A unique Oregon coastal town 86 miles southwest of Portland is emerging as a welcoming destination for a great gay getaway.

“Our City Council adopted a resolution that Lincoln City would embrace all diversity, including all types of sexual orientation,” said Sandy Pfaff, director of the Lincoln City Visitor and Convention Bureau. “Many people assume that all small towns have mostly conservative opinions, but in our community, most people do not find an issue with the LGBT culture.”

Lincoln City is hosting its first Gay Pride event, the Iris Pride Festival. Iris, the goddess of rainbows and messenger of peace, was the perfect symbol of the event, according to festival board members.

A portion of the AIDS Memorial Quilt will be on display from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sept. 18 to 23 at City Hall, 801 S.W. Highway 101.

Numerous other events in Lincoln City focus on gay culture. Maxwell’s restaurant and lounge, 1643 N.W. Highway 101, draws a crowd when openly gay karaoke jockey Gary Waddle hosts “GaryOke” on weekends.

Pines Restaurant, 5056 S.E. Highway 101, hosts monthly charitable drag shows. Owner Jeannie Henson brings in acts from throughout Oregon. “It is a great way to give back to our community,” she said.

The Little Antique Mall, 3128 N.E. Highway 101, owned by partners Rick Brissette and Dan Beck, has been a popular destination for tourists since its opening in 1998. Brissette, who serves on the City Council, helped lead the fight for Lincoln City’s status as the first coastal town to adopt Oregon’s Equal Rights Ordinance.

The brand new Iris Pride Festival will draw performers from across the Northwest from Sept. 19 to 21. “We wanted to have an activity for almost anyone in the community to enjoy, and we think the Iris lineup is going to showcase what Lincoln City has to offer,” said festival coordinator Nichole Le Sage.

A reading and discussion with famed Portland authors Diane and Jacob Anderson-Minshall and Marc Acito will take place Sept. 19. Diane is the executive editor of Curve magazine, and Jacob writes the syndicated column “TransNation.” They co-authored Blind Eye Detective Mystery Series. Acito’s debut novel, How I Paid for College: A Novel of Sex, Theft, Friendship and Musical Theater, is a fast favorite for recent college graduates.

The festival’s Night of Comedy at 9:30 p.m. Sept. 20 at Surftides Resort, 2945 N.W. Jetty Ave., features dry-witted Lisa Kaplan and New York’s Jackie Monahan. Tickets to the 21-and-older event are $10.

Lily Armani, Seattle Pride’s mistress of ceremonies, will visit Taft High School on Sept. 19 to speak with the Gay Straight Alliance before hitting the stage as headliner for the festival’s Beachside Street Fair. The fair is from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sept. 20 in the Historic Taft District. Numerous performances and games are planned.

A youth dance party will take place from 8 to 11 p.m. Sept. 20 at the Lincoln City Community Center, 2150 N.E. Oar Place. The chaperoned party is open to ages 13 to 18, and the suggested donation is $1.

“One of our main goals with Iris Pride was to include Lincoln City’s youth. There is such a great younger GLBT community, and we wanted to show them a great time,” said Le Sage.

The final day of the festival opens 11 a.m. Sept. 21 with Flamingo Bingo at Eden Hall, 6675 Gleneden Beach Loop. Bingo cards are $2, and guests wearing pink receive a free bingo card. Eden Hall hosts an open mike at 6 p.m. for anyone wishing to share stories and discuss how the festival has affected their lives in Lincoln City.

The festival is not without a handful of critics, who are meeting Sept. 7 at Agape Church in Lincoln City to “ask for the Lord’s help,” according to John Shoemaker, a Lincoln City business owner. “It’s the opposite of Christian living, taking pride in something we’re very much against.” Shoemaker said he would not attend the festival, but Le Sage said authorities have been alerted about the possibility of protests.

“Driving down Highway 101, almost every business has the Iris Pride poster in their store window. So many people, both gay and straight, are really excited for the weekend,” said Le Sage. “Our town is definitely not your average small-town America, and events like these showcase how unique Lincoln City is.”

For more information about the Iris Pride Festival e-mail nicholel@lincolncity.org  or visit www.oregoncoast.org.

James Maxwell is a recent Arizona State University graduate who loves being back in the Northwest.