Queer Heroes NW 2013

Cassandra Lynn

Cassandra Lynn, a part-time female, saw lonely cross-dressers huddling in gay bars, afraid to relate to those around them. She understood their need to express their female sides, and their need to show the world who they are, not content to hide at home. This was the start of a Yahoo group, now named Rose_City_T-Girls, with hundreds of members in the Portland area.

Membership includes the entire spectrum of transgender femininity, some non-trans friends, plus spouses and mates who support their girls’ guy sides.

The group is a lifesaver to those who would otherwise still be cowering in their closets, fearful, ashamed, and driven by the need to be feminine for brief periods, or forever.

Cass has a private male life, separate from all but a few trusted members.

Rose City T-Girls remains essentially a social organization, but Cassandra recently stepped up to spearhead action against transgender discrimination.
She leads the set of members who inspired an Oregon Bureau of Labor and Industries process against the operator of a North Portland bar, after he asked the group to stay away from it.

This pending action has already produced a message of non-discrimination to other businesses in the region.

Q Center and the Gay & Lesbian Archives of the Pacific Northwest (GLAPN) have partnered on an annual multi-media celebration of LGBTQ pioneers and leaders from our local movement called Queer Heroes NW!

The project features a new queer hero (nominated by the greater LGBTQ community) every day online during Pride month (June). The 30 queer heroes are also featured on the walls of the Aaron Hall Gallery at Q Center for the months of June and July, as well as in Q Center’s Pride booths all over the region.

After Pride is over each year the portable display hits the road and makes the rounds all over community centers, schools, churches, and businesses in the Pacific NW! Help us honor our queer heroes by spreading the word.