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R u r a l fo lk s s h a r e s to r ie s
o f S m a ll “ to w n lif e
tark Street, Old Town, Hawthorne. These are familiar names
and places to Portland’s gay and lesbian community.
Here we know our merchants, our neighbors, our friends.
Here we are comfortable and cocooned and consider ourselves
safe and free to be who we are.
In these places we don’t see “ Yes on 9 ” signs, we don’t face stares and
gibes and harassment from strangers. In these places we often forget you
don’t have to travel too many miles in any given direction before arriving
at smaller towns, communities and cities where being gay will not gamer
immediate and unspoken acceptance.
From the coast to the deserts of eastern Oregon to the mountain
: O y
communities of southern Oregon, gays and lesbians reside in virtually all
parts of the state. Many are quiet and lead private lives, while others strive
to create their own community. Some take on unspoken leadership roles
and are determined to lead by example, to show their neighbors and
co-workers the value of honoring all people.
Journey with us now as we take you to Astoria, R o s e b u r g
and S h e r i d a n and introduce you to five people who are working to make
a difference in their communities—day by day, customer by customer,
neighbor by neighbor. We commend them for their efforts and wish them
great success with their endeavors.
' I f V **
V /
P acific P ride
For Chadd-Paul Flues, home is where the heart is
Chadd-Paul Flues
hopes to bring
a little Portland flavor
to Astoria
by Jim R adosta
hat a difference a year
makes.
In 1999, Chadd-Paul
Flues was living in the big
city, working for the big
company and enjoying the big social scene.
So, did he move home to Astoria in order to
slow down and simplify his life? Hell, no.
Today, the 39-year-old owns two popular
eateries, leads a gay mens support group and
serves as an outspoken community advocate.
Somehow, he also finds the time to envision
making the world a better place.
Like most small-town natives, Flues couldn’t
wait to fly the coop as soon as he came of age. “I
didn’t really like Astoria growing up because it
was a Hiring town. I didn’t really feel like I fit in.”
After earning an agricultural science degree
from Oregon State University in 1987, he moved
to Portland in hopes of eventually teaching voca
tional education. But before he knew it, his career
goals shifted, and he ended up in the restaurant
industry. “I had changed from an egghead into
more of a professional businessperson.”
Flues learned a lot during his 10 years at
McGraths Fish House in Milwaukie but was
ready to venture out on his own. Having fre
quented Northwest 23rd Avenues cool diners
and funky shops, he knew his hometown could
use a dash of hipness.
And he missed his parents, two sisters,
cousins, aunts and uncles. “Even though I like
Portland, I enjoy being with my family. My
homing instinct kicked in.”
He and his niece, 23-year-old Teona Daw
son, launched the casually upscale T. Paul’s
Urban Cafe in downtown Astoria last February.
ANiut a block away is Zoomers— a jungle-
themed joint specializing in juice, smoothies
and ice cream— which opened in August.
Flues, who is quick to insist he is a humble
guy, admits the response has been tremendous.
“The opportunity was ripe here to bring in some
culture and community and creativity.”
The blooming entrepreneur isn’t solely
focused on financial success, though. He is a
Hiard member for the North Coast Pride Net
work, which publishes a quarterly newsletter,
maintains a resource center and presents
“Gertrude’s Wilde Social Mixer" every month.
Flues, who participated in Cascade AIDS
Project’s McnTalk while in Portland, also leads a
men’s support group. AKiut a half-dozen guys
show up every other Sunday for casual discus
sions aNiut relationships, sexual concerns and
other issues.
As if that weren’t enough, he also consis
tently voices his opinion in the Daily A stonan
about dilapidated downtown buildings, green-
spaces and hate crimes. Flues draws on the his
tory of his hometown, the oldest settlement
west of the Mississippi River, for inspiration.
“Just like Lewis and Clark, Astoria has lots of
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