Richard "Ric" Weiland (1953-2006) was a software developer, programmer, philanthropist, and active member of the Northwest gay community. Weiland was the first full-time employee hired by Bill Gates and Paul Allen in 1975 at the newly founded Microsoft company. The three were high school classmates at Lakeside School and members of the Lakeside Programming Group. Weiland retired from Microsoft in 1988 at the age of 35. As the value of his stock holdings grew, he increasingly devoted himself to philanthropy, donating nearly $200 million to support HIV research, LGBTQ legal rights, and the presence of gay-straight alliances and anti-bullying policies in schools. This costume was created by Weiland in 1997 to attend a masquerade party thrown by Paul Allen in Venice. Allen chartered a plane and sent invitees a template and instructions to make their own masks. Weiland certainly had the money to commission someone to sew him a costume, but he enjoyed making party costumes himself, as evidenced by this and other garments donated to MOHAI from various events Weiland attended. The tunic in this outfit was created buy cutting out the shape from a multicolored sequin fabric and reinforcing the shoulders with fabric glued inside (no sewing required). It was worn over a pair of black tights. The cape was likely purchased, but then a feather boa was added to the edges with pins.