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About Just out. (Portland, OR) 1983-2013 | View Entire Issue (Sept. 21, 2007)
SEPTEMBER 21. 2007 jUStlOUt 13 northwest Wedding Expo Is Gay-Friendly “If you spend your money with businesses who Review, one of the earliest gay newspapers m Hundreds of same-sex couples are expected to are gay-friendly, that’s your first line of activism,” Oregon, then to partial ownership of Mildred’s engage in domestic partnerships when House Bill Sproul said. Palace, the first incarnation of the Portland all-ages 2007 goes into effect in January 2008. A spirit of activist!} shows another area of gay nightclub later known as the Metropolis and, You can plan ahead by partic '----------------------------- distinction from traditional most infamously, The City. ipating in the Rainbow Wedding bridal expos. Rather than a sim Mildred’s Palace, still remembered fondly by Network summit, Portland’s first ple display of vendors, the expo disenfranchised survivors now advanced in years, queer “bridal expo.” presents a message of equality. occupied the second-floor ballroom of the historic The Rainbow Wedding Sproul said that even couples Pythian Building (next door to Art Media), which Network presents “Same Love, who are not planning a domes now houses the Adrianna Hill Grand Ballroom, Same Rights” Oct. 7 at the tic partnership ceremony could available to rent for weddings, with any mention of Waterfront Marriott, which attend the event to rally for its past as the focal point of Portland’s gay youth promises to create “an atmosphere of elegance as marriage rights and network with gay-friendly subculture conspicuously absent. well as activism.” businesses, she stressed, noting the effort under For more information call 503-230-2620. Basic Rights Oregon and Just Out are sponsor way to send domestic partnership rights to the ing the event, and more than 100 vendors are ballot. New Mixed Bar Closes specializing in everything from the ceremony itself This will be the 16th gay wedding expo thrown When Bent Bar opened in March, longtime to travel, home and family planning. by the Rainbow Wedding Network since its first in Portland lesbian Joanne Stahl and her gay friend Vintage entrepreneur William Hicks provides Cindy Sproul, who founded the Web site Minneapolis four years ago. Along with its Web site, David Lewis aimed to open a bar for a mixed queer a window into Portland's queer history. RainbowWeddingNetwork.com in 2000—an era which Sproul founded with her partner, the business crowd. when the concept of same-sex marriage still seemed has been a runaway success, earning national visibil “The vintage eyewear has been doing well,” says The pleasant pub with a delicious food menu, far-fetched—has visited Portland to confer with ity in USA Today and other mainstream publications. Hicks of his Hollywood store’s inventory. “People strong karaoke following and friendly crew closed vendors and sponsors and get the word out about The Web site offers resources in all 50 states, linking pick out vintage glasses—Buddy Hollys and cat Sept. 15. The remote location at 633 S.E. Powell the event. She also made a stop at Salem’s Capitol users to more than 5,000 companies. eyes—and get prescription lenses put in them.” In Blvd, might have contributed to the lack of success, Pride festival. Success came as something of a surprise to fact, in Hicks’ estimation, the store boasts over although Stahl tells a different story. In the past, she said, gay and lesbian couples Sproul, who told readers of Gay.com that people 1,000 vintage frames—“four or five showcases’ “David just overspent, and he spent us into the have faced awkwardness’in attending heterosexual- used to laugh at her when she distributed literature worth." He admits he buys much of his stock from ground without paying bills,” she said. “Fie was oriented bridal expos, uncertain whether vendors about planning gay weddings. eBay, noting that the problem with doing so, for hiding them on me. He was telling me everything would be willing to work with them. In this expo, Given the new attention to queer unions in the individual consumer, is that “you have no idea was taken care of, and because it was a 30-year she said, all vendors have been prescreened to be Oregon recently, it shouldn’t come as a surprise that if they’ll fit until you try them on.” friendship, I believed him.” gay-friendly, although the businesses are not neces the response has been tremendous so far. “I wish all Hawthorne Vintage, located at 4722 S.E. Lewis repeatedly * hung up on Just Out’s calls sarily gay-owned. As one of the wealthiest minori cities were this responsive,” Sproul said. Hawthorne Blvd., is the other store Hicks has requesting comment. ties, according to statistics, queer couples have a For more information contact the Rainbow owned for about five years. It allegedly houses the Stahl says she will return to retirement. She unique opportunity to make a statement. Wedding Network at 866-251 -1564. largest collection of midcentury modern vintage wishes to thank patrons and her staff of dedicated furniture and housewares in the state: 5,000 square of bartenders and cooks. Tales to Tell (and to Sell) feet of yesterday’s treasures, representing the collec If you’re an Oregonian in the market for tions of at least 10 different dealers. By J aymee R. C uti , S ean H ayes and T ony L e T igre high-end vintage furniture, accessories, house While you’re shop wares or clothing, you’ll definitely want to spend ping, you might want to time at the two stores owned by William Hicks. spend some time chat “History is what I’m all about," says Hicks, ting with Hicks, who, in who started up the first store, Hollywixxl addition to being an out Vintage, about 10 years ago, “by moving every gay Portland business thing from my house into the store." Located owner, is a living slice of at 2800 N.E. Sandy Blvd., and formerly known history, particularly for as Gilgamesh Antiques, the store specializes in the local queer commu men’s vintage streetwear, dress-ups and hats nity. Back in 1977, he spanning the decades from the ’20s to the ’90s, started a gay youth group plus glamour-wear for ladies both authentic and that organized fund fabricated. That is to say, a plethora of glam raisers to support the orous frocks, rhinestone jewelry, necklaces, city’s then-incipient gay crowns and tiaras in sizes ranging from rights movement. Smurfette to Darcelle, from early Jazz Age to That involvement led Hicks to an interview the New Wave ’80s (and prematurely nostalgic Cindy Sproul watched the concept of a gay-focused •90s): wedding expo develop from far-fetched to reality. Gay patrons said goodbye to Bent Bar on Sept. 15 in The Northwest Gay business watch S Find Your Diamond in the Pearl. ARNELL JUDITH JEWELERS Located In The Pearl District 320 NW 10th Avenue Between Everett & Flanders 503.227.3437 JudithArneilJewelers.com -
