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July 2nd, 2008

Another Pride month come and gone…

Pride Mosaic

As June comes to a close, we here at Q Center can take a collective deep breath and be thankful for yet another fabulously successful Pride month–so many great events, so many wonderful personal interactions, and so much FUN!

We drive home the point often, but we’ll continue to say it:
Q Center could not accomplish all the great things we do here without your support.

The hours you put into this organization and the generosity of your giving are the foundations of Q Center and we are grateful to all of our volunteers and friends in the LGBTQ community for making Q Center what it is–an awesome place that is open to all of us.

And we’d like to say an extra special “Thanks!” to Terry Bean, the Gay and Lesbian Yellow Pages, and the Equity Foundation for their fantastic sponsorship of all of our Pride events. We would also like to thank Ron Mitchell at Boxxes/RedCap for again helping Q Center raise $5,000 at this year’s Stark Street Block Party and the great folks at Salon Q for hosting Salon Q for Q, a terrific benefit that raised $1000 for your Q Center!

June 13th, 2008

July 6th: Knit One, Purl…You?

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Are you aware that knitters, crocheters, and other fiber artists meet at Q Center every Sunday from 2pm-5pm?

Whether you’re about to start in on that first scarf or are putting the finishing touches on a sweater, this is the social group for you.

During these early days of Spring, this group is a great chance to both get out of the house and meet some new people.

-Totally informal and totally fun-

June 11th, 2008

July 8th: Foster Care, Mentor and Adoption Presentation

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Q Center invites all those looking to foster, mentor, or adopt children.

PhotobucketBoys & Girls Aid presents a comprehensive discussion moderated by several presenters from, representing 3 different programs; Mentoring, Foster Care, and Adoption.

Joseph Kern, Foster Care Outreach Coordinator, will give a brief agency overview of the Boys & Girls Aid.

Elaine Monterastelli, Mentor Outreach Coordinator, will then speak.

Brook Puckett our Wendy’s Wonderful Kids Adoption Recruiter will close with a brief program description.

After the program, you will meet Tia and Crystal Encinas, who’ve adopted 2 girls through Boys & Girls Aid, and will talk about their experience working with Boys & Girls Aid.

Tuesday, July 8th, 2008
6:30pm - 8:30
Q Center
69 SE Taylor Ave at SE Water Ave, Portland
FREE

June 8th, 2008

July 9th: QLiterati

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QLiterati! is hosted by Diane and Jacob Anderson-Minshall. Diane is Executive Editor at Curve, the nation’s largest lesbian magazine, and Jacob writes the nationally syndicated column, TransNation. Debuting in June, 2008, QLiterati! is dedicated to promoting established local LGBTQ authors; while also attracting the occasional literary superstar and highlighting emerging writers during the open mic.

The Q Center and Curve magazine, are proud to announce
July’s QLiterati!—Portland’s second Wednesday queer and trans literary event. We’re delighted that the July 9th event features local LGBTQ writers Eowan Wood, author of the novel Naked in the Rain; Aaron Raz Link, Lambda Literary award finalist and co-author of the literary memoir What Becomes You; and Hilary Kyle, author of the novel The Antonym of Apathy.

Last month’s premier event attracted an engaged crowd who enjoyed free snacks and non-alcoholic drinks, fabulous door prizes and cookies awarded to audience members who posed questions to the authors. Even requests for an open mic participant to share his culinary secrets were granted cookie privileges. All this and more for the reasonable price of FREE—although donations are welcome.

Oh, and if you’d like to perform in QLiterati, simply Drop a line to Diane.

Wednesday, July 9th, 2008
7:00-9:00pm
Q Center
69 SE Taylor Ave at SE Water Ave, Portland
FREE

June 5th, 2008

July 11th: Just Out Photo Contest Grand Opening

CameraThis year’s Just Out Amateur Photo Contest turned up hundreds of entrants in travel, abstract, people, pets, and environment categories–and many of them will be here for you to view.

A photo selection committee pawed thought portraits and snapshots to select the best in each category and a Grand Prize winner. Come to see which photos were selected as “Just Out Staff Favorites”.

There are a ton of great photos, make sure to get here early!

The show will be up all month.

Join us for the Opening Reception and meet the photographers!

Friday, July 11th, 2008
6pm - 8pm
Q Center
69 SE Taylor Ave at SE Water Ave, Portland
FREE

June 2nd, 2008

July 15th: Late Awakenings

Late Awakenings is a support group for women who question their orientation or who come out and identify as lesbian later in life. That tends to be anywhere from 35 to 65, but anyone is welcome at any age.

We are simply a group of women who have been through that experience and we share our stories and our myriad solutions with anyone who wants to know how we coped.

Most of us were married at one time, many of us had children, a large percentage of us came from very conservative religious backgrounds, and all of us had that feeling of not knowing where to turn for any kind of support or advice. We won’t give you any advice either, but you can hear how a variety of women coped with this momentous change in their lives, and figure out the path you need to take for yourself.

Confidentiality is respected.

Tuesday, July 15th, 2008
7:00-9:00pm
Q Center
69 SE Taylor Ave at SE Water Ave, Portland
FREE

May 31st, 2008

July 17th: Gender Queery

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Issues around Gender identity are becoming increasingly prevalent, and Q Center realizes people’s want and need to be doing something about them.

This is a discussion group for trans, genderqueer, folks outside-the-gender-binary, and allies. Every meeting has topical discussions followed by informal social downtime.

This is the discussion group is for all unconventional gender topics.


Thursday, July 17th, 2008
6:30-8:00pm
Q Center
69 SE Taylor Ave at SE Water Ave, Portland
FREE

May 28th, 2008

July 20th: Tranz Guyz

This group is for Trans guys and men, intersex, genderqueer, questioning folks who were assigned female at birth.
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Join your moderator, Rej, for a discussion group
in a laid-back environment, addressing various topics such as coming out, hormones, surgery, “passing”, societal pressure, dating, and relationships. Medical and emotional health,
family issues, and sex questions can also be addressed.

Come meet new friends and discuss what’s on your mind.

(Every 3rd Sunday)
Sunday, July 20th, 2008
6:00-8:00pm
Q Center
69 SE Taylor Ave at SE Water Ave, Portland
FREE

May 27th, 2008

July 23rd: Small Biz Marketing 101 (presented by CauseIt)

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Get the word out about your business with our half-day workshop!

Having a great business is not enough to bring clients in the door. you can have a pitcher of the best lemonade in the world sitting on your porch, but until someone knows they can buy a glass from you, you won’t have a customer.

Learn about print and web marketing, the basics of p.r. and more! networking opportunities included!

Wednesday, July 23rd, 2008
2:00-6:00pm
Q Center
69 SE Taylor Ave at SE Water Ave, Portland
$34

877.71.cause | www.causeit.org
pre-register by phone or web today to reserve your spot!
May 27th, 2008

July 24th: Queer Film School movie showing of “Celluloid Closet”

Q Center is proud to partner with the Portland Lesbian and Gay Film Festival for Queer Film School, featuring some of the best and most influential queer cinema every made.

Celluloid ClosetThe movies are over 100 years old, and gay movie characters have been with us since the very beginning—even during the Production Code years, when “sex perversion” was explicitly forbidden. From comic sissies to lesbian vampires, from pathetic queens to sadistic predators, Hollywood has both reflected and defined how we think about homosexuality—and about what it means to be a man or a woman. With clips from over 100 Hollywood movies, and interviews with many of the filmmakers and actors who created them (including Tom Hanks, Shirley Maclaine, Susan Sarandon, Whoopi Goldberg and Gore Vidal), The Celluloid Closet is an epic story—by turns surprising, hilarious and disturbing. The Celluloid Closet makes us see Hollywood images in a whole new light, exploding sexual myths and examining our attitudes about sexuality and sex roles as they evolved through the 20th century.

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Thursday, July 24th, 2008
8pm-9:30pm
Q Center
69 SE Taylor Ave at SE Water Ave, Portland
FREE

May 26th, 2008

July 27th: Q-Cycle

Q-Cycle is our monthly bicycle group.

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Join Micah, your Q-cycle guide, for an enjoyable ride around the city’s finest pedal-friendly destinations. The route changes each time, but rest assured the terrain will be suitable for all skill levels. Don’t forget to bring the appropriate riding gear, including sunscreen.

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When the bike ride is over, the group returns back to Q Center for coffee, nibblies, and social downtime.

In fact, everyone’s encouraged to bring a snack to share.

*The Last Sunday of the Month*
Sunday, July 27, 2008
2:00pm - 3:30pm
Meet outside Q Center
69 SE Taylor Ave at SE Water Ave, Portland
FREE

May 25th, 2008

July 29th: Bingo with Maria!

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Q Center welcomes one of Portland’s most glamorous divas, the divine Rose Empress XXXVI Maria and the fantastic members of the Imperial Sovereign Rose Court! Maria is our “hostess with the most-ess” and is joined monthly by a bevy of beauties from the Rose Court as co-hosts.

Yes, m'lady...

We are excited to join forces with Maria and the Rose Court and we especially appreciate Their Most Imperial Majesties, Rose Emperor XXXIV Hollywood Nightengale Foxx and Rose Empress XLIX The Surreal Fiona Flash Foxx for their support of Bingo!

Just look how much fun we’ve had in the past–Join the crowd!

Tuesday, July 29th, 2008
7:00-9:00pm
Q Center
69 SE Taylor Ave at SE Water Ave, Portland
$5 per card lasts 8 games

March 15th, 2008

Previous Event: Q Literati Begins!

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Q Center is delighted to kick-off QLiterati!, a Monthly LGBTQ Reading Series at the Q Center Hosted by Diane (of Curve Magazine) and Jacob Anderson-Minshall.

What is QLiterati!?
A LGBTQ reading series, QLiterati! will feature emerging and underground writers and spoken word artists. QLiterati! events will offer an open mic, gourmet snacks, raffle prizes, multiple readings, audience Q&A’s and the occasional literary superstar to draw a crowd.

And what better “occasional literary superstars” to start this exciting series other than Marc Acito, author of the new book “Attack of the Theater People” and also “How I Paid for College”!
Kathy Belge and Gina Daggett, authors of “Lipstick and Dipstick Guide to Lesbian Relationships“, Jake Anderson-Minshall, author of “Men Speak Out” & “Trans People in Love“).

And that list doesn’t even include an open mic with Sossitty from Dirty Queer, one of the trans writers from Write Around Portland and an up-and-coming gay male writer named Jason.

This is obviously going to be a literary evening you are NOT going to want to miss–See you there.

Wednesday, June 11th, 2008
7:00-9:00pm
Q Center
69 SE Taylor Ave at SE Water Ave, Portland
FREE

March 14th, 2008

Previous Event: Game Night with Don and Julia

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Holly cow, Board Game Night at Q Center is back and it’s more popular than ever!
Come alone and make friends, or come with a group. Either or, with the enchanting Don and Julia as your hosts, this is a great social evening of informal competition, sure to help you pass an evening.

    Cranium or Scene-It?
    Chess or Scattergories?
    Pictionary in teams?
    Or feel free to bring your own game and teach the group

You make the call…and the first move.
Game on!

Tuesday, July 1st, 2008
7:30-9:30pm
Q Center
69 SE Taylor Ave at SE Water Ave, Portland
FREE

March 4th, 2008

Previous Event: Bunko for the Single Ladies

Bunko for the ladies!

Bunco is a great way to meet other people. First, it’s a fun game. And second, it has you constantly moving around giving you the opportunity to chat (flirt?) with lots of people. Don’t worry if you haven’t played before, it’s easy to learn.

Games begin at 5:30 p.m. and finish at about 7:30 p.m. Cost is $5.00, with partial proceeds going to the Q Center. There will be cash prizes for the most Bunco’s, most games won, and, everyone’s favorite, least games won.

Feel free to bring along your own beverage or snack.

For additional information contact Marty Davis at marty@justout.com