History of the Gay Press in Portland, a panel presentation examining the power of the LGBT press to inform and celebrate the LGBT community in Portland.
This panel took place on Thursday, January 23, 2014 at Portland State University.
Positive coverage of LGBT issues and events was non-existent in Portland’s mass media until 1970 when the alternative paper, Willamette Bridge, began printing some articles. The next year, Oregon’s first specifically gay newspaper, The Fountain, was launched. Some Portland LGBT publications that followed included NW Gay Review, the Oregon Gay Rights Report, The Northwest Fountain, Cascade Voice, Rag Times, Just Out, Lavender Network and PQ Monthly. These publications and others helped organize Portland-area LGBT people in their attempts to build community, gain equality, counter anti-gay political measures, and respond to AIDS.
All our panelists were involved in one or more of the above publications.
Rupert Kinnard’s extensive career in publication design began with Just Out as one of the original staff members where he helped the publication win the National Gay Press Association award for best overall design in 1983. In 1996, while working as art director for the Skanner, Rupert won an award for best graphic and typographical excellence by the West Coast Black Journalist Association.
Renee LaChance covered lesbian events as the women’s editor for The Northwest Fountain and served as the editor of The Cascade Voice and was co-founder and publisher of Just Out. Pride Northwest has presented her with two awards: the 2000 Spirit of Pride Award and the Pioneer Award both for her work with Just Out.
Paula Nielsen served as a feature writer and columnist for the LGBT press from 1976 through most of the 1990′s. Paula was Religion Editor for the NW Fountain, and also wrote feature news articles. For the Cascade Voice, Eagle Newsmagazine, City Open Press, City Week, Oregon Gay News, and Alternative Connection, Paula wrote a column called “Thoughts From Paula”.
History of Social Justice Organizing is an ongoing series of presentations by activists and scholars on a wide variety of social justice organizing topics in Portland and elsewhere. The program is cosponsored by the Center for Women, Politics & Policy whose mission is to increase women’s leadership in public policy through targeted teaching and community service programs.
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