Pride Week: Store 'queer' and distinct

Boutique has mission to promote gay and transgender communities

By Ian Shelton, Times Colonist June 29, 2010 6:04 AM

http://www.timescolonist.com/life/Store+queer+distinct/3214778/story.html

For Dawn Heiden, there was no sense in running a business unless it supported a cause, and no sense in championing a cause if you had to do it with an outstretched hand.

"It's called 'enterprising non-profits,' and that's what this is," Heiden, 58, said of Out of the Closet Renew Boutique, the used clothes, antiques and gay-pride products store she co-founded with Victoria artist Rebecca Van Sciver.

Heiden said high suicide rates among transgender youth prodded her into taking action. She also wanted to create something sustainable that could continue funding programs for years, rather than relying on charitable funding that could dry up at any time.