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.;
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