Image provided by: University of Oregon Libraries; Eugene, OR
About Just out. (Portland, OR) 1983-2013 | View Entire Issue (Aug. 17, 2001)
august 17.2QÛL CULTURE ...............▼................ <» rowing up I always felt like I didn’t fit in and that something just wasn’t “right” about me. 1 always felt different and out of place with the guys and often won dered if I was just some fucked-up freak. Never having been around gay people before, 1 really wondered if 1 was alone in my feelings of isolation and insignificance com pared to my hetero counterparts. I thought I was gay, hut I didn’t really know what to do about it. But then one night when I was 19, my sister-in-law (the only person 1 had come out to) took me to Misfits (now Klub Z), and it for ever affected me as a gay man. For the first time in my life, I saw how nor mal and happy my life could be. Here was a club filled with people just like me, everyone dancing, laughing and carefree. I immediately felt a sense of relief and that things were going to he OK. Misfits gave me a sense of belonging 1 wasn’t able to find any where else. And like all things gay and hold, the all ages club isn’t just a safe haven for gay youth; it’s also a kick-ass place to party. Going through as many name changes as Prince, Klub Z has been called a lot of things. Always an all-ages gay club, it started off as the City Nightclub hut under new management ended up being called Misfits, then the Edge. Jeana Hooker (second from left), Rosebud X X V Anastasia (center) and pals strike a pose at Klub Z G As for the crowd, it’s a mixture of every type' of homo: preppie, goth, raver, drag. You name it; they probably go there. Now it goes by club could give Klub Z, a name the Quest and picked by the kids Up Front a run to honor its new for their hetero by M ichael W ayne K eck owner, Zig, who money. with the help of volunteers was able to reopen Upstairs DJ Scooter spins some hot R & B, the club only four days after it was shut down Top 40 and techno mixes— enough to get me by the previous owner. shakin’ that ass. And downstairs DJ Robby treats the kids to new sounds of gothic, indus “I wanted a safe and clean club for all the trial and dungeon music. gay kids to have,” he says. “The straight kids have their nice clubs; it’s only fair the gay kids Besides being a place to party, this club obvi get theirs.” ously is also a home away from home for many of the young people. “My main goal is for kids from Now celebrating its one-year anniversary, all different walks of life to have a club to call Klub Z clearly is doing well. W hen I went a their own, a place where they can escape and few weekends ago it was packed and the place just be themselves,” Zig promises. literally was jumpin’. W ith new lighting, a stellar sound system, two dance floors and a Rosebud X X V Anastasia agrees. “Coming to this club is a time for me to express myself couple of cool disc jockeys, it seems our gay Portland’s only all-ages gay club proves it’s a rad place to be THE colu m n HOME LOAN Portland \ Salem \ Vancouver Evenings/W eekends 503 . 780.1561 Toll Free M -S at 8am • 6pm W est L inn Sun 11am-4pm W e s t L in n 19343 Willamette Drive • (5031 6 3 5 -3 1 1 5 C l a c k a m a s 16317 SE 82nd Drive • (5 0 3 ) 6 5 7 -9 2 2 5 T i g a r d 13500 SW Pacific Hwy • (5 0 3 ) 6 7 0 -9 7 0 7 1 . 877 . 826.9900 Email colleen w(®mtgadvocates.com www.mtgadvocates.com K lub Z is located at 333 S.W. Park Ave. and is open from 10 p.m . until 2 a.m . Thursday and from 10 p.m . until 4 a.m . Friday and Saturday; during the summer it is also open from 10 p.m. until 2 a m. Sunday. Cover is $8 Friday and Saturday, $5 Thursday and Sunday. Learn more at www.kluh-z-com. M ichael W ayne K eck is a Portland free-lance writer. He is currently in an undisclosed location preparing himself for his next life-altering experi ence: Madonna at the MGM Grand. E-mail him at michaelwaynekeck@hotmail.com. • New purchase • 100% equity loans • Pre-qualification by phone or fax • Refinance/cash out • Pre-approved loans • Residential, com m ercial & investm ent property • A ppointm ents at your convenience Office 503 . 297.9900 and meet other young gay people,” the 19-year-old says. Jeana Hooker, 20, who performs at Klub Z under the name Isis, adds: “Everyone is welcoming and respects each other here. T h e diversity and ener gy are amazing." As for the crowd, it’s a mixture of every type of homo: preppie, goth, raver, drag. You name it; they probably go there. W ith the exception of a few fag hags, the place is predominantly gay, lesbian, hi and trans. Anyone older than 15 is allowed in, although the average age when 1 was there ranged from 17 to 22. W ith a hip crowd, bumpin’ tunes and some trippy lights, Klub Z seems to have proved itself a safe and cool place for teens to go and have a good time. Zig is happy with the club’s success and already is looking ahead. “W e’re hoping to someday open a third dance floor with an ’80s theme. The club is looking a lot better, and I’m hoping by the second anniversary it will be even better.” j n 9900 S.W . ( 503 ) Teleflora • Portland, Oregon 97225 Gifts for Romance in an Elegant Setting Same day local delivery Don Duncan owner A dvocates Corner of Sandy Blvd. & NE 64th 3106 NE 64th Portland, OR 97213 W e deliver worldwide Aloha Market Centre 20455 SW TV Highway www.westsideflorist.com AAA M O R T G A G E Wilshire Street TPesiside fiorisi/ 642-9992 1 - 800 - 356-1884 Colleen Weed "I'm available when you are! ft'4 My Plmurtt A Place of Romantic Invention 503-280 8080 YPvww.telcport.com/-plcaturc 35
