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About Just out. (Portland, OR) 1983-2013 | View Entire Issue (May 6, 2011)
WARTY DAVIS OREGON S LGBTO NEWSMAGAZINE W h at’s gay and grey and little bit pink? No, no— not Bugs Bunny (though he did have a thing for drag). It’s this year’s Gay & Grey PD X Expo. The third annual event will have all the usual con sultations and services for LG BTQ _ seniors, Third annual expo has something for the old and young at heart byaaronspencer and this year, organizers are throwing a dance called “Think Pink” the night before. They bill it ingful for them when the time comes.” But organizers are also trying to connect as “the prom you never had.” The expo is the largest event and fundraiser with all age groups— individuals in their twen for Gay & Grey, a program of the nonprofit ties through their forties— to raise awareness Friendly House. The expo will feature vendors about the issue o f aging LGBTQ_people. and workshops all targeted toward LG BTQ _ “It is important for us to help the younger seniors. It’s a sort o f one-stop shop where se generation o f L G B T people understand the niors can get help dealing with housing, health roots and history o f the gay movement,” Cham and social issues. berlin says. [one],” he says. This year, organizers plan to hold a manda tory diversity training for all o f the vendors Gay & Grey staff figures about 10,000 L G - So for starters, organizers are trying to get BTQ_ seniors are in the Portland metro area, the word out. They got a big boost from Gover The prom is themed “Think Pink and Shake and those seniors are more likely to live alone nor John Kitzhaber. He declared the day o f the O ff the Grey” and is mostly targeted to seniors, than heterosexual seniors. They also generally expo, May 21, to be Gay &. Grey Day. Secretary though all ages are welcome. The music will be lack adequate family support networks and are o f State Kate Brown will read the official proc mostly country and anything from the ‘40s and five times less likely to access senior services. lamation at the event. Former Governor Bar ‘50s. Prom attire and tacky tuxedos are encour And as usual, the popular health and well bara Roberts will also attend. aged. Drinks— nonalcoholic, of course— will be ness screening room will be available. It’s a served, as will snacks. place where seniors can get checkups on every The event drew 350 people last year, but in when the expo begins. And Meisner plans to return. He and his partner, Bob Rupar, are even helping to organize the event. The expo will include panels on finances, end o f life, health and other issues. 2011, event organizers are changing things up. The “prom” is another change. After the pre They want the expo to appeal to a wider, younger vious two events, attendees, vendors and volun As for the main expo, organizers are trying thing from blood pressure to depression— audience. And by “younger,” they mean about a teers would get together for drinks at Q_Center to address concerns some attendees had with whatever is necessary to keep them up-to-date decade short o f the golden years— think fifties. and discuss how the expo went. the 2010 event, particularly that some o f the until the next “W h at’s up, “The 50-plus crowd will be 60 before they “We felt strongly that the social piece o f the know it,” says Mya Chamberlin, director o f expo was something we wanted to build on,” services for seniors and homeless families at Chamberlin says. Doc?"vW vendors did not know the audience. “Last year it seemed to be a lot o f Realtors Gay & Grey PD X Expo, Sat., M ay 2 1 ,10 a.m .- trying to tell you ‘Come and live in my place,’ 4 p.m .; Friendly House, 1737 N W 26th A ve.; but they really didn’t know what the needs o f a fr e e ; 503-228-4391. “'Ihink P ink senior prom, Friendly House and head o f the Gay & Grey The prom is a formal attempt to harness that program. “We want them involved in the pro impromptu socialization. After all, one o f the gay couple were," says Bruce Meisner, who at Fri., M ay 20, 6 -9 p.m .; Q Center, 4 1 1 5 N. Missis gram for a variety o f reasons, but also to be sure goals o f the Gay & Grey program is to connect tended the event. “There’s a big difference be sippi we are creating a program that will be mean LGBTQ^seniors with each other. tween being a gay couple and being a straight gayandgreypdx. org. ” A ve.; $5-$25 suggested donation; Y McVittie-Law PC ATTORNE YS AT LAW Trust the Specialists . ^ rum bialt to- altmi one room at a time Spring Cleaning Clearance! OUR LARGEST SELECTION OF TDI MODELS EVER! M2DÜPNE IK FINE FURNISHINGS & FUNKTIONAL INTERIORS V//5A W SC vet w w w .M cV ittie-Law .cofn 5210 SW Corbett Ave., Suite M 503.595.7770 Modurne.biz mon - sat: 10am-6pm sun: 12pm-5pm Armstrong Volkswagen 20000 SE McLoughlin in Gladstone Ju st off 1-205 in Gladstone ARMSTRONGVW.COM 1 - 888 - 331-6314 TOLL FREE 503 - 656-2924 LOCAL
