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tuna 6. 2003 • Ja a t M t|p ig
ortland Pride 2003 features more than 150
booths with just about everything from
food to clothing to do-gooders. With such
an abundance of rainbow riches, a dis
criminating visitor will have no trouble finding
by F loyd S klaver
points of interest, hut Just Out noticed a few we
want to he certain you find.
First on the list is Gladiator Pedestal Joust
Interactive Male will
ing, sponsored by gay telephone
provide live models
dating service Interactive Male. This inflatable
to test your gladiator
version of the famed American Gladiators joust
skills at Portland
ing platforms looks like loads of good time.
Pride 2003
Two participants (gladiators!) climb on top of
the pedestals wearing protective headgear.
They then swing at each either with oversized,
foam-filled jousting poles; the victor is the first
one to knock the opponent down onto a huge
air-inflated mat.
As Interactive Male area marketing manag
er Neil Janssen says, “Its a great way to take
out your aggressions on each other— in a play
ful way." (’Course, we already have other ways
of doing that, hut whatever.)
Each match is a whomping three minutes of
fun and costs just $2 a person. Although Inter
active Male is primarily geared toward men,
anyone 14 and older is welcome to play.
While you may challenge your friends,
Interactive Male will have professional models
on hand to fight gladiators who arrive foe-less.
The company will also he taking souvenir
instant photographs of each match. (Perhaps
we can get these professional nude models to
fight in their work clothes.)
Be sure to check out the rest of Interactive
In 1996, Mike joined his life (and business),
buttons,” he happily boasts. “ I have one two-
Male’s hexith as well. Portland drag favorite
and they now make the trip together.
mom family that I take pictures of every year.
Celeste Towers will once again he greeting visi
The pair sell an assortment of novelty items
I put them on a banner in front of my booth,
tors, and everyone who stops by will get free time
including buttons, photo mugs, T-shirts, posters,
|andl all my regulars...check to see how the
on Interactive Male as well as a chance to win
cards and key chains. The buttons come in two
two boys have grown and how the two moms
one of many prizes (possibly IM’s very popular
varieties: 3 1/2-inch color photo buttons that,
are doing.”
Cum towels). In addition, when they aren’t joust-
at $5 each, are their most popular iteirt, and ^
Kitterman is certain that future years will
* ih^ thys^beautiful models will he applying free
1 1/4-inch buttons with political sloga^s^nd"
see him and Mike
, *.rciipprirary tattoos to any part of your KxJy.
funny phrases for just about any q u e e r . - y y..
continuing to
\
interactive Male is the largest gay-owned
They try to introduce fresh maxims frfch # attend Port
.
interactive telephone dating service in the
year as v^ell bring an ample supply*o( the qjdt
land Pride.
y , country and says it is the only one that gives
standards. My personal favorites: “Let go fjf my
“It’s won
f»ack to the community. All pro
ears, I know what I’m
derful
ceeds from the jousting will go
fun,” par
doing,” “Nice pants, they’d
"It's a great way
to Pride Northwest, and any
lcx)k good on my bedroom
ticularly
fi;om the booth will he donated
floor,” “That’s Ms. Dyke to
being able
to take out
to Peacock in the Park. Janssen
to see returning cus
you,” “ Boys will do boys,”
your
aggressions
says he hopes to raise more than
“Bi bi love,” “Women don’t
tomers, he enthuses.
$2,000 for the groups.
have
hot
flashes,
they
have
“Every
year about halfway
on each other— in a
power surges” and “Sit on a
through...I start realizing how much I love
etuming for its 16th Port
playful way."
happy face.” A t just $1
them and start tearing up to the point I can
land Pride is Richard &.
each, this is the perfect
hardly breathe.” Let’s keep them coming back
— Neil Janssen opportunity to stock up for
Button Company.
for another 16 years.
Richard is 67-year-old Richard
every occasion.
Kitterman, who lives in Noti (about 20 miles
Kitterman says lesbians are his most loyal
ast but certainly not least, canine-
west of Eugene) with his 28-year-old partner,
customers. “ I have gay families who have all
loving community members will want to
Mike. He has been selling at Pride since 1988
16 years of their family growing up on my
i shop at Nedra Made It!, staffed by queer-
Likes to watch out for
Suggestions for Pride vendor shopping this year
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Vocation
friendly Nedra Howsden and her boyfriend,
Rick. Last year they adopted Augie (“a really
cute, smart mutt” ) and then discovered it was
difficult carrying everything they needed at the
park. “I love taking him for walks,” Howsden
explains, “but I hate carrying around his poop,
leash and everything else.”
Rick suggested she design a bag that was
“hip yet durable," and Howsden, a consummate
seamstress, seized the challenge. Augie Bags are
now at many area stores, including Healthy
Pets Northwest, Club K-9, Furever Pets and
N oah’s Arf.
The product solves the problem of what to
do with all that dog stuff. While fashionable on
the outside, what makes the bags special is
inside, where each one has a small pocket
under the flap to hold your filled poop bag, a
mesh pocket for keys and baggies, an inside
treat pocket and a general pocket for water
bottles, toys, balls, leashes, Frisbees, etc.
There’s even a side pocket for your cell phone
or flashlight.
You can take the Augie Bag to the park, to
the beach or even to Pride because it comes in
a variety of stylish colors including Poodle
Pink, Beagle Blue and Chow Chow Orange.
Machine washable, it is available in three sizes
(kinda like dogs).
This is the first year at the festival for
Howsden; one of the stores that carry her bags
alerted her to the potential market. “I’ve heard
it’s a lot of fun and a great place for folks to
bring their dogs,” she says.
Will Augie make an appearance at Pride?
“Definitely,” Howsden declares. He’s “a friendly
dog, so he would love it if you came by and
gave him some love.” J H
FLOYD S klaver is a Portland free-lance umter
with a Pekingese rumfcd.Sherman.
...
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tw
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