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About Just out. (Portland, OR) 1983-2013 | View Entire Issue (Jan. 9, 2009)
j 13 JANUARY 9,2009 northwest Glitter and Be Gay! Sam Adams and Q Center are putting the gay in gala' by Stephen Marc Beaudoin cording to event co-chairman and Q Center board As to how queer Portland will be on display If it hasn’t yet been knocked into your member Brian Charles Johnson, who describes him at the gala, Johnson promised that the entertain noggin that recently installed Portland self as a 20-year friend and colleague of Adams’, and ment, visual production and, he hopes, crowd will Mayor Sam Adams is, in fact, a homo an admirer of the mayor’s “vision and ideas. And be an outrageously beautiful cross section of the sexual, then there’s gotta be a screw loose clearly,” he adds, “it’s good to have gay leadership to city, queer and otherwise. To that end, he says inspire others, especially younger people.” they tried to price tickets as affordably as possible: am Sam Sam! Gay gay gay! somewhere. You simply can’t read any of the volu minous media coverage about the man—whether So what’s exactly on tap at the much-hyped $75 for a general admission ticket, which gets you it’s in Just Out, Portland Monthly or Out—without event? April Severson, a consultant who’s leading dancing, f<xxl and drinks, and $150 for a special hearing about his history-making place as the only the event planning and execution, says Portland is in VIP pass, which guarantees a private audience openly gay mayor of a major U.S. city. for one glitzy night of dancing, music, frxxl and out with his eminence Adams himself. For recession And although Adams himself likes to keep his rageous fun, even if it is ostensibly a politician’s party. strapped Portlanders, that might seem a tad steep, homo-status in check—the phrase “I don’t want to “What really sets this event apart is less the sheer hut Johnson claims he’s “nor worried at all" about be a gay mayor, I want to be a good mayor” has be size than it’s the opportunity for glamour and fun and packing the house. He’s quick to remind that the come a type of leitmotif—he just as frequently rais play,” says Severson, who has two decades of event gala is, of course, a fund-raising event for Q Center, es the specter of legendary gay leader Harvey Milk planning experience. “A lot of times political events which is hoping to walk away with at least $50,000 in his speeches, and has taken to mentioning his are serious and concerned with being correct." toward its capital-building campaign at a time when boyfriend, former Just Out intern turned Oregonian Not so with this gala, Severson says. She was nonprofit donors are stretched to their thinnest. tad disenfranchised from this très gay event, take heart: reluctant to release any real details of what’s go As to that most-important queer question for the Adams doesn’t hate on the heteros. “He doesn't want So perhaps his decision to throw an over-the-top ing down—although Q Center executive director gala: How best to dress it up for this most glittery of to exclude the straight community, either,” Johnson mayoral gala Jan. 31 at The Nines Hotel later this Kendall Clawson did let on that actress Heather mayor’s galas? “Come dressed in festive wear, whatever says, somewhat apologetically, “because he truly month, and have it benefit Q Center, a nonprofit Matarazzo of The L Word and Welcome to the that means to you,” Johnson urges, noting the affair wants to be the mayor of all of Portland. queer organization he helped found, should come as Dollhouse fame is among the guest stars—Severson is black-tie optional. “A tiara or a flannel shirt, but no big surprise. Portland’s new mayor has a vested dropped a few tantalizing crumbs along the trail, make sure the collar is up on rhe shirt.” As for himself, M ayor ’ s W inter G ala takes place Jan. 31 at The interest, after all, in keeping Portland queer. including hinting at some sort of “visually exciting Johnson says he’ll be showcasing “something fabu Nines Hotel, 525 S.W. Morrison St. VIP admission at presentation” that she thinks “is gonna get people lous. . .something that’ll make me smile and feel good.” 7:30 p.m. is $150; general admission at 8:30 is $75. reporter Peter Zuckerman, at public events. He also has an interest in inspiring the next gen eration of queer leaders in Portland and beyond, ac And in case all those straight readers are feeling a really worked up,” whatever that means. Tickets available online at uuw.ticketsoregon.com. 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