Gus Van Sant's Portland visions: West Coast urban evolution documented through the viewfinder of a local out filmmaker.(movie location of Milk) From: The Advocate (The national gay & lesbiannewsmagazine) | Date: April 22, 2008| Author: Beck, Byron | COPYRIGHT 2008 LPI Media. This material is published under license from the publisher through the Gale Group, Farmington Hills, Michigan.  All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Gale Group.Copyright information

While sizing up the queer streets of San Francisco's Castro District for his latest film, Milk--the story of slain gay rights activist Harvey Milk, expected to hit theaters in late 2008--indie auteur Gus Van Sant was asked his opinion of the City by the Bay. "It's really fun," he replied, "but not as fun as Portland."

The Oregon city of about 550,000 that Van Sant has called home for more than 20 years was once viewed as just a place to gas up on the way to larger and l...