Hot Situation - Oregon

Gay Marriage, my Mother, and Gossip’s Beth Ditto July 11, 2008

Filed under: Hot Situation - Oregon, Hot Situation - Queer women's travel. — admin @ 1:22 pm

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Gossip Marriage, my mom and Yr Mangled Heart. Ya’ll don’t know my mom. Mother’s day is as important to her as Christmas is to a seven year old. She loves to Mom. Let’s turn ‘Mom’ into a verb for second. When it comes to gay civil rights issues, she adores Moming me and all my friends. She becomes Mom to the Max. Margaritas with Mom is the name of her therapy session that she holds for all my friends who’s Moms don’t talk about gay issues. So the morning same sex marriage was ruled a fundamental right on May 15, 2008, she was on the phone with me planning my wedding (I’m not engaged) and asking me if any of my friends were getting married (she wants to make sure she’s invited of course). Her compassion and excitement left me teary-eyed eyed but celebratory, and I spent the next 6 minutes dancing around my kitchen to the Gossip’s civil-rights anthem Standing in the way of Control (I played it twice).

I have several friends from college who have since gotten “gay-married” - these are same ones that introduced me to Gossip in college while taking women’s study classes and steadfastly listening to Riot Girl bands together. It was also the year we were of age to vote in our first presidential election - Bush won. It was a major bummer. Beth has said that the lyrics to Standing in the way of Control were written as a response to the United States government’s decision to deny gay people the right to marriage. She says, of the song, “Nobody in the States was that surprised or shocked by what Bush did, but it made everyone I know feel helpless and cheated.” Beth Ditto was one of our inspirations and idols before she was all that ‘famous.’ And I think Mom and Beth would have a riot together at a Margaritas with mom session.

Please enjoy our new episode of Rock-Star Guide to the Galaxy with Brace Paine of Gossip. It was produced in a celebratory spirit on the weekend after Mother’s Day and after another civil rights battle was won. Thanks for the inspiration Gossip! For more on the making of this episode visit the Rhapsody blog.

Going on Gaycation in Portland, Oregon May 22, 2008

Filed under: Hot Situation - Oregon, Hot Situation - Queer women's travel. — admin @ 11:32 am

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Running around Portland with Nathan/Brace of the band Gossip was as much fun as one of those all day party trolleys (a San Fransisco special treat) filled with radical people and rock stars. Unfortunately Beth couldn’t make the Ringside for dinner; she had gone down South to visit her family. In her honor, we partied “Gaycation” style anyways.

IMG_3123.JPG, originally uploaded by gaycation.

Speaking of family, we ran into Chelsea Starr who came up from SF to Portland to visit her sister. While there she guest DJed at the hot homo club Gaycation thrown by DJ Snowtiger. I have to say, I really appreciate all the girls and their Portland fashion. Although, I think the heat wave had something to do with all the cute shorts. The space, Holoscene, is a huge where house with high ceilings that sprawls over two rooms. So, if don’t feel like rubbing up on folks, you can step into the other room and have your own dance circle.

The next morning was a Southern treat at a breakfast cafe named the Screen Door, Aubree (DJ Snowtiger) favorite Sunday eatery. We found out a few things from Aubree, but most importantly if you want to go to a river in Portland for some sun and a cool dip and you don’t want to get hit on and harassed by the duderama, then head to Sauvies. It’s the river spot full of gay naked pretty people.

IMG_0092, originally uploaded by the great hamburger.

Chicken and Waffles - The Screen Door

Rockstar Guide to the Galaxy with Brace Paine of Gossip - Portland, Oregon May 19, 2008

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“get it while it’s hot.” And hot it was. Kickin it in Portland with Gossip during the west coast heat wave.

Portland with Brace of Gossip, originally uploaded by shaevoyuer.

We flew in late Thursday night and parked ourselves at the hip downtown Jupiter motel where we relaxed from our travels around and outdoor fire with a late night cocktail. In the morning we met Nathan (Brace Paine) at the first stop on his rock-star list: Voodoo Doughnuts. This doughnut shop is known as much for its peanut butter glazed thingmadoo craziness as it is for the Swahili lessons they host. About the time Nathan was describing the contest where men compete to see who’s package can hold the most doughnuts, I realized how cute and photogenic he is. The rest of the day felt like taking magazine photos of him against colorful Portland backdrops.

Our next stop was a jog through Powell’s books (it’s very large!) where he took us to his favorite sections including Zines and an aisle with dream-analysis books. You’ll have to wait for the video to hear what’s been on his subconscious mind. After that, we headed to Local 35, a designer clothing store, and the huge maze of vintage amazingness – House.
In the evening we arrived at the Ringside Steak house for some red wine, bow tied servers, and fanciness (Although Nathan is quick to share that the reason this is one of his favorite Portland eateries is the meal deal you get before 5:45pm and after 9:00pm - “It’s the only place in Portland to get quality food late night.”)
Last but not least, we met him at his club night Situations at Dunes. This party is obviously a go-to spot because not only did the The Kills guest DJ late night, but I ran into a friend visiting from Seattle 3 hours away that I hadn’t seen in over a year!

Portland with Brace of Gossip, originally uploaded by shaevoyuer.

Girls Rock! The Movie - Your riot grrrl dream come true March 26, 2008

Filed under: Hot Situation - Oregon, Queer Films you gotta see. — admin @ 9:06 am

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Please go see this movie for inspiration and some tears of joy. Did you know that only 22% of musical performers are women? Would that be the singer in a 4 person band? Maybe, but this movie is about how girls can rock, either as singers or drummers, and also as themselves. In some warehouse in Portland, Oregon lives a summer camp that runs one session a year with counselors and contributors such as Beth Ditto of The Gossip and Cari Brownstein of Sleater Kinney. This is the girls camp of the riot grrrl generation - exploring issues such as confidence, self-esteem, self love, body image, and that girls can do anything boys can. I got welled up too many times. Beth talks about singing and how emotional it is, and then has 2o girls screaming “girls rock.” I got goose bumps.

Cornelius, Oregon - Gay or not Gay March 6, 2008

Filed under: Hot Situation - Oregon, Hot Situation - Queer women's travel. — admin @ 11:54 am

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I’d like to start a new game titled - Gay or not Gay. Being that my interest is queer identity and culture in relationship to location, I’m very curious about the towns and cities that my readers come from. One of the fun things about a blog is you get to see where the hits are coming from, so today I would like to ponder Cornelius, Oregon. I’ve been hit by Cornelius!

“Cornelius, home of the annual “Blueberry Festival” and nicknamed “Oregon’s Family Town”, is located about 25 miles east of Portland in the heart of the Tualatin Valley and Washington County. The current population of Cornelius is approx. 7,700 and the primary industry is still agriculture, but the little town is fast becoming a bedroom community for Portland-area businesses.” Grove.net. I read that the population is up to about 10,000, so if about 10 percent might be gay, we are looking at 1,000. But I have a theory, if you are from a small town and end up hella gay, chances are you might move. So, how many gays are left in Cornelius each year? Is the percentage down to about 7% or 3%? Here is a great educational video I found that might help us find the lesbos in smaller towns. It’s pretty silly.