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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