Performances
- October 10-11, 2020: National Coming Out Day
- August 29, 2020: Say It With Me: Black Lives Matter
- February 22, 2020: Igniting Voices
- October 20, 2019: Coming Out as You
- October 12, 2019: Our Stories
- September 14, 2019: Resilient Voices
- June 8, 2019: Generations of Pride
- June 2, 2019: Prideful Voices Vancouver
- May 4, 2019: Rewired, Not Retired
- February 14, 2019: How We Met
- November 8, 2018: Holidaze
- September 26, 2018: The Pixie Project—Rescue Is for Lovers
- September 13, 2018: Schooled
- May 10, 2018: Audacious Aging
- March 8, 2018: Nevertheless, She Persisted
October 10-11, 2020: National Coming Out Day
National Coming Out Day is celebrated annually since 1988 to raise awareness of the LGBT+ community and ongoing struggle for civil rights. Our Bold Voices created a special experience by creating free live broadcasts of local storytellers, musicians and live Q&A.
Many thanks to Regional Arts and Culture Council, AARP of Oregon and End HIV Oregon for their sponsorship.
2020 National Coming Out Day: Jim Sutherland
https://vimeo.com/466790557 Jim keeps history alive by telling us about his cross country journey during the early stage of the AIDS epidemic. #jimsutherland #nationalcomingoutday2020
2020 National Coming Out Day: Chase Garber
https://vimeo.com/466790516 Chase shares his original and authentic music with passion and emotional candor. Learn more of Chase’s music at https://chasegarber.com/home. #chasegarber #nationalcomingoutday2020
2020 National Coming Out Day: Jade Schey
https://vimeo.com/466790529 Jade providers a powerfully vulnerable story of self discovery from age 11 and on. Learn more about Jade’s music at https://www.soulfuladrenaline.com. #jadeschey #nationalcomingoutday2020
2020 National Coming Out Day: Brooke Gelfand
https://vimeo.com/466790498 Brooke is a bi-racial, Jewish lesbian and tells a powerful story of courage and healing. #brookegelfand #nationalcomingoutday2020
August 29, 2020: Say It With Me: Black Lives Matter
Our Bold Voices’ first webinar!
February 22, 2020: Igniting Voices
The Eliot Center hosts Igniting Voices, bringing the audience experiences and stories from trans and non-binary people, and featuring Acchord’s beautiful voices in song.
Igniting Voices: Acchord
Acchord’s touching musical performance rounded out our event. #ignitingvoices #firstunitarianportland #acchord
Igniting Voices: Dallas Schafte
Dallas’ self-discovery started at a summer day camp and they explain future developments that help define their identity. #ignitingvoices #firstunitarianportland #dallasschafte
Igniting Voices: Jamison Green
Jamison explains his journey before the right vocabulary existed and provides a valuable historical context to understanding trans identity. #ignitingvoices #firstunitarianportland #jamisongreen
Igniting Voices: Tyler Horan
Tyler’s story is awkwardly jubilant and told with humor and heart. #ignitingvoices #firstunitarianportland #tylerhoran
Igniting Voices: Marilyn Lowles
Marilyn’s evolution occurred later in life and reminds us that it’s never too late to change. #ignitingvoices #firstunitarianportland #marilynlowles
Igniting Voices: Rowan Everard
Rowan’s search for self-acceptance and capacity for being loved is told with candor and warmth. #ignitingvoices #firstunitarianportland #rowaneverard
Igniting Voices: Ari Rain
Ari benefits greatly from supportive community with his ability to put his own personal spin on his experience. #ignitingvoices #firstunitarianportland #arirain
October 20, 2019: Coming Out as You
Battle Ground High School hosts “Coming Out as You” for National Coming Out Month.
Coming Out as You: Solé Kapralova
https://vimeo.com/375711062 Solé relives a few awkward high school moments to help us understand her coming-out experience. #solekapralova #comingoutasyou #battleground
Coming Out as You: Stephen Herndon
https://vimeo.com/375711110 Stephen’s coming-out process happened later in life. He explains the transitions while finding his true self with humility and candor. #stephenherndon #comingoutasyou #battleground
Coming Out as You: Joshua Thomas
https://vimeo.com/375711052 Joshua takes the time to unpack years of internal struggles before his coming out to his family a decade ago. With honesty and humor, …
Coming Out as You: Grayson Cole
Grayson walks us through their journey of removing old beliefs and assumptions that no longer match their true identity. #graysoncole #comingoutasyou #battleground
Coming Out as You: Rhys & Melanie Davis
https://vimeo.com/375759300 What’s it like to come out to your family and community as a fourteen year old in Battle Ground? This mother-daughter team relives those …
Coming Out as You: Joe Marshall
https://vimeo.com/375711121 Joe explores what it means to be himself before he had the words to explain it. See why he’s our favorite super hero! #joemarshall …
October 12, 2019: Our Stories
Camas Library hosts “Our Stories” for National Coming Out Month.
September 14, 2019: Resilient Voices
Storytelling, art, music, and poetry from people affected by and/or aging with HIV/AIDS.
Resilient Voices: Weston Anderson
Weston is a writer and shares their experience from a global lens. #resilientvoices #westonanderson
Resilient Voices: Dr. Chris Evans
Chris examines HIV from his experience shaped from the early days of the epidemic in New York City, to Texas and now in Portland. #resilientvoices …
Resilient Voices: Jim McDonald
https://vimeo.com/364834452 #resilientvoices #jimmcdonald
Resilient Voices: Chase Garber
The soulful and talented Chase entertained the audience with his harp and vocals. #resilientvoices #chasegarber
Resilient Voices: Larry Hill
Larry expressed three decades of being a long term survivor through his work and community experience through poetry. Powerful! #resilientvoices #larryhill
Resilient Voices: David Gibbs
David had our audience spellbound with his journey of being diagnosed with HIV and lessons he is learning along the way that lead to self-acceptance …
June 8, 2019: Generations of Pride
An evening of storytelling across generations and experiences in commemoration of the 50th anniversary of Stonewall.
June 2, 2019: Prideful Voices Vancouver
Celebrate a special afternoon of storytelling and music featuring local young LGBTQ+ voices and Acchord, an auditioned a capella group composed of transgender, non-binary, and gender non-conforming musicians.
May 4, 2019: Rewired, Not Retired
A feature on local older adults who retired from traditional careers only to find new meaning doing something very different.
February 14, 2019: How We Met
A special night celebrating local LGBTQ couples with raffle benefiting Portland Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence’s community charity fund.
Nick Chiacchiaro & Windrin ‘Cris’ Crisostomos
Nick and Cris both come from strong family and cultural backgrounds: Nick is Italian and Cris is Dominican/Greek. Energetic, outgoing and artistic perfectly describes both …
Cynthia Butts & Ellen Yarnell
Cynthia was born to sing and uses her beautiful voice and warm spirit to spread love in the world. Ellen is a hard working, loyal, …
Heidi & James Green
Heidi is a dynamic and creative instructional designer and passionate activist for LGBT workplace equality and anti-racism. James is an author, legal scholar, and an …
How We Met Game Show
How well did our couples do with each other‘s habits? Watch and find out! #howwemet #ellenyarnell #cynthiabutts #heidigreen #jamesgreen #judgekemp #ericschnell #nickchiacchiaro #windrincrisostomos
Judge Kemp & Eric Schnell
Eric designs custom homes, including their spectacular home in North Portland. Judge is a familiar face among LGBTQ Portlanders because of his history of community …
November 8, 2018: Holidaze
Storytellers share their one-of-a-kind holiday stories with partial proceeds benefiting SnowCap.
Carol Brownlow
Carol is a retired coach, educator, and college administrator. Raised in a family with 60 first cousins, she knows a lot about the challenges of …
Pat McCreery
Pat is a lifelong Oregonian, a nearly two-and-a-half decade high school teacher, a twenty-year husband, a fumbling and well-intentioned father of two teenagers, and an …
Denise Olsen
Denise was born and raised in Chicago and has lived in Portland for over 16 years. She is married to an amazing artist and has …
Matt Wagner
Matt grew up in Minnesota and has lived in Portland, Oregon for the last 25 years. He’s a passionate gardener and enjoys spending his free …
September 26, 2018: The Pixie Project–Rescue Is for Lovers
Rescue Is for Lovers! Six Pixie adopters share their Pixie adoption love stories at a storytelling fundraiser event.
Bev & Schnitzel (Stephanie)
Beverly and Professor Schnitzel are two peas cuddling very closely together in a pod of warm blankets. Together, they foster senior dogs, wink at everyone, …
Izzy & Shiloh (Mitchell)
Izzy and Shilo have bonded like brother and sister. Izzy is definitely the older sister at 9 and has her own personality. She enjoys having …
Clem (Lily)
Please meet Clementine, aka Clem. This sweet girl has a lot of favorite pastimes including, naps in the sunshine, sneaking food off the kitchen counter, …
Odin & Domino (Trang)
Odin and Domino are living miracles born as abandoned strays. They have never been apart and share a strong brotherly bond even when born among …
Jack Jack (Bee)
Jack Jack is an incredible dog with many nicknames and even a few theme songs! He recently relocated from sunny Texas to the rainy Pacific …
Cecil (Paul)
Cecil came into our lives earlier this year. Our hearts were still heavy from the loss of Crumpet last fall. He came to us with …
September 13, 2018: Schooled
Mentorship stories told by five new and bold storytellers with partial proceeds benefiting Women of Wisdom.
Tymon “Tye” L. Bentley
Tymon also known as Tye, is a public speaker, entrepreneur, creative writer, blogger, and singer/songwriter. Tye is very adventurous, connected to nature, and a spiritually-influenced …
Gini Graham
Gini was nurse manager in Post Partum at St. Vincent for 15 yrs before retiring last year. Traveling has been a constant theme in her …
Myranda Harris
Myranda is a community advocate for health care equality and access for women and children. She is particularly passionate about ensuring the voices of HIV-positive …
Dana Jolivet
Dana is a native Atlantan. Six years ago she moved across the country for a new experience. She is the single mother to two beautiful …
Joshua Thomas
Joshua is a gay African-American male, born and raised in a religious family and conservative community in Galesburg, Illinois. In search of acceptance from his …
May 10, 2018: Audacious Aging
Wisdom, fierceness, compassion and humor. All told through new older adult storytellers. Partial proceeds benefiting Vera’s Purse.
Ken Brinson
Ken was born and raised in a small town in the rural South during the racially, politically, and uncivilly charged 1960’s…the foundation of a life …
Corbett Gordon
Corbett Gordon, 71, is the mother of four and grandmother of three. She lives with her Brittany Spaniels, cat, and a Betta fish in a …
Elizabeth Roberts
Elizabeth is a retired psychologist, who presently guides people on spiritual journeys through hypnotherapy. She was born and raised in the south, but has lived …
Greg Sievers
Greg is a Native Oregonian, happily married to Kathy 45 years, and has raised four children. He works as an organization development consultant, coach, facilitator …
Turella Woods
Turella Woods spent 15 years in the banking and insurance industry prior to working with older adults and finally retiring as an event planner. She …
March 8, 2018: Nevertheless, She Persisted
Our special inaugural show with all women sharing their powerful stories of persistence. Partial proceeds benefiting Family Preservation Project.
Alicia Heddon
Alicia is a Native Oregonian and a mother of 2 incredible young boys. She enjoys spending time outdoors with family and staying active with CrossFit …
Cosette “Coco” Leary
Cosette ”CoCo“ Leary has overcome a childhood of poverty and abuse, raised four children through hard work and painful decisions, and has gone from surviving …
Denise Peña
Denise was born in Brasil but grew up here in the United States. She’s the mother of two and works advocating on behalf of victims. …
Stacey Rice
Stacey Rice is a speaker, educator and consultant who found her way to Portland from the North Carolina mountains a little over six years ago. …