Just out., April 15, 2011, Page 17, Image 17

eatout
OREGON S LGBTQ NEWSMAGAZINE
restaurant scene, the marriage couldn’t have
been more perfect. But as with any new en­
deavor, Portland’s DOFL is still a small enti­
ty—the product of Partnership Project staff
moonlighting as DOFL organizers on top of
their regular duties. Lager-Mesulam says that
other cities have full-time development de­
partments aimed exclusively at DOFL each
year. For now, though, she says they’re happy
with the growth they’ve achieved in the first
three Out-ings.
“We’re slowly building and building, and
this is what we can really manage and do well,”
explains Lager-Mesulam, who notes that par­
ticipating restaurants have gone up from 16
the first year to 28 so far in 2011. “We want
the restaurants to succeed, and of course w e
want to succeed and put on a good event for
people. It’s Portland, and there are so many
restaurants, so it could be really huge. Maybe
one day it will be.”
The larger DOFL event has benefited from
celebrity spokespersons Ted Allen—of Food
Network’s Chopped, and formerly of Q ueer Eye
f o r the Straight Guy—and actress Pam Grier
(7he L Word, Jackie B row n). Allen’s passionate
involvement with the event stems from a de­
sire to bring awareness to the fact that the
HIV/AIDS crisis is not over, and that money
for research and treatment is still desperately
needed.
“Republicans in Congress are trying to
shove through reckless, ideologically driven
budget cuts in domestic programs that will
APRIL 15. 2011
►
have no meaningful impact on the deficit DOFL funds. Part of that service includes a
whatsoever, but would devastate a huge swath transportation program, which provides cli­
of important programs,” says Allen. “And this, ents with bus tickets, gas cards and cab rides
at a time when the country is struggling to to get to critical appointments such as medi­
recover from the recession, and people who cal, mental health, dental, substance abuse,
used to be volunteers at food banks and soup housing and support groups.
kitchens now are looking to those organiza­
Partnership also offers a Prevention Pro­
tions to feed their own families. It is more gram, partially funded by DOFL, which pro­
important than ever for those of us who are vides risk reduction counseling to people who
able to donate time and resources to do so.”
are HIV negative as well as individual one-
The first year of DOFL in Portland raised on-one counseling for those at high risk of
110,000, while 2010’s totals reached $15,000.
That amount of money isn’t huge in the bigger
picture of the Partnership Project’s and Day
Center’s respective budgets, but the organiza­
tions split the money evenly and utilize the
funds to expand on services that federal grant
and health system dollars don’t cover.
“We’re primarily grant funded, and federal
dollars that come through the county and the
state are dwindling,”explains Lager-Mesulam.
“We’ve seen a decrease and have had to make
some staff cuts. Health systems are having
budgetary problems, so we’re seeing an in­
crease in services—or a need—and a decrease
in funding.”
Programs like Partnership Project’s M edi­
cal Case Management and Nursing Case
Management programs, which provide assis­
tance to patients who have trouble adhering
to medications regimens, are given new life by
Queer Eye guy: Ted Allen, celeb
spokesperson for the national DOFL cause
acquiring HIV. Also assisted is the organiza­
tion’s annual Thanksgiving Meal Program,
which last year provided 72 families with full
holiday meals.
Some restaurants in Portland have been
with the DOFL cause since the beginning,
including West Cafe, a gay-owned eatery in
Southwest Portland.
“It’s been three years now and slow grow­
ing,” says Sean Concannon, co-owner of West
Cafe. “Nonetheless, every little bit counts. This
year I am hopeful that PDX will rally around
this cause.”
Restaurants interested in participating have
until the day of the event to sign on, and La­
ger-Mesulam hopes for a big push as the date
nears for this vital fundraiser. She notes the
generosity from all volunteers and restaurants
as being crucial to DOFL’s success.
“We want to empower and create commu­
nity,” says Lager-Mesulam. “Our big reason in
doing this is about awareness—to have people
discussing HIV at some point during the day,
during the year, when they normally might
not. It’s part of the conversation, and we
shouldn’t forget.”
D ining Out f o r L ife takes place 'Ihursday, A pril
28 at p a rticip a tin g restaurants. For a f u l l list o f
restaurants, visit dinm goutforlife.com /portland.
T wenty to thirty p ercen t o f you r b ill w ill be do­
nated directly to the Partnership P roject and
EMO's HIV Day Center. For m ore inform ation,
v isit ohsu.edu/partnership or em oregon.org.
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