I want to take a moment to publicly thank Kendall Clawson, Sam Adams, Bob Speltz, Judge Kemp, Robert Goman, LeAnn Locher, Anne Viola-Krause, Tim Healea, Paul Fukui, Glenn Goodfellow, Neola Young, Nash Jones, Karen Petersen, Stacey Rice, Susan Kocen, Noah Wood, Dede Willis, Heather Nichelle, Ali Williams, Mary Emily O’Hara, Brian Charles Johnson, and all the other countless, caring, compassionate people who have bravely stepped up over the years to found, fund, build, sustain and, several times, fight to save the vital community resource that Q Center was designed to be.

Despite smoke and mirrors from my record label at the time, when I came to Q Center in 2010 I had nothing. Less than nothing, actually. I was traumatized by violence, was recently in recovery from a 16 year addiction to crack and alcohol which had left me ravaged physically and emotionally, had been freshly divorced while simultaneously being chewed up and spit out by the music industry, and I was living in a stranger’s converted garage. I was completely broke, starving, freezing at night, and, frankly, wanted to die.

One afternoon I found myself at Q Center and for the first time (maybe ever), I felt safe. I belonged. No one cared that I was broken. No one was scared of my need. In fact, they didn’t even see me as those things. They only cared that I was alive and that I was there — because that’s what family does.

Kendall invited me to come back the next day, so I did. When I got there, I told her I wanted to cancel my tour midway through, fire my team, turn my album into a fundraiser for the center, and keep showing up as long as I could be of use — and that’s what happened. I felt useful for the first time in years, and I stayed for the next 5 years.

While many of us have gone on to become successful after our time at Q Center, the truth is that none of us had much of anything back then — but we always had each other; And the people who did have resources gave everything they had to build a home for our community.

We fought for each other. We loved each other. We protected each other. And, most importantly, we created the first safe space many of us had ever experienced. We did all of this together, brick by brick, dollar by dollar, as a community, using our blood, sweat, intentions, and tears as the mortar.

When I literally had no food in my fridge and was too “famous” and ashamed to ask for help, Kendall fed me. I know she also had very little back then, but her care and concern for me and for all of our communities was always front and center. There were many days where the only food I ate was what was leftover at the end of the night after Q Center events, and I know I was not the only queer or trans person having their basic needs met within those walls, because I was often the one wrapping up to-go meals for other hungry queer and trans people.

Q Center saved my life, and it has saved countless others. This Portland Pride weekend, I’m using several copies of The Oregonian as a potty pad for my dog, and I’m celebrating Kendall and all of the people who made this big, gay, community magic possible to begin with — from founding board members and donors, to volunteers and program participants, to staff and community partners along the way.

I SEE YOU.
🌈❤️

SHORT VERSION:

Give to Q Center, Get a record. Click the banner image below, write the word “Logan” in the DONATION DEDICATION section, then donate whatever amount you can. Everyone who does this before August 30th will receive my new record, “I Killed Tomorrow Yesterday” on Tuesday, August 31st via the email address you provide on the Q Center donation form.

LONG VERSION:

Hi again, everybody! It’s been a little over a week since I announced my plans to step away from the stage for the time being and the reaction from all of you has been really incredible. Thanks so much for all the emails and messages in the days since. It’s been reassuring to be able to so clearly see that I have not been wrong about all of you this whole time…that you totally ARE as wonderful as I like to think about you all being…that sometimes strangers care about you more than people you’ve known for years. Thank you for hearing where I’m at enough to wish me well on my journey. I’ve collected so much love from you through the past decade of my being in your ears. I’m not sure what I’ve done to deserve it but I feel so lucky to be connected with this sea of like-minded, sensitive, caring individuals all scattered across the globe…

So WHAT’S NEXT??? I think I may have figured that part out. You know how I was saying I needed to do something that matters for a little while and use my powers for good instead of just to be a famous singing douchebag who complains about how horrible his life is or whatever? Well, I actually meant it and have been exploring what that looks like in the immediate future. I’ve recently been involved with Portland’s Q Center (Oregon’s ONLY LGBTQ Community Center) and have been feeling personally drawn to that place for months. Ever since I stepped foot in the door and met Kendall Clawson (the center’s Executive Director) it’s been clear that she is on a mission to make something really big happen for not just the various queer communities in Oregon but the nation as well. Big things are happening out of that place and I want to be on the frontline of the change. I honestly don’t give a shit about pop music at the moment but I do care passionately about human rights and making things safe for the gay community at large, the community I Read the rest of this entry »