Name: Lisamarie
Location: Portland, OR
I Identify as…. Proud Ally
What does Pride mean to you?
It’s a celebration of humanity; it’s a reminder to people within the community that they are valued, appreciated, loved. Our society would not be complete without queer folx.
How do you identify, and how do you see yourself within the LGBTQIA+ community?
I am a cis-female heterosexual woman and vocal (loud) ally. As a liberal white woman (who can be very problematic, right?) I find opportunities to amplify queer voices to an audience they themselves may not reach. I have had the opportunity to know so many folx who have been separated from their families and bring them into mine. I love magical people!
When did you first attend a Pride event? Can you share that experience?
My great friend, Joey Klei, invited me to Pride in June 2016. I had never attended a Pride event before because I didn’t consider it to be my space to occupy; I wanted to be invited into that space. And I was! Of course it was a blast!
How do you feel when you attend LGBTQIA+ events like Pride?
Lucky.
What is the importance to you that Pride represents?
It’s a reminder of all the souls who fought and died for the right to exist in public places. We can never forget Stonewall, (and the uprisings that pre-dated Stonewall), Black Cat Tavern, ActUp, the AIDS crisis. Our community here in Portland was hit hard in the ’80’s, and I will never forget my dear friends lost.
When talking about community, how has it impacted your life?
I’m in musical theatre here in Portland so I have had queer folx in my chosen family my entire adult life. My world wouldn’t be the same without these loving, caring, talented, generous humans. I can’t imagine life without them in it.
What can we do as a community to bring us together more and make us stronger?
I really appreciate the use of more inclusive language (queer folx) that brings everyone together under a big umbrella without losing the uniqueness of everyone’s identity. I would love to see the world move toward more inclusivity, calling in rather than calling out. I have a queer adult child and we came up with “daughterson”. They like that.
How do you see our community transforming in the next 5 to 10 years?
My hope would be to see more queer representation in places of power: the classroom, higher education, the board room, the House, the Senate, the White House. Pete Buttigieg, I’m lookin’ at you!
What comments do you have for the other letters of our community (L)(G)(B)(T)(Q)(I)(A)(+)?
Keep going, y’all are doing fantastic! I’m walking right along beside you.
Any comments that you want people to hear regarding Pride and our community?
Be respectful of Pride spaces. You are a guest there, please behave like one. That said, I always feel welcomed and appreciated by the community, and that has blessed my life. My daughterson has taught me more about knowing yourself and loving yourself than I ever could have learned on my own. Listen to the queer folx; you might learn something.
