Founded by Timothy Kushi with Ryan Weightman and Andy Poncherello in 2009--with original poster art provided by the fantastic local collage artist Jennifer Kimball, Quite Q***r is a q***r event planning organization for the Berkshires with the mission of creating and launching events and happenings that highlight and celebrate q***r life in Berkshire County. As this state was one of the most "perm
issive", as I used to hear it described, for the longest time in all the country--indeed being the first state "gay marriage" was legalized all the way back in 2003, the q***r community did not have the forced necessity to find itself all together in a more clandestine way, as in other states... but was good and bad--general tolerance, while by NO MEANS universal in families across the state and definitely not even in this county, was significantly higher; this let a lot of q***r ppl to be able to live with only, at worse, generally, a mild anxiety compared to utter panic and fear in states like Idaho and Kentucky (again with exceptions) This also saw the traditional "gay bar" never become a thing--not explicitly and truly if even tho, yes, there were a few more inviting institutions like Club Red and Rumpy's that, while not gay bars, were the most q***r friendly I can recall... but both have been long shuttered. Quite Q***r itself had its heyday between the years 2009 and 2011, which 4 distinct events launched in that time with varying themes and success of attendance... the inaugural QQ on 10/10 in 2009, at the Elks Club, saw an attendance of 120-140 heads throughout the night and had the largest billing of unique musical performing acts with the blown-own synth pop wunderkinds Making Friendz (on Spotify now) , the musical and performance art stylings of Max Steele, Jen Urban and the Box, q***r activist and DJ Donovan Lessard pumping up the rest of the night and more. QQ Valentines day party - 250+ attendendance on the second floor dance hall of then Jae's Spice (not Hotel on North) and the most successful and fun of them all. Dress-code was high fashion--interpreted as you will--with prizes for best dressed. Definitely my own personal favorite, following this, QQ would precipitate the creation of "Out in the Berkshires" -- the FB account and the Out in the Berkshires weekends that would see its dance parties shine at the center for the last two that would be produced.
