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
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