Gresham Fracas | Miss Gay Oregon | "Vanishing" Short Stories

• Gresham's local government was rocked by a wave of resignations this month after a Black city employee sent a letter to city leadership alleging racism. The mayor, city manager and police chief all left their positions. The police chief has since reversed her decision, and city leadership is figuring how to fill the interim mayor and city manager positions. Gresham Outlook reporter Christopher Keizur gives us an update.

• This year, Pride Month falls in the midst of the coronavirus pandemic and a worldwide uprising against police violence toward Black people. Many pride parades and in-person celebrations have been canceled. For Flawless Shade, a Black, queer entertainer who is also Miss Gay Oregon, this year's Pride Month is about fighting for the rights of her community. Flawless has been advocating for better pay and treatment for queer Black entertainers, and recently raised $2,000 to support them. We hear about her advocacy, and how she has been engaging with Pride Month and Black Lives Matter protests.

• Oregon novelist Cai Emmons just published her first collection of short stories, called "Vanishing." The stories were written over the span of 20 years, and all the main characters are women who are struggling with different aspects of their identity. Emmons joins us to talk about the collection and more.

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