Dustina Haase & Jennifer Lanier

Our Story

Jennifer: I was living in Hawaii in a tropical paradise with a partner I no longer trusted, trying to find ways to make life bearable. As I was touring None of the Above I came to the west coast, where I had an idea with the help of a friend from Portland to produce-from-a-distance a variety show called SUPER QUEER. I used many local performers from recommendations by this friend & Dustina was one of the performers. I met everyone when I arrived with my co-host & we all put together a terrific event. I, however, was having a time because I had decided to leave my partner & the cult in Hawaii but had not decided what to do next. I needed a substitute sound operator for a performance of my solo show, NONE OF THE ABOVE, & Dustina volunteered. A few weeks later, after deciding to stay in Portland, a networking coffee meeting was set up. Coffee turned into lunch. That evening became the first of many karaoke dates. And the stage was set for a romance to begin. Of course, no good romance is complete without adversity. My Hawaii friends said, “a little fast to be falling in love, isn’t it?” Her Portland friends said, “she’s a touring performer…probably got a girl in every city. She will break your heart.” Between the well meaning friends and the exes coming out of the woodwork, there were plenty of WHY YOU SHOULDN’T BE TOGETHER voices. But the most important voice ended up being the loudest…Creator brought us together and we are strengthened by the difficulties we have faced and moved through. Now we enter the next act…a wedding.
Dustina: I had heard about this cool performing opportunity called Super Queer & contacted the producer, Jennifer Lanier, & told her a bit about the act, she was interested & she sounded fun. The first time I saw Jennifer was at the show's pre-meeting. I thought she was hot, I will admit it, but she came to town with a girl who I thought was her girlfriend and so that is where my interest stayed… purely professional. Not to mention I heard during that meeting that she was a drag king & my experience with drag kings is they were cocky (pun totally intended) & not really enjoyable to be around. Although she did seem humble & funny & interesting & I loved her creative sense (as it was so like mine).
Super Queer was an interesting night, that was the first night I met Bruce T. D. King (Jennifer's Drag persona) He is a flirt... it was an amazing transition: Jennifer back stage was nervous & anxious & very professional & then when that spot light hit Bruce & he started in on his funny antics, I was impressed. Not long after Super Queer, it was my birthday so I sent her an invite to come to my bash. She called me & sang a birthday song she had written for me on my voice mail. It was the best birthday present I could have received.
A short while later Jennifer sent me an email saying she was staying in town & she would love to get together & talk about what is going on in the Portland's performing
world & Queer events etc. So we set up a coffee meeting... we sat in a little coffee shop called Trippin' Billie’s for 2 hours. I was mesmerized... all I kept thinking is "she has a girlfriend.... she has a girlfriend" & "you are not dating right now... you are not dating right now." It was amazing how quickly we both felt the CLICK. Coffee turned into lunch, lunch turned into Karaoke that evening & that turned into talking outside the place that she was staying till 4:30am. (I mean talking.... really).
My best friend kept reminding me that Jennifer was a traveling performer & probably had a woman in every port. The problem was no matter how loud those voices were they were drowned out by my heart pounding so loudly in my ears when she entered a room.
Finally after a couple of months of denying it, I admitted to her that I was in love with her. & we began an up hill journey to define who we are, aside from the opinions of others. Jennifer is my best friend, my beloved, my heart & that has been made so clear to me by Our Creator. We just fit.
At one point we had a date with the boys so they could get to know her. Before Jennifer & I went any further, I had to know. We all had a blast. I asked the boys what they thought of Jennifer on our way home & D’Artagnan said "Mom, I know you don't believe in soul mates & all that crap, but if we did.... I think she's yours". (out of the mouths of babes, ya know?)
The boys: D’Artagnan said “We met our Ina (what they call Jen) when she was doing her show at In Other Words. Later when Mom said she was dating that same Jennifer I thought, wow Mom’s dating a movie star. Then when we hung out, all of us it was so much fun… we went to this cool coffee shop where they made art in the hot chocolate, I have never seen my Mom so happy”
Darius says “Ina is our other Mom, she was just meant to be that. I can’t wait till the wedding”

Our Wedding

The Invites read:

Sir D’Artagnan James Haase
and
Sir Darius Arthur William Haase
Request the honor of your presence at the
Royal Celebration of Matrimony of their mothers,

Dustina Haase
&
Jennifer Lanier

On October tenth in the year of Our Lord two thousand nine.
To be held at the First Congregational United Church of Christ
1126 SW Park Avenue, Portland OR
At the hour of eleven o’clock ante meridian.

Children are most welcome

Reception to follow the ceremony

It is going to be so beautiful. We can't wait!

Our Reception

The cake and punch reception will directly follow the service.
The Fraternal Order of the Eagles lodge in Vancouver, WA
107 E 7th St
Vancouver, WA 98660

(directions will be available at the wedding)

Travel Arrangements

If you are traveling from out of town and would like some help making arrangements feel free to call Jennifer or Dustina.
Also try to stay an extra day- Jennifer and Dustina are performing at Peacock After Dark on Sunday Oct. 11th @ 7pm and would love you to stay and see the show.

A Special Message From Us

Dustina and Jennifer are very excited to have you participate in their special day. We are adding information to this daily. Thank you for being a part of this journey as we create this website and our life together.