About Pride Northwest
Pride celebrations have been held in Portland since the 1970′s. In 1994, the original board of directors of Pride Northwest created a 501c3 organization and held their first meeting. Since that time, the board and the event has grown considerably.
Today, Pride Northwest is made up of a dynamic group of individuals from many different backgrounds who are dedicated to providing a venue for the queer community to gather and celebrate. The mission of Pride Northwest, Inc. is to encourage and celebrate the positive diversity of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans and queer communities, and to assist in the education of all people through the development of activities that showcase the history, accomplishments, and talents of these communities.
Pride Northwest Board of Directors
Debra Porta – President
Debra Porta is a Texas transplant, working on her Bachelor’s Degree in Sociology. Debra is a political activist and a self-professed news junkie. A reformed workaholic, she is relatively new to the local queer social scene. Debra enjoys meeting new people and spending what little free time she has with friends.
Ben Brown Jr. – Vice-President & Secretary
Ben Brown Jr. is a local area graphic designer who’s work has been utilized with the Oregon Bears, OHSU, Blackout Leather Productions, Bad Girls, Cascade AIDS Project, Pride NW, the Imperial Sovereign Rose Court, and many others. Ben was previously Media Chairman for Capitol Pride in Salem in 2001 and 2002, was on the Oregon Bears board of directors from 2005-2008 and is a former Mr. Oregon State Leather. Ben can also be seen at his day job as a bear-ista at Starbucks in the Division Center. A retrospective of some of his more recent was held in August 2010 in SE Portland at the Conservatory.
Patrick Olson-Stine – Treasurer
Patrick Olson-Stine moved back to Portland in 1991 after his time in the Marines. He has volunteered a lot of time here in the Portland area with the American Red Cross and Our House. Pat currently does online support for a phone company. During his off time Pat likes to travel around the State of Oregon with family and friends.
Professional Staff & Volunteers
Cory L. Murphy – Administrator & Festival Coordinator
Since 2009, Cory Murphy has overseen the day to day operations of Pride NW and, during Pride, he is responsible for overall festival operations, staff and volunteers.
He is a community advocate, entreprenuer and event promoter from the PGE Park neighborhood. Originally from suburban Chicago, Cory moved to the Northwest in 1996 to escape the Midwest. In 2003, Cory began attending Portland State University to earn a Bachelor of Science in History and Computer Science and earned his A.A.S. in Network Systems Administration from Heald College in 2010.
Since becoming a Portlander, Cory has gained vast administrative, promotions and technical expertise from working with companies such as Egghead.com, Vancouver School District, Portland State University, ACS and Boxxes/Red Cap Garage as their infamous club promoter. When he isn’t volunteering, Cory is either being a geek online or spending time with his friends and fiacee, Matthew.
Christopher Proudfoot – Volunteer Coordinator
Zane Wagner – Asst. Volunteer Coordinator
Belinda Carroll – Entertainment Committee, PrideNW Comedy Showcase
Travis (DJ Harmionixx/Sister Spinna DeViynl) Ogan – Entertainment Committee
Laura Neilan Bowers – AIDSWalk/Walk With Pride Team Captain
Category: About Pride NW
