Sometimes difficult to blend communities

I am often asked where I come from once someone learns I am not from Spokane. My answer is Boise; yet, I have lived in Spokane longer than I lived in Boise. So, am I of this city, this community, this culture? How is it determined where you are from and belong? How do you combine your loyalties and connections? How do you adjust?

Community is a diverse word. The dictionary has several definitions. A community can be a group of people living in the same locality and under the same government, or a group of people having common interests: the scientific community, the arts community. It could be society as a whole, the public. This community also could be centralized — a group viewed as forming a distinct segment of society: the gay community, the community of color. By these definitions, we exist in several communities. These can interact or be completely separate from each other.

I am part of varying communities: university, arts, gay and workplace. I have managed to combine these four rather well. But the one that is most difficult is the last one: the Spokane community. Specifically, joining my gay community with my Spokane community. This is difficult for several reasons. It could be the primarily conservative aura in Spokane or the lack of active strides by both communities to join harmoniously. Any reason could be made, but what’s important is that the fissure between the two be filled.

No one is expecting Spokanites to run to every PFLAG (Parents, Family and Friend of Lesbians and Gays) meeting or go dancing at Dempsey’s every weekend, but there are often events in the area for everyone. For example, the week of June 7 is Pride week in Spokane. The week starts with a film on June 7 and ends with the Pride parade on Saturday, June 13. The film, “Key West: City of Colors,” documents the beginnings of the gay community in Key West. The parade ends in Riverfront Park, and booths are set up with information and retail items. The queens of Dempsey’s typically have a show, and local bands play a few sets. Overall, it’s a festive time and should be a comfortable atmosphere for anyone. This is just one example of gay events in the area. If you are interested in more, the local gay newspaper, The Stonewall News Northwest, runs an events calendar for each month. The newspaper can be found at Aunties, The Spike Coffeehouse and other gay-friendly places.

The importance of this column is to open up a line of communication. Spokane, you need to be informed. I hope to show you what is happening in the gay community: what are the current issues, the stories, the events, the people. Here it goes Spokane, let’s talk.