NorthWest Gender Alliance - Portland, Oregon

NWGA Activities

NWGA offers a variety of services and activities. Monthly open meetings provide opportunities for members and prospective members to meet and socialize with other transgendered individuals in a protective, supportive environment. Part of each meeting is devoted to dinner and conversation. Often a portion of a meeting is set aside for a demonstration, discussion, or workshop on a topic such as clothing, cosmetics, feminine deportment, or legal issues related to gender expression. These programs are intended to help individuals better express their gender of choice and develop skill and self-confidence in their chosen gender role.

In addition to the regular meetings, the group schedules numerous special activities throughout the year. These include dinners, shopping trips, nightclub outings, barbecues, a Halloween party, a softball game, Oscar night, beach excursions, an annual awards banquet, and many other events. With other Northwest transgender groups, NWGA sponsors Esprit, an annual national convention for the transgendered community. NWGA activities provide a safe and comfortable environment for members, spouses, and friends to socialize with others who share the same interests. Some activities are private and protected; others are more public. Participants are able to select activities that match their own levels of experience, self-confidence, and comfort.

Spouses and partners often need support and information to help them understand and cope with gender issues in a relationship. NWGA sponsors couples' dinners on a regular basis. At these non-crossdressed functions, members, their spouses, and loved ones can meet and talk with other individuals who have experience in dealing with gender issues.

One of the benefits of NWGA membership is Northwest Passages, the monthly NWGA newsletter. The newsletter is a forum for communication and discussion among club members. It contains articles about club activities, a schedule of events sponsored by NWGA, notices about community events (films, plays, lectures, fashion shows, etc.) of interest to club members, book reviews, how-to articles, stories, humor, and advertisements for stores, restaurants, and services that welcome the transgendered community.

Another method the club uses to share information is the NWGA Girl-Talk listserver, which gives members who use e-mail a forum for discussing issues, alerting members to local events at short notice, and exchanging light and fun banter.

There is also a list server for just NWGA members to alert them of any changes in scheduling.

There is much misinformation about transgender issues, and there are many public misconceptions about gender identity and gender expression. One of the missions of the Northwest Gender Alliance is to educate and inform the public about the transgender spectrum. NWGA members often are called upon to speak to college classes and participate in conferences related to gender expression, gender identity, and human sexuality. NWGA members also participate in community groups that deal with human rights and sexual minority issues. This includes a club person who is a member of the City of Portland Police Chief Forum.