LitPDX seeks to amplify marginalized voices, and welcomes all, their ideas, their events, and their words.

For details regarding specific events please contact the organizers or venues. If you are an organizer or venue and would like to reach out to us please feel free to contact us or submit an event using our submission form. We’d love to hear from you!

Gabrielle Glaser in Conversation With Anna Griffin

Online N/A, Portland, OR, United States

During the Baby Boom in 1960s America, women were encouraged to stay home and raise large families, but sex and childbirth were taboo subjects. Premarital sex was common, but birth control was hard to get and abortion was illegal. In 1961, 16-year-old Margaret Erle fell in love and became pregnant. Her enraged family sent her to a maternity home, and after she gave birth, she wasn’t even allowed her to hold her own son. Social workers threatened her with jail until she signed away her parental rights. Her son vanished, his whereabouts and new identity known only to an adoption agency that would never share the slightest detail about his fate. Claiming to be acting in the best interests of all, the adoption business was…

Free

Trystan Reese in Conversation With Andrew Solomon

Online N/A, Portland, OR, United States

When Trystan Reese was just a year into his relationship with Biff (now his husband), the couple learned that Biff’s niece and nephew were about to be removed from their home by Child Protective Services. Immediately, Trystan and Biff took in one-year-old Hailey and three-year-old Lucas, becoming caregivers overnight to two tiny survivors of abuse and neglect. From this surprising start, Trystan and Biff built a loving marriage and happy home — learning to parent on the job. They adopted Hailey and Lucas, and soon decided to grow their family biologically with a child that Trystan, who is transgender, would carry. Trystan’s groundbreaking pregnancy attracted media fanfare, and the family welcomed baby Leo in 2017. In How We Do Family: From Adoption to Trans Pregnancy,…

Free

And We Write!

Online N/A, Portland, OR, United States

“And We Write! is a creative writing space centering Black, queer and transgender adoptees.  Whether you are an avid writer, or someone wanting to dip their toe into the creative writing pool, this is the workshop for you! You do not need to be a writer to attend! This will be a space for other adoptees to connect, share stories and build community. Each workshop will include themes from the corresponding monthly moon cycle and excerpts from published adoptees will be read at each workshop. Come and participate in a space for us, created by us!” –Ari Schill, 2022 re/source resident *This session will be virtual*  RSVP/Participation Form Follow @_andwewrite on Instagram to keep up with upcoming workshops!

Free