Portland Pride Festival & Parade - I'll be there!

[mallard500]

One of the larger GLBT Festivals & Parades on the west coast (US) will be held in Portland Oregon on June 16 & 17.  The weather forcast looks to be pretty good, with the weekend predicted to be fairly day (with possible exception of Sunday morning), yet not boiling hot - yay!

Festival events, including two stages with music/entertainment, festive food and drink, many Vendors, and LOTS of people of all walks will be going on at Waterfront Park from noon to 6pm both Saturday and Sunday.

The Parade is scheduled for Sunday, with Festival events opening once again at noon at Waterfront Park.  The parade is Portlands 2nd larget parade, beat only by the annual Rose Festival parade.  Last years attendance during the weekend was estimated to be between 60 to 80 thousand.

As a side note, my wife and I will be there as Vendors, so please stop by "Family Pride" and say Howdy if you wish.  Just look for the booth with all the knifes and other sharp things, (my side of the business...).  My wifes side include tee-shirts, buttons, and bumper stickers that she designs on many different political themes, including Transgenders pride buttons, etc.

Trying not to make this a business announcement, hence no URLs, but if you want to say hello, that's how to find us!  Hope to see lots of Transfolk there, Portlands always been a very positive place, with very strong roots between  the various communities.

In Pride,

Scott Mallard Huber
Mallard500

[gennee]

I hear that Portland is a TG friendly place. Enjoy your time at Portland Pride.

Gennee

[Melissa]

Hi, I was there, but I hadn't seen this post prior to going.  Maybe you saw me.  My girlfriend bought me a knife there as a gift.  I wonder if that was from your booth.

[Rashelle]

Hmmmmmmmmm I think I may of bought Melissa a folding knife with a purplish handle from y'all. Lets see the blade was stiff y'all oiled it and I was going to take it home and loosen the screws. I was the blonde that said she makes knives, just hadn't started making folding knives yet.
Rashelle

[mallard500]

Right on...!  Yeah, that was us...  I remember the blade - it's a new one for us, and I was hoping it would find a good home - looks like it did!   

I remember ya' all well, and hope the blade works well for Melissa.  Best of luck in your own knife making - that's a skill to really be admired!

Personally, I've always regarded Portland as a pretty TS friendly city, both before and after transitioning myself.  And the Pride activities always have a good strong TS involvement.  This year, there was even a "mini-march" within the Dyke march, so that the TS community could express it's own particular identity.  Not sure how it went, as we were busy elsewhere, but it was good to see some options being explored.

Take care, and perhaps we'll run into ya' all elsewhere!   

Scott
Mallard500

Hmmmmmmmmm I think I may of bought Melissa a folding knife with a purplish handle from y'all. Lets see the blade was stiff y'all oiled it and I was going to take it home and loosen the screws. I was the blonde that said she makes knives, just hadn't started making folding knives yet.
Rashelle

[gennee]

How was Portland Pride, Mallard?

Gennee

[Melissa]

Right on...!  Yeah, that was us...  I remember the blade - it's a new one for us, and I was hoping it would find a good home - looks like it did!   

I remember ya' all well, and hope the blade works well for Melissa.  Best of luck in your own knife making - that's a skill to really be admired!

Unfortunately, the blade is not straight (now why doesn't that surprise me with a knife bought at a pride festival ), it appears to be mounted at an angle.  When the knife folds up, it rubs against the side.  I think that's why it doesn't open or close easily.  I'll see if I can fix it, but I don't know.

[mallard500]

How was Portland Pride, Mallard?

Gennee

I found it very positive, personally.  But then, as you said, Portland's long had a pretty good rep in terms of a strong TS community and the various alternative communities working together.  Were you able to attend...?  (Not sure where you live, so pray forgive me if you're far, far away...!)   

After all these years of community involvement though, the thing I find the most refreshing is the increasingly open-mindness about gender issues that I see amoung younger folks.  Not only are many TS folks coming out younger in life, and much more confidently; but other folks, both straight and gay, seem to be much more accepting and comfortable with a fluid gender world.  It's wonderful to see men and women at Pride for example, who aren't TS, but are flaunting/exploring/defying traditional gender roles, even beyond the typical bounds of simply being Gay, Lesbian or Bi.

Add to that the fact that both the county and city has very positive policies regarding TS rights, it makes Portland a pretty decent place. No community will ever be perfect, but on the whole, I feel very positive about transitioning here.

Take care all!

Scott
Mallard500

[gennee]

A family matter kept me from going to New York City pride. I was going to march too. Maybe next year. I attended Brooklyn Pride where I live and it was nice.

Gennee

[mallard500]

Ah, but any Pride event attended is always a good one - in a way, going to Pride in your home town is probably a very cathartic things, and hopefully one that you enjoyed!   

Perhaps next year in Portland then - see ya' all then!   

Scott
Mallard500

A family matter kept me from going to New York City pride. I was going to march too. Maybe next year. I attended Brooklyn Pride where I live and it was nice.

Gennee