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may 1ft 9nni .
get-together with gay men in March. Ashen-
brenner says she welcomes such interaction and
misses hanging out with gay men, like she used
to do in Portland.
Bend doesn’t have any gay establishments,
but Sweet Baby Jane’s downtown is a gay-friend
ly spot, locals say. The establishment recently
played host to a “Drag Night.”
Bookstores are few, but at least one, Barnes
&. Noble, carries national gay magazines.
Local lesbians tend to be coupled. Lee says
about 90 percent of the women are in relation
ships. “There’s a shortage of single people.”
Still, many of the area’s singles do find love
in Bend. Lee met her partner after moving to
the east side of the Cascades.
Most local gay men, on the other hand, are
ing some months to watch Monday Night Foot
ball. Often more than 20 people show up.
Women get together outside as well; regular
groups meet up to golf, ski and play tennis.
Ashenhrenner says the lesbian community is
informal but has a strong infrastructure. Locals
estimate their “phone tree” includes 200 to 300
women.
Dan O ’Neil organizes most of the gatherings
for gay men. His address book includes at least
150 listings.
Every month he mails out fliers about a din
ner—Central Oregon Men’s Night Out—at one
of Bend’s many eateries. About 16 to 20 couples
show up.
The rest are single men. O ’Neil says the age
J -—
single.” O ’Neil says.
It might not be Stark Street on a Saturday
night, but whatever your gender, there is a
social life in Bend.
For more information about CENTRAL OREGON
M en ’ s N ight O ut call Dan O ’Neil at
888-429-6368 or 541-312-8881. For more
information about C entral O regon P arents ,
F amilies and F riends of L esbians and G ays
call 541-317-2334 or send e-mail to
elecan@aol.com. For more information about
D eschutes C ounty C oalition for H uman
D ignity call 541-385-3320. JH
JONATHAN KIPP is a Just Out staff reporter who
can be reached at jonathan@justout.com.
range is broad: from 18 to 75 years old.
He says the group doesn’t get hassled by non
gay patrons. “Actually, we kind of look like the
Rotary.” Most restaurants ask the group to come
back.
Although the expense of going out is a non
issue for most men, no one is excluded. O ’Neil
personally guarantees anyone who wants to par
ticipate in the gathering can go; he will pay their
way if they can’t afford it.
Other activities in the area have included a
Halloween costume party and a fund-raiser bar
becue for people with HIV.
Gay and lesbian social activities tend to be
separate. But that might be changing.
Lee says the area’s lesbians just had their first
Catch a rocky mountain high . . .
MEN WITH ALTITUDE
The Portland Gay Men’s Chorus
and special guests
The Denver Gay Men’s Chorus
P erform in g fo r the finest new selections fro m the
2 0 0 0 International Festival of G ay & Lesbian Choruses.
Saturday, June 9, 8:00 p.m.
Sunday, June 10, 2:00 p.m.
Scottish Rite Temple, 709 SW 15th Avenue
Portland (on the MAX line)
Tickets: $20/$15/$12. Available by calling
W A S n X X 503/224-TIXX o r 800-992-8499.
Tickets can also be purchased from any Chorus
member or by calling the Chorus office at
503-226-2588.
www.pdxgmc.org
M l 0 llolloT\ 0 Hofio\m
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Financial
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