PORT ANGELES — The 30th Esprit conference begins Sunday and runs through May 19.
It will feature an inaugural pickleball tournament celebrating the longstanding relationship between the transgender community and Port Angeles.
Esprit is the longest-running transgender conference on the West Coast. Most of the scheduled activities are reserved for those who identify as transgender.
However, community members are invited to the Esprit talent show at the Elks Lodge at 8 p.m. Friday and a Saturday-night social with music and dancing beginning at 8 p.m. at the Port Angeles Red Lion Hotel.
“It’s always a great time,” said Esprit presenter Dotti Berry, the facilitator for the significant others/couples groups.
“I encourage the community to come to the public events and meet people and let the people who are attending the Esprit this year know that the community supports them.”
The transgender band The Nasty Habits, a local favorite, will play their 1970s and ’80s glam, punk, rock and dance covers at the Metta Room at 9 p.m. Friday and Saturday.
The Esprit-Port Angeles pickleball tournament will be held Monday at Elks Playfield at 533 W. 14th St. Lessons for beginners are set for 10 a.m., 10:30 am. and 11 a.m.
Community members will be paired with an Esprit lady of the same skill level for an “all fun” round-robin tournament at noon.
The suggested donation for the tournament is $10 for adults and $5 for children and seniors. All proceeds from the tournament and other Esprit events will support Volunteer Hospice of Clallam County.
Pickleball registration forms are available at https://tinyurl.com/PDN-espritpickleball.
The idea for a pickleball tournament was born at last year’s conference when Berry played a match with Port Angeles Mayor Sissi Bruch.
Pickleball is a rapidly-growing, easy-to-learn paddle sport that combines elements of tennis, badminton and ping-pong.
“It is one of those things that does lend itself to a sense of community,” said Berry, who lives near Blaine and has been attending the annual Esprit conference for 17 years.
“That’s one of the things about pickleball, period.”
Bruch read a proclamation at Tuesday’s City Council meeting in recognition of “building community by embracing diversity through pickleball.”
“Pickleball is an inter-generational, low-impact, competitive sport that is easy to learn, inexpensive to play and promotes camaraderie, teamwork, kindness and enjoyment for individuals and the community as a whole,” the proclamation read.
“The Esprit conference focuses on personal growth and friendship while changing lives for the better by creating pride and self respect for anyone who is transgender.”
For information about Esprit, click on https://www.espritconf.com/.
_______
Reporter Rob Ollikainen can be reached at 360-452-2345, ext. 56450, or at rollikainen@peninsula dailynews.com.
