Gabbie Hendel, the current co-director of the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgendered Alliance, has given extensive time and energy to plan Lesbopalooza, the group’s main event for the term. But this will be the last event Hendel plans before she graduates.
Hendel said she hopes to leave her position in capable hands — someone who is motivated and creative, and willing to sacrifice his or her time to benefit the most organized queer program in Eugene.
“We are looking for someone willing to continue working on making this an open space where anyone feels welcome,” Hendel said. “I think that our staff is very homogenous, and I’d like to see more diversity on our staff.”
Hedi Frieders, Hendel’s girlfriend, said the staff, including the new co-director, needs to work to put on enough events for the whole community, not just lesbian events.
The LGBTA provides services to the University, including referrals, social, political and educational events, and runs a lending library that keeps the staff up-to-date on various events and issues.
But for now, Hendel said she is putting in more than 45 hours a week planning Lesbopalooza for Friday and Saturday. This year, instead of a day-long event, Hendel said performances will be broken into two nights to accommodate the more than 600 people expected to attend.
“The purpose of [Lesbopalooza] is to bring the University of Oregon, the Northwest and Eugene an unprecedented cultural event,” Hendel said.
Hendel said the “two dazzling nights of cultural entertainment” will include bands, solo artists and performance art, along with spoken word and fire dancing. She said the nine bands are all from different genres and combine old-school lesbian folk singers with up-and-coming stars. Headlining performances will include The Need — a gothic riot girl punk rock group — Ferron, and Phranc.
Phranc will host a Tupperware party at noon Saturday in the LGBTA office.
“I’ve needed to buy Tupperware for months,” Hendel said. “And I’ve been waiting for Phranc’s Tupperware party.”

Bonfire Madigan, performing Friday, is a traveling trio known for its punk rock chamber pop. The trio, composed of Madigan Shive on the cello, Sheri Ozeki on the contrabass and Christine Lehmann on the violin, combines contemporary songs and vocals with traditional instruments.
Shive said Bonfire Madigan has already released two records: “… From the Burnpile” in 1998 and “Saddle the Bridge” in 2000, both released by Washington’s Kill Rock Stars record label.
“The music is very visual and emotive,” Shive said. “All musicians and songwriters hope that people are affected and challenged on a new level.”
Shive said that as a queer person, she believes that being queer is an important part of her identity and hopes to inspire others. While she said the band doesn’t get first dibs in terms of mainstream media exposure, she has seen more exposure of powerful queer artists in college towns, such as Eugene.
“It is a very close community when you are powerful artists and queer artists,” Shive said.
Shive, whose role varies as a singer, composer, conductor and cellist, said the band’s music uses imagery to show how strong women can survive and find their way “through this crazy world.” The 25-year-old artist started her music career as a 14-year-old in garage bands and chamber groups, but she now travels with Bonfire Madigan nationwide.
“People seem to be hungry for music that is composed in a new way,” Shive said.
Whoever takes the co-director position will help the LGBTA plan its next major event: Lesbian and Gay Pride Week, set for April 16-21, which will include the Portland Gay Men’s Chorus. Applications for the position can be picked up in the LGBTA office, located in Suite 34 of the EMU.