andrew Shayde

Photograph: “Wolf” as seen in Rai’s studio, propped on canisters of wall paint.

Mixed Media 25.25” x 49.5”

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Photograph: The steely gaze of Rai Villanueva.

Twenty-nine year old Rai Villanueva is a beauty like none other; Her chocolate irises tease your gaze with only the tastiest hint of mischief.

One lick of this talented lady will burn your senses to the core... and that’s not even the half of it.

“I’m an Aries with a Taurus moon and Leo rising,” she states, and “I’m flirty and feisty as fuck.” Imagine her saddling up to a roaring, black 1977 Chevy Stepside--cranking the ignition and shifting the gears--that she has proudly rebuilt herself. If that ball-busting truck isn’t hint enough, then perhaps her gorgeous girlfriend and their and overt seductions of fawning women might clue you in: That fire in her eyes belies a burning blaze, and that gleam beneath her lashes is a shining force to be reckoned with.

Rai Villanueva

I moved to Portland almost four years ago. My husband’s job brought us here, but I was ecstatic for the new adventure and the weirdness Portland promised. I soon was hired on at CAP and now sit at my desk in the furthest back corner of the office planning fun ways for Portlandians to gather and raise funds to fight HIV/AIDS. Life is good.

She is stylish, spirited, and sexy as shit: a walking, talking, triple-threat of passion that her artful hands can pummel with ferocity into nary an unsuspecting work of art. Rai is a proud queer-identifying Latina and native of the Pacific northwest, having now lived in Portland for over fifteen years. She claims with the spice of life, “I love it here. I can’t see myself building a life anywhere else.” It is the unique flavors and fashions of this Portland melting-pot that serves to fuse Rai’s life and art into a succulent, searing dish that’ll tear your taste-buds.

Photograph: Rai’s 1977 Chevy Stepside.

A slumbering beast.

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Andrew Rai Villanueva Shayde

I’m the Special Events Coordinator for Cascade AIDS Project (CAP), which means I’m a professional fundraiser. I’ve been in the field of HIV/AIDS for almost a decade and have loved (just about) every minute of it.

I believe it’s my calling to help people, my parent’s raised me that way, but I also love to party. I want to be Mother Teresa, but I also want to do keg stands. Mother Teresa doesn’t do keg stands. So how could I marry the two? In my case, planning events at CAP was the answer.

mother teresa doesnt do keg stands -Andrew Shayde

“I’m a self-taught artist.

I’ve been painting and creating my creatures and portraits for as long as I can remember. I was totally that kid in class that would constantly be drawing on their desk, notebooks or homework.”

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Photograph: “Owl” Mixed Media 25.25” x 49.5” Next Page: detail of “Lion” Mixed Media 32” x 36”

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Rai Villanueva

“In 2009 I had my first art opening at the Egyptian club (at the time the only lesbian bar in Portland). I had been painting graffiti all over their bathrooms for years. they were covered in creatures i’d created. The patrons loved it so i kept doing it with the approval of the staff. This experience gave me the confidence to show more and to pursue my hopes in making art my profession.”

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Rai Villanueva

Photograph: detail of “Cortez” Mixed Media 24” x 32”

find more

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rai

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facebook.com/larrainavillanueva on instragram @rai_villanueva www.raivillanueva.com

bringing the LGBTA lifestyle of Portland to light.

See these people? We think they’re amazing, and you should too! Take these quirky little collector’s cards to heart, and keep these names in mind.

They’re going places!

Premiere Trading cards: Know ‘em? Love ‘em? Collect ‘em!

Photography & Design by Shai Micaiah

#PortlandTheGathering

Illiterati

Illiterati

Stephen A. Lopez PREMIERE April 5th, 2014

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Illiterati

I’d like to think that if nothing else when I write poetry, I create images. Savoury little morsels from my brain into yours, and perhaps we can share a moment together aside from ignoring each other at steam (or not as the case may present itself)…

Sadly though, I’ve come to discover that most people don’t share my love of the literary arts — and in the world of Grindr, Scruff, Adam4Adam it’s hard to commit . . . to much of anything, though sadly I’m finding that books fall under the category “anything”. Seriously though, when’s the last time ya’ll picked up a book? Read a poem?

I hear crickets…

Premiere: so tell me about the reading series that you just started Ross…

Ross Robbins: Yes, Bone Tax Series and the Bone Tax Press! so i just recently founded my own small press, because the world doesn't already have enough small poetry presses.

BoneTax press, our mission is to create small run, handmade beautiful little chapbooks. It’s as much about the object as anything.

P: Right, too often I find that it’s just about the text.

RR: a lot of publications have been lamenting the death of print.

I don’t think that print is quite dead yet — I don’t think print’s quite dead yet but I do think that small handmade exquisite little books like this will become more popular moving forward.

P: I dont think its so much that we are looking at the death of print as it is the death of the traditional publisher we know...

So along with poetry creating images as you read it, the word itself also creates images; usually beatniks with bongos, or dead white guys (Neither of whom have much appeal). I found however, after reading Ross Robbins’ collection Sexxxy which —despite my general disdain for all things erotic and simultaneously literary— I have to say it really turned my crank.

Sitting down to a late lunch of coffee, cigarettes, and hysterical laughter, we talked about nearly everything from religion, grindr, books (of course) and other savory topics…many of which he explores in his work…but in the interest of keeping it snappy, I’ll deliver but a wee excerpt:

RR: Yeah, it’s kind of like the music industry with these old dinosaurs that are unwilling or unable to adapt to change...

They’re dying out, and well, good riddance.

P: So, your collection — Sexxxy: You said something in there about it being “a fools errand to describe a feeling”, but tell me more about it.

RR: Thats such a funny little collection — I originally created Sexxxy because I was invited to read at an erotica themed reading — I don't necessarily consider myself an erotic poet by any means.

P: Well you do a good job, you got my crank turned. <laughs> P: I was sitting in bed reading, and i thought wow — I usually I hate erotic poetry Ross. <smirk>

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Illiterati

You may wonder what exactly the point of it is…I want to see literate men in my community… proudly literate men, as the Powells sticker says: Reading is Sexy…

Sadly enough I don’t see enough of anyone with books in their hands…the books that Ross creates as he said in the interview are EXQUISITE little things done on linen paper with gold covers.

I saw them at Powells on Hawthorne…

My current favorite poem out of this collection is the first:

Apple Core

by Ross Robbins

reached up my aching

fist to pluck the apple from

the tiniest of trees.

bit through the unripe

skin to devour the most

puckering flesh of all

sucked dry its still-beating core and glancing back over my shoulder the blue-eyed statue of chiseled muscle smooth-skinned spread me wide open and slid deep inside

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Illiterati

Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m certain that you can see why I had to read in bed. Check out Rossâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s other stuff online or at Powells on Hawthorne in the poetry/small press section along with other local writers.

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facebook.com/bonetax bonetax.wordpress.com rossrobbinspoetry.tumblr.com

Amanda Russel

Photograph: “December 25th” gouache on 300 lb cold press arches.

Image Inlay: “December 28th” gouache on 300 lb cold press arches.

The Art of Amanda Russel

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PHOTOGRAPHY & INTERVIEW BY AVISHAI MICAIAH

ortand-based painter and illustrator Amanda Russel is a community gem. If you’ve ever thrown an event, whether it be a performance art piece, drag show, or art exhibit, you can bet your bottom bitch’s dollar if you invited her, she showed up. That’s why it only seemed natural to profile Portland’s least flakey queer artist this month, before she debuts her WALK ON series at Healing Art Gallery on May 2nd. Preview her two series “Wake Up” and “Drag Portraits” inside, plus get the deets on how she works, what inspires her, and why her art once made a nurse cry.

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Amanda Russel

Why painting and illustration?

What themes do you pursue in your art?

Two-dimensional art has always been how I am the most comfortable expressing myself. I’ve always drawn and painted — my mom would put art supplies like watercolor paints and colored pencils in front of me when I was little, so I was lucky to become familiar with different 2D media from a very young age. That love and comfort just never went away and as I got older, I never lost my desire to get better and keep on evolving.

I wanted to be able to create images that looked exactly the way I imagined them or wanted them to look, and with art there is never an end to how you evolve and continue to better yourself and your craft.

Most of my work has a definite emotional component to it. I draw a lot from my own experiences and feelings on one hand, but on the other hand as a portrait artist I really try to capture the humanity of the subject I am portraying.

When I make work about my own experiences and feelings, though, I also leave enough ambiguity so that anyone can see their own experiences reflected in it and relate. It’s important to me to make work that’s as universally relatable as possible.

Do you identify as a queer artist? If so, how has your sexuality shaped your artistic self?

I definitely identify as a queer artist. I came out to my friends as a lesbian at 13 and to my parents at 14. Nowadays, I prefer the word “queer” to label myself because I don’t believe in a gender binary.

As far as how being queer has shaped me as an artist, art continued to be an important part of my life growing up and through adolescence and into adulthood. I was in art club and took afterschool art classes in middle school. It was a very important outlet for me, along with writing in my many, many notebooks, to vent a lot of those frustrations and feelings that come with growing up self-aware and queer. I was also out in the ‘burbs where on the surface (though now I know statistically that this probably wasn’t 100% true) everybody was straight and Baptist. So I spent a lot of time feeling weird and uncomfortable about who I was.

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How do you like to work?

I am very attached to my desk setup in my room. It’s comfortably cluttered. I usually have a computer nearby so I can pull up reference photos when I need them. I also often have either a mindless show or movie on, or something I can listen to like a podcast or music.

What food, drink and song inspire you?

I like to drink coffee when I’m painting, which is no good when my paint water is also coffeecolored. I’ve dipped my paintbrush in my coffee many times. Food — anything colorful. Vegetables and fruit. Romanesco especially. They look like fractals. And there are a million songs that inspire me so I don’t know if I could choose just one. I listen to a lot of Latin music, though.

Amanda Russel

Photograph: “December 28th,” gouache on 300 lb cold press arches.

“‘Wake Up,’ done in Spring of 2012, is a series of eighteen paintings done in gouache and ink.

Traveling through the place of time, the paintings chronicle my journey from becoming seriously ill with acute Transverse Myelitis (severe spinal cord inflammation resulting, in my case, as complete paralysis from the navel down) on December 3rd, 2010 through my monthlong hospital stay until December 31st, 2010. I use the body as both setting and conflict in this series. The paintings begin as jumbled body parts; confused, chaotic, angry, and disjointed. As the series progresses, the images become calmer, more focused and rendered, and are given a ground and a sense of place.”

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Amanda Russel

What role does the artist have in society?

Art affects people in ways that other means of communicating cannot, so it serves a very important role in society, especially when it comes to the ills of the times. Artists can comment on both social and political issues and bring light to them by illustrating them, broadcasting them, forcing people to pay attention. Art can hit on nerves and emotions with an image, or song, or poem, or performance that can galvanize the audience when nothing else will. This isn’t to say I think all art needs to be political or social or radical, but as artists we should be aware of the power we can have and use it wisely.

What’s been the scariest experience of your life, so far?

Probably becoming paralyzed. Before I knew why and what was going on with me medically — I was in the ER and lying on this hospital bed and I looked down and tried to move and I couldn’t move my legs. Or my toes. Or feel anything, I realized.

What’s a memorable response that you’ve had to your art?

“Wake Up” — a series of paintings about my illness and paralysis and physical therapy in the hospital — was turned into a small book that I self-published as part of the project, and I made a copy for the rehab unit I stayed in. One of my nurses cried when she read it.

What’s the best piece of advice you’ve been given?

About art, “Don’t be precious with your work.”

About life, “Feelings aren’t facts.”

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Amanda Russel PREMIERE April 5th, 2014

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Amanda Russel

Top, “December 19th,” gouache on 300 lb cold press arches.

Bottom, “December 10th,” gouache on 300 lb cold press arches.

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“Carla Rossi" (2013) gouache on arches

“Kaj Anne Pepper" (2013) gouache on arches

Amanda Russel

paint that

“I have long been inspired by drag and gender-based performers. This series of paintings is my response, as a portrait artist, to the people I have had the great privilege in both knowing and watching onstage. I strive to capture the humanity and essence of what each performer is about in their portraits. Once painted, I scan the image and trace the performer’s signature in photoshop, which I overlay with the painting, creating a collaboration that reads as an autographed picture.”

“I have been getting these collaborations printed as 3”x4” stickers and selling them online and around Portland and Seattle. I have also been giving the performer featured the option to get batches made to sell at shows or for self-promotion.

I want these images and names to be everywhere so that people remember them- stickers are analog viral images that can be shared.”

Amanda Russel

mug, queen

“Hoakx Monsoon" (2012) gouache on arches

“Ecstascy Inferno" (2013) gouache on arches PREMIERE April 5th, 2014

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Amanda Russel

contact amanda facebook.com/amandarussel

amandarussel.weebly.com holdenthegirl@gmail.com “Jinkx Monsoon” (2012) gouache on arches

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“Ben dela Creme” (2013) goache on arches

Scandals

Pictured: Owner Ross’co smiling proudly as he kick’s off Scandal’s 20th anniversary celebration outside the bar.

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Scandals

Throughout the Years

by Bruce Ross

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Scandals Photograph: A vintage advertisement celebrating the first year of “Somebody’s Place”, the precursor to Scandals.

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Scandals

Nestled in between

Georgia’s Grocery Store and The Roxy is something of a well known establishment that’s been lingering around for almost 35 years. Its history is freckled in relocations and combed with controversy, but here it handsomely sits on Stark street; a pivotal, yet unassuming nightlife hot-spots in Portland, Oregon. The voice of many generations littered with stories far and wide, everyone knows or has heard of Scandals.

In 1978 Glen Dugger bought a tiny, little business named Focal Point on 9th and Yamhill.

This gem which (he quickly renamed Somebody’s Place) was kitty-corner to the original Embers

and right along the legendary “Vaseline Alley”.

In time, the business was forced into a reluctant move because its building was being demolished.

Somebody’s Place ended up shuffling over to the present day the West End Bike Shop, subsequently followed by an additional homestead-hop (for reasons unknown) to the current location Kenny & Zuke’s. This fortuitous landing struck the establishment with questionable circumstance of becoming one of the first openly gay bars to have transparent windows. Thusly, rumor has it that supposedly, this controversial state of affairs was responsible for the inception of the scandalous and time-honored namesake of our dear and pecious bar.

Above: A news cipping commemorating Scandals’s move to it’s present day location.

Left: A photograph of Glen Dugger, the founder of Somebody’s Place and Scandals.

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Scandals

Pictured: Portland citizens gather jovially in solidarity beneath the sign post.

Seeing as it was one of the cheapest places to get a beer on a Tuesday (twentyfive cent pounders), the city responded with a positive reaction to Scandals. We all know how Portlanders love their beer. However, soon thereafter the proprietors of Ace Hotel bought Scandals’ building, leading to further begrudging bar-hopping. Mr. Dugger really wanted to stay in the “Pink Triangle” so to speak, so Scandals shimmied itself right across the street to the establishment’s present-day location, in early Spring of 2006.

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Over the years, Scandals has really has really grown to involve itself deeply within our community. From CAP events, AIDS Walks, little art/BIG CAUSE, the Audrey Ortman Leukemia Fund and a multitude of more, Scandals is a beacon of community heart and triumph.

Scandals extravagantly throws its annual block party during Pride, and has been donating the proceeds to local charities for the past 9 years.

Scandals

The business and its people pride themselves on being a welcoming, and allinclusive atmosphere; they want their friends and community to thrive with an understanding that EVERYONE can work together and support one-another to create something more enriching than the contributions we as individuals can make on our own. By supporting new talent and respecting the history that made this beloved community the smorgasbord it is today, Scandals has won over our hearts, and secured its standing in our community for many, inspired generations to come.

Page 22: An earlier incarnation of the Scandal’s crew out to enjoy a happy summer’s holiday.

Above: Some old regulars and a few familiar faces enjoy a round on the old bar top.

Below: Ross’co goofin’ around in front of a camera with a Barbie in his pants.

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Scandals

Photograph: Two fine Scandals employees showing off the bar’s traditional greeting.

With the decades flying by, and constant changes around us in the community, it’s a relief to know that “Gay Cheers” is still open, busy, and BOOMING after thirty-five years of heartwarming history. Scandals has been so grateful

Photograph: Scandals’ legendary Lisa Trailer and Iowna Trailer, keeping the party going in STYLE.

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for the generosity and support granted to them by their community: with complete sincerity, they only feel it’s of the utmost importance to do in kind, and give back to all different segments of the community so we can thrive as a whole.

Scandals

Photograph: The lovely view from Scandal’s party deck, across the street from Fish Grotto.

Scandals will indeed be forever known as Portlands LGBT living room. After all, a little scandal here and there isn’t such a bad thing after all... is it?

We love you.

Thank you Scandals, this beauteous community would not be whole without the captivating gem that is your dazzling heart.

Photograph: Today’s generation of Scandals party-goers with one of their favorite misfits, Miss Pagan Holladay.

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Scandals

facebook.com/scandalspdx

www.scandalspdx.com

Photograph: Ross with a fabulously delicious birthday cake.

Happy Birthday, Scandals!

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LGBTA Youth

DITL day

in

the

life

The LGBTA

Youth of today by joshua de poorter

A lot has changed for the better when it comes to a Portland LGBT high schooler. I was completely astonished by how much life the QSA (Queer Straight Alliance) has on the entire Grant High School. When the QSA was first brought into my school sophomore year, it only consisted of a few students and was actually an after school meeting in the corner of the library. Watching an entire classroom fill up with so many members within minutes just confirmed the fact that I picked the right school to bring to light. I decided to go to Grant High School completely by what popped up first on my search engine. I really wanted to get up close and personal with how the LGBT youth is evolving into the ‘LGBT Youth of Today.’

Over the past several years, the subjects I’d been hearing and reading in the media sounded like nothing had changed from when I was that age. So when I arrived to start talking to the students, I was expected to immediately start with the subject of homophobia. I was prepared to hear about traumatic experiences and bullying, but it wasn’t like that at all. In fact, it was completely the opposite: The LGBT students and allies were teeming with praise for their high school saying, “Our club is very strong and tight knit, where we do so much awareness programs that Grant High School seems to be a safe and secure place for the LGBT community.”

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Not only did the impact of the QSA on the school surprise me, it was also the amount of straight ally members that were just as dedicated and involved than any other student in QSA. One ally even said about homophobia, “People just got more educated, they have realized they live Portland, and you can’t get away with saying things like that to people anymore.”

When I first got in contact with the groups organizer, Trisha Todd, who so happens to be Jinx Monsoons old art teacher, was more than willing to let the world see how far they have come. There ended up being moments during my visit that were really hard to fathom and put into reality. It was stunning to learn that Grant High School is the very first public school in the NATION to have a transgender / gender neutral bathroom to accomodate the amount of transgender youth in attendance. That moment of realization was substantial: I was standing in a building where trans equality is visibly taking place, and it was like watching history in the making.

LGBTA Youth

Photograph courtesy of from GSANetwork.

In other thoughtways, I wanted to investigate their views or impressions were of the once glamorized club culture. In my youth, I didn’t have all-ages clubs or the media showing me what the gays were doing, so I upon my coming of age, I craved to be a part of this mysterious culture, whatever that may be.

I thought I was going to hear a similar but altered version of my personal experiences, but once again, the response was not what I’d expected. This new brand of LGBT youth is not so heavily trend influenced. They feel that the clubland phase is way less prevelant than ever before. I tried finding out why, but if it wasn’t about the bad reputation caused by the alleged bad management at Escape NightClub, it was about the need for a change, some variety.

Everyone seemed to have a problem that the club kids were still doing the same thing, giving them less of a reason to go. I felt that they wanted an outlet that focused more around what the LGBT youth, as a whole, is actually into.

I am a painter. I think art is very much in the LGBT community because it’s such a great outlet and that adds to the community. Not everybody is a painter, musician, or a drag queen, but I think we are all creative in different ways, so we need to all come together to create this magnificent collection.

As a community, we must accept the fact that the LGBT life obviously doesn’t start at age 21, it starts the moment you have the want to create. As performers, role models, and viewers, we owe it to the future generations, and to ourselves, to create a place that allows us all to expose each other to different ways of expression creation.

www.gsanetwork.org

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Premiering Soon Here are some cool local events that’ll be taking place around our community. If you know of something premiere worthy, drop us a line!

Peep Show!

Hosted By Artemis Chase http://tinyurl.com/AprilPeepShow Wednesday April 9th !Doors open at 8:30pm Showtime at 9:30pm there is a $7 cover / $12 reserved seating at Analog Theatre (720 SE Hawthorne Blvd) Artemis Chase will be your dazzling hostess for the night (and rumor has it she is bringing something fabulously twisted to kick the night off)! And stay tuned over the next 2 weeks as the next roster of amazing Portland talent gets announced!

JELLY ROLL

premierepdx@gmail.com Saturday, April 19th from 6:00pm to 8:00pm, Admission is free at CC Slaughters: Join Ms. Bolivia Carmichaels and CC Slaughters Portland as we Host the Rose City Softball Association’s Opening Ceremonies. Come support your favorite team and friends as they compete in opening ceremony games. With DJ ROBB spinning the best remixes, light snacks, and great drink specials to boot!

BURLESCAPE

Hosted by Zora Phoenix https://www.facebook.com/ events/222650061263589/

Friday, April 11th at 9:00pm. Admission is $3.00 at Crush. FIERCE AND FAT AS FUCK! Dance, party, and celebrate your body!! With DJs Aurora and Chubby Chaser! SEXY gogos giving you HOT, CHUBBY DANCING ACTION and of course TREATS on every table! DON’T MISS IT! Only $3 cover!

DO IT! And as always we are LGBTQ and size friendly!

Saturday, April 19, 2014 Doors 9:00pm / Show 9:30pm / Crush Bar / $10 admission - 21 & over Our monthly boylesque bonanza, BURLESCAPE! is back featuring our manly monthly cast, ISAIAH (Burlesquire, BOYeurism, and Caravan of Glam) and dance man extraordinaire, TOD ALAN (Caravan of Glam), with burlesque by internationally known Fringe Benefits founder, ZORA VON PAVONINE, the musical stylings of ANDREW PHOENIX.

Rum Night Revolution: A Punk Cabaret

Easter Stoned-Day: An Intimate Evening with Coco Peru

http://tinyurl.com/JellyRollCrush

Hosted by Marla Singer

Hosted by Carla Rossi http://tinyurl.com/EasterStonedDay

Sunday April 13th, 8:00pm A night dedicated to the art and DIY spirit of Portland. A little anarchist, a little punk, and hella queer positive. A night where music, drag, and comedy come together and form a revolution.

Sunday, April 20th at 7:00pm at Rotture 21+ Admission is 10.00 GENDERF*CKING TAKEOVER PRESENTS: EASTER STONED-DAY. AN INTIMATE EVENING WITH MISS COCO PERU, HOSTED BY CARLA ROSSI. WITH PERFORMANCES BY PAGAN HOLLADAY, SHITNEY HOUSTON & MORE....EASTER WILL NEVER BE THE SAME!

First Pitch

Hosted by CC Slaughters http://tinyurl.com/FirstPitchCCs

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Premiering Soon Here are some cool local events that’ll be taking place around our community. If you know of something premiere worthy, drop us a line!

I’ve Got a Golden Tassel: Wonka Inspired Burlesque Hosted by Zora Phoenix https://www.facebook.com/ events/688124981229837/

Sunday, April 27, 2014 / Doors 6:00pm / Show 7:00pm at The Star Theater$12 general admission - $15 VIP - $50 VIP Table - 21 & over featuring a scrumdiddlyumptious cast of burlesquers: Wanda Bones, Scarlett Thrustmore, Ivana Mandalay, Honey Le Fleur, Vanity Thorn, Daphne Disorderly, Arabella de Lioncourt, with Tod Alan as Mike Teavee and Judy Patootie as Violet Beauregard.

The Battle of Flowers: A Drag and Talent Showcase

Hosted by Pagan Holladay http:/www.facebook.com/paganholladay Wednesday, April 30th at 9:30pm at Scandals 21+ Free. Pagan Holladay’s monthly Drag and Talent showcase welcomes a motley crew for a petal-pushing battle of flower power you won’t soon forget! Performances Include regular cast members Zora Phoenix, Tod Alan, Josh Hernandez, along with new guests every month.

Little Art/ Big Cause

Hosted by Scandals http://tinyurl.com/littleart-BIGCAUSE Thursday, May 1st at 8:00pm, Admission is free at Scandals, amazing night kicking off the 8x8 tiles that local artists are selling for charity.

Proceeds going to Peacock Productions and CAP.

facebook.com/premierepdx

premierepdx@gmail.com Cascade AIDS Project Art Auction http://www.capartauction.org/

Saturday, May 3rd at the Memorial Coliseum, tickets and more details at www.capartauction. org/ CAP’s Annual Art Auction is one of the agency’s two major annual fundraisers, the other being AIDS Walk Portland. Together these events are budgeted to raise about $950,000, or nearly 19% of CAP’s budget. We depend on the Art Auction not only to fund our work, but to build community in the fight against HIV and to keep awareness of the epidemic alive. This awareness is key to conquering the virus. Last year, 1,500 people attended the Art Auction.

Honorable Mention Logan Lynn Performing at ‘Mo-Wave Festival www.MoWaveFestival.com The 2014 ‘Mo-Wave Festival is happening in Seattle April 11-13 at Chop Suey, and this week the festival announced that the 2014 ‘Mo-Wave lineup will include a showcase with Portland queer indie pop musician (and former Dandy Warhols protégé) Logan Lynn.

Named “Best Festival” in 2013 by Seattle Weekly, ‘Mo-Wave is unmatched in its eclectic blend of art and diverse queer culture. This mix immediately struck a chord with audiences in its first year, and one only has to glance briefly at the 2014 lineup below to see that the ‘Mo-Wave crew are back at it again for year two.

Logan Lynn’s ‘Mo-Wave showcase will take place on Sunday, April 13th, at 4:00pm. Tickets and passes are on sale now MoWaveFestival.com PREMIERE April 5th, 2014

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my little hummingbird

Mâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Stepheson

by b r u c e r o s s h a i a c i m i a h s y b Photography

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M’ Stepheson

My Little Hummingbird Story by Bruce Ross Photography by Shai Micaiah

From performance to performance, she pollinates each new audience with raw passion and captivating dance. Lighthearted, energetic and focused are words that best describe the dancer that is M’liss Stephenson. I’ve had the pleasure of this woman for over a year and the excitement she brings to life is so contagious, she is sure to infect everyone around with a serious case of the giggles. Which is why I call her my little hummingbird.

M’liss Stephenson originally was reared in Indiana, Indianapolis by her father, mother and younger sister Corenn. At the tender young age of thirteen, her father was painfully claimed by the AIDS virus. Little M’liss was unaware of why he was sick until very near the end. The moment dawned on her during a trip to the hospital at a time when her father could no longer speak.

She was furious when told by her mother, but she was, “a complete daddy’s girl” and couldn’t stay upset for very long. When her father passed, the family members found it quite difficult to explain to her sister Corenn (age six at the time), what happened to her father. She later understood when reading a letter written to M’liss, and slowly realized why she wasn’t told at the time. Coping with such a profound loss, her mother attended a support group for women losing their partners to AIDS. To this day, her mother still cherishes those vital bonds and is in constant contact with many of thoe women.

When asking M’liss how she coped with that ordeal she replies, “I didn’t talk to [my mother] much about how I was doing. I felt like I

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needed to be strong for her and Corenn. I wrote a lot and danced with him in my mind everyday, our family was there for us and supportive. They never once turned away from him. I miss him terribly but he’s still my support system to this day.”

After graduating from Broad Ripple High School in 1997, she continued on to major in Modern Dance at the University of Utah. While attending a summer class at Alvin Ailey School in New York City, she then was asked to be a full time student. After school, M’liss moved to Portland and worked for the Multnomah Athletic Club. Three months later, she came across an audition advertisement for Polaris Dance company, a little-known start-up at the time.

She soon auditioned and was called several days later with an offer to join their troupe, which she gladly accepted.

Initially, the balancing act between MAC cosmetics and Polaris was tireless. They would rehearse anywhere they could, at basketball courts, inside warehouses, and parking lots.

They’d put on a couple big shows each year with multiple galas, including at the Art Museum, and performances for Northwest Airlines. She describes this time of her life as, “just constant dedication.” In 2009, the Polaris school of dance finally opened, and after 8 years of hard work, M’liss is a proud, paid, employee of the thoroughly renowned Polaris Dance Theater.

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M’ Stepheson

Polaris is very LGBT friendly and is dedicated to contributing to the greater Portland tapestry as a whole. According to M’liss, Artistic Director Robert Guitron’s vision focuses centrally on community. Polaris enjoys participating in such community-oriented events as the Gravity Festival. This free celebration is a three-day endeavor that brings performers of varying styles and passions together for an aweinspiring “artistic collision”. If classes are going on at the time, people can join in or watch. It’s a fun, energetic way to bring passionate people together for a joyful expression of inspiration and connectivity.

When M’liss can’t be found at a rehearsal or performing at a festival, she’s probably back in the studio, teaching children how to dance!

Adorably dubbed the “Tiny Toes,” these little kids range in age from 3 to 5 and taught the basics of artistic movement by showing their bodies how to “just have fun.”

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M’ Stepheson

When asked what it was like working with the little ones, she affectionately describes how wonderful a sight they are to behold. Sprinkles of tottleing little creatures clamor about the space with their cute smiles and precious outfits. These enchanting young things in tutus, tiaras, wings and glitter will, “wave around a wand if I let them.” Using animal gestures as a teaching tool, she inspires ideas about movement and size, speed and levels, and gets them off their feet to use their bodies. They even get to color and have a DELICIOUS Starburst candy at the end of each class. (So Jealous.) I can only imagine what the children must think of her!

Recollecting on my experiences with this lovely woman, I’m immensely grateful that Portland has the privilege holding this talented aerialist in its midst. The magic of her rhythmically tuning body to music, with a face of pure concentration is a truly divine sight to behold. My little hummingbird, Miss M’liss Stephenson, is a shining example of grace, heart, and beauty incarnate... and I’m so glad that I can finally share her story with all of you.

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Mâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Stepheson

facebook.com/mlissstephenson

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www.polarisdance.org

Dear Bolivia: Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve recently moved to Portland from living down south with an extremely conservative family, how does one prepare and fully detox?

Dear Bolivia: HELP! How do I stop becoming a compulsive bullshitter?!

Yours truly, Pinnochio

Sincerely, Southern Transplant

Ask Bolivia Dear transplant,

Dear Pinocchio,

Welcome home!!! In order to fully

Grow a pair. Quit trying to impress

detox from the south all you have to do is open up and be yourself now! We here in Portland are very excepting people. Your new friends and your new family are just waiting for you to be you!

everyone. Trust and believe that you are impressive enough. People are smarter than you think, and they catch on to your bullshit!

Then they donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t like you. Then you have no friends. People are smarter than you think.

When you tell them the truth they like you, and then you have friends!

Love, facebook.com/queenbolivia

s l e a h c i m r a C Bolivia bolivia.carmichaels@gmail.com

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#PremierePDX These are some #PremierePDX tags that we’ve found on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.

Thanks! And, by the way... #HeresWhatWeThink Don’t forget to hashtag and to follow these awesome people!

#WelcomeBackSabel #ScitiesWithTitties #YAAASSSS

#Skintillating #YoudLookBetterNaked #SixDegreesOfAndrewShayde

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