A park fit for a queen opens in downtown Portland
"We can get together" echoes through the evening at Darcelle XV Plaza
The world’s first park named for a drag queen, Darcelle XV Plaza, opened Thursday evening under a canopy of show tunes and sequins. As it does on a proper June evening in Portland, it rained. But the sequins flashed brighter, and the makeup didn’t run.
Portland Chamber President Andrew Hoan introduced a “verklempt” Portland city councilman, Dan Ryan, who recalled when nearby streets were called Vasoline Alley, and dance clubs stayed open until 4 a.m. Ryan championed Darcelle XV Plaza from its early days.
Poison Waters ran the show, recalling the life of Walter Cole, aka Darcelle. With a well timed lift of an eyebrow: “We’ll have movies, a dog run, Shakespeare in the Park—he knew a thing or two about cross dressing.”
“This isn’t just for LGBTQ plus, this park is for everyone. There was never a table big enough for Darcelle to welcome everyone.”
Straight people understand privacy, they understand self-respect, they understand that certain adult entertainment belongs closeted from families whose youth are impressionable. For Portland to celebrate this event speaks volumes of how far our moral choices have changed. Why not erect lights and advertise to the entire country? In case people are not already informed about Portland's moral decline, here is another piece of evidence.
Great addition to the neighborhood.