Why I’m Not Giving Up

Mike George provides a raw and personal update on his life in Portland. He openly discusses his recent experience with homelessness, his bipolar diagnosis, and the challenges of being unemployed during the pandemic. Despite his hardships, Mike remains focused on the future of his nonprofit Crimson Rouge Studios and his long-term goal of opening a community-focused queer space.

"Hello, everyone. This is Mike George, coming to you live from the heart of Crimson Rouge Studios in Portland, Oregon. To be honest, I’m feeling a bit down today. Most of you know by now that I’ve been homeless for a couple of months. It sounds worse than it is, but don't get me wrong—it definitely sucks. Still, I always say the Lord likes to balance the equation, and I’ve been blessed with some truly incredible people in my life who have gone out of their way to help me.

Living on the streets for the last few months has taught me so much about life, money, and friendship. You really get to know the soul of a city when you’re out in it every day. I’ve explored parts of Portland I never would have seen otherwise. But there’s also the constant anxiety of winter coming and the fear that some drama might land me back on the streets.

There’s been a lot of weight on my shoulders lately—dealing with a bipolar diagnosis, losing my job, and even finding out that someone forged my signature to move my belongings into storage without my consent. It’s a lot to process. But we’re still pushing forward with Crimson Rouge Studios. We’re building a collective and looking for talented people to join us. My dream is still to open a brick-and-mortar space, maybe a queer club, in the next few years. It’s not easy starting a business, especially now, but I’m doing the soul-searching and the work to make it happen. Thanks for sticking with me.