PORT ANGELES — The Esprit Gala returns to Port Angeles this Sunday as it begins a weeklong conference for transgender individuals and their spouses.
The gala has been held at the Red Lion Hotel, 221 N. Lincoln St., since 1991.
“The town has always welcomed us with open arms,” said Esprit Chair Suzanne Adams.
Major public events include the World Famous Esprit Talent Show and concert performances by two bands, The Nasty Habits and The Fabulous Boomers.
The talent show, which will be open to the public, will be at 8 p.m. Friday at the Elks Lodge ballroom, 131 E. First St.
Admission is a $5 donation.
The talent show will be followed by The Nasty Habits, performing edgy ’80s dance covers, at The Metta Room, 132 E. Front St.
Talent show entries will include Esprit attendees and local residents who are associated with the convention.
Nasty Habits is a Seattle-based transgender band that plays punk, glam and pop covers from the 1980s and ’90s.
The group’s performances are not technically part of the Esprit convention but have been scheduled in conjunction with the convention for several years, Adams said.
They will perform from 9 p.m. to 1 a.m. May 19 and 20 at The Metta Room. Tickets are $10 each day.
Nasty Habits performances are open to the public.
Classic rock ’n’ roll band The Fabulous Boomers will play 8 p.m. May 20 at the Red Lion Hotel, she said.
Admission is a $5 donation to Volunteer Hospice of Clallam County. Adams said Esprit has donated more than $50,000 to hospice, which provides free hospice services to terminally ill patients.
Most of the events at Esprit are private, for attendees only.
The keynote speakers for the Saturday luncheon will be Seattle Police Officer Jim Ritter, deputy secretary of the Federal Department of Justice Knight Sor and Carol Russo, regional director of the Rocky Mountain Regional Office of the Department of Justice Community Relations Service.
The luncheon is for attendees and by invite only, Adams said.
Some classes at the conference include discussions on issues facing transgender people, such as what to do if they become victims of hate crimes, health care insurance issues, family dynamics and discussions of transgender people in the popular media.
The schedule also includes a self-defense class.
For more information, see www.espritconf.com.
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Reporter Jesse Major can be reached at 360-452-2345, ext. 56250, or at jmajor@peninsula dailynews.com.
