July/August 2025: A Summer of Socializing.
We’ve arrived at that time of year when the days are mostly hot and dry. School is out for the summer, and it seems almost everyone’s looking to chill out, literally and figuratively.
It’s true that we carry a lot of stress in our daily lives. It’s also true that our stress levels have spiked this year because of court rulings that haven’t gone our way, anti-trans legislation at the state level, and a federal administration alternately hostile or indifferent to the LGBTQ+ community.
Yet it’s also true that in these times it’s more important than ever that you find your people. That you band together for the people you love and the values you embrace. That you celebrate your common ground in ways that are safe and fun.
With that in mind, I hope that every one of you in our PFLAG Portland community takes time to recharge during these summer months.
Whether you head for the beach or the forest, a museum, a mountain lake or a hiking trail, or simply seek out your favorite shady spot in the Portland area, be sure to save some dates to hang out with your PFLAG Portland peeps in the coming weeks.
We’ll be tabling at Portland Pride on July19-20 and proudly carrying our PFLAG banner in the Portland Pride Parade onSunday the 20th. If you’ve never been part of our marching contingent, this is the year to show up, to join us in declaring loudly and proudly that we will always be there to support our transgender children and everyone else in our LGBTQ+ community.
You’ll bring joy and smiles to everyone on the parade route as you hand out our colorful “PFLAG Loves Me!” stickers — and you’ll feel pretty damn good yourself.
Tabling, meanwhile, is a great way to not only spread the word about PFLAG but to also make a new friend or go deeper with someone you may have met recently at a chapter meeting or support circle.
We’ve also got three fundraisers planned in July and August, along with a family-friendly picnic at one of Portland’s best-loved parks.
- Saturday, July 12. Drag queen brunch at Freeland Spirits in northwest Portland, 12-3 pm. Enjoy cocktails, catered food and fabulous local queens at this woman-owned distillery, knowing a portion of ticket sales will benefit our chapter.
- Thursday, July 24. Pride Night with the Hops at Hillsboro Park, 6:35 pm. We will be tabling at the Hops baseball game against the Tri City Dust Devils. Plus, we’ll be seated together in a reserved section near home plate, and a portion of our ticket sales will stay with us. Wear your Pride clothing and cheer me on as I throw out the first pitch!
- Sunday, Aug. 17. Queer storytelling at BDSM Brewing Co. in Hillsboro, 1-2:30 pm. LGBTQ+ authors and allies will read from essays they contributed to a new Defiant Moments anthology. Proceeds from book sales will benefit our chapter. We’ll have food prepared by a queer-owned caterer and a happy hour immediately following so you can schmooze with authors and friends.
- Saturday, Aug. 23. Annual picnic. Laurelhurst Park in southeast Portland, 11 am-1 pm. We’ll have games and activities and provide water and non-alcoholic beverages. You need only bring yourself and your own lunch (easier this way with food allergies).Together we’ll enjoy each other’s company at one of the city’s most scenic parks.
It’s been a jam-packed first half of the year. I couldn’t be prouder of the strides we’ve made in virtually every area of our volunteer-driven organization. We are collaborating with new and familiar nonprofit partners. We’re presenting terrific guest speakers and holding space for one another at our support circles and trans-focused discussions. We’re showing up all over the metro area to tell our story. And we’re working at the board level to sustain the quality of leadership needed to keep this 43-year-old organization healthy and relevant.
Important work, yes. But it’s also time to take a breath. There will be no Chapter Meeting or Support Circle in August. We’ll resume our regular schedule in September.
In the meantime, I look forward to seeing many of you at these aforementioned events.
With gratitude,
George Rede