Form part of the Gay and Lesbian Archives of the Pacific Northwest (GLAPN).
Collection is open for research.
Gift of the Gay and Lesbian Archives of the Pacific Northwest, July 2011 (Lib. Acc. 27383).
Stephen C. Suss was born in Tacoma, Washington, in 1939. He owned a gay bar and steam bath in Seattle, Washington, before relocating to Portland, Oregon, in the 1960s. He then owned a straight bar called Slick Willies in Portland for several years. In 1971, he bought Embers, a nightclub in Portland. He transformed it into a gay bar, which was famous for its drag shows. In 1981, he moved the bar to Broadway, where it became a cornerstone of Portland's gay night life. He served on the board of Esther's Pantry, an organization that provides food and clothing for people with AIDS. After Suss suffered a stroke, Embers closed in 2017. Suss died in 2020.
Forms part of the Gay and Lesbian Archives of the Pacific Northwest (GLAPN).
Oral history interview with Steve Suss, by Danita Doun and Lachelle Ogden, SR 11236, Oregon Historical Society Research Library.
This oral history interview with Steve Suss was conducted by Danita Doun and Lachelle Ogden on February 15, 2011, as part of their Capstone course at Portland State University, under instructor Pat Young. Doun and Ogden conducted the interview for the Gay and Lesbian Archives of the Pacific Northwest, which collects the histories of organizations and individuals active in lesbian and gay issues in the Portland area and throughout the Pacific Northwest. In addition to the audio, the collection includes a transcript of the interview and photographs of Suss.
In the interview, Suss discusses his ownership of Embers, a gay bar in Portland, Oregon. He also talks about serving on the board for Esther's Pantry, which provides food and clothing for people with AIDS. He discusses his stance on marriage equality; talks about owning a bar and steam bath in Seattle, Washington, but leaving due to city government corruption; and talks about his reasons for relocating to Portland and some of his early business ventures. He discusses the early years of owning Embers, beginning in 1971, including his attempt to expand its original location, and moving to the location on Broadway in 1981. He also talks about his relationship with his partner and his family. He closes the interview by talking about a lawsuit against the Oregon Liquor Control Commission that he was involved in.