• oclûte 7.20Û5
CULTURE
Seasoned
greetings
Cruise Control connects lesbians 36 and. older
Carol Brownlow loves to dance and likes
ruise Control isn’t just something you set
the fact that the dances are smoke-free. “I
on your car when you’re driving along
would really encourage older women to come
Interstate 5. It has a whole new meaning,
to this, because sometimes they go to dances
thanks to Pauline Miriam. Now when
by P at Y oung
and younger kids are there and we feel out of
you think of Cruise Control, you can exit off
place, but with this everybody is
1-5 to speed dating, disco dances, wine tasting
older and it’s comfortable.”
parties, singles events and anything else she
but in the afternoon.
Miriam set up Cruise Control for
can think of to entertain lesbians 36 and older.
“In Philadelphia during
lesbians 36 and older, but she won’t
the 1980s, we had Ladies
It all started with a divorce. After a long­
term relationship, Miriam suddenly found
for the ’80s,” she says.
discriminate if younger women
herself single. When she was ready to date
These Sunday afternoon
attend. After all, she says, some
younger women like older women.
again, she thought the resources for “sea­
“tea dances” are very com­
soned” lesbians were becoming more and
She chose the age of 36 because
mon on the East Coast,
more limited.
according to Miriam.
of Judaic implications: Every letter
“Since it was time for me to date and I
An afternoon disco
in Judaism has an associated num­
wanted to do speed dating for lesbians, I decid­
dance in Portland called
ber. The word for “life” is “chai.”
ed that I would do speed dating for lesbians,”
Hot Flash seemed like a
The letters add up to 18. “You give a
she says with a chuckle.
good idea. Besides, there
double blessing of life when you give
With more than 30 years of volunteer
are advantages to the early
36, and so it is lesbians 36 and over,”
activism and organizational skills behind her,
hours; some women might
explains Miriam.
Miriam created what she cheekily refers to as
not want to stay up late,
With a mailing list of 500 and
her retirement fund because “Bush isn’t going
and afternoons are down
growing, she has sent out surveys to
to save me with Social Security.”
times at most bars.
determine what women want, and
Cmise Control is her small business. But it
Miriam went to Embers
she tries to meet those needs,
is much more than that. It is a way for her to
to talk with the owners.
which she lists on her website.
give back to the community—something she
She admits one of them
Miriam says her biggest reward for
• strongly believes in. She does this in her spare
was a bit skeptical, saying:
doing Cruise Control is the thanks
time while maintaining a full-time job as a
“You think you are going
she receives from so many women,
medical transcriptionist.
to get these women to
some
of whom come up to her in
Pauline Miriam (with furry friend Rebecca) created Cruise Control as a way for
In April 2004, she put together Cruise
come in and pay $7? And
tears. “There is such a tremendous
her to give back to the community.
Control’s first speed dating event, which was a
how many women did you
need for women to go out and have
chance for single lesbians to meet, talk for
say you were expecting?”
of reasons. Leeanna Warnecke, 50, attended a
fun.” jrn
eight minutes and then move on to the next
She recalls: “They put a bit of the fear of
dance last month for the first time. “I’m here
woman. Miriam, who describes herself as an
God in me. But 1 did it.”
because I’m a lesbian and I’m going to check
For more information about CRUISE CONTROL
East Coast Jewish girl who loves talking, really
More than 200 lesbians attended the first
out some women,” she laughs. “I’ve been
visit www.cruisecontrolpdx.com.
enjoyed the speed dating but noticed waning
event. The dance during Portland Pride drew
single for too long.” She was there with a few
interest after a few events. So she thought
more than 300.
friends and plans to attend other Cruise
P at Y oung is a Portland free-lance writer and
about doing an old-fashioned disco dance—
Women come to the events for a variety
Control events.
gay and lesbian historian.
C
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