It’s really a change to the stereotype - I rolled up and saw this huge, muscular guy with a big beard wearing rainbow socks and a bright pink fanny pack. It’s a nonprofit, primarily gay men’s team, which is cool considering that many of the players were brand new to the sport and had never played before. I headed out to Magnuson Park to watch the Quake Rugby team practice. It gave me a whole new perspective on their performance, and really showed how representative they are of the LGBTQ community in Seattle. I talked with Olivier Wevers, the artistic director, who told me that half of the company and the board are LGBTQ-identifying, and many of its shows play on themes of homosexuality. It was really cool to watch them up close and get a sneak peek of “Transfigurate.” So I went to check out their rehearsals, where they were getting ready for a new show premiering in June. I really love dance and seeing new performances, and Laura recommended this contemporary dance troupe called Whim W’Him. Most of them were transplants but had been in Seattle for 10 or more years, and you could tell it really felt like home to them. It’s like their book club but with tacos. I went on Taco Tuesday night and met so many friendly women, like this one group of friends who make it out for Taco Tuesday every week. I didn’t do any research - no phone, remember? - but I had heard that Wildrose was a big deal. I would describe it as your classic dive lesbian bar - definitely a lot of fun. The bar has retained its vintage ‘80s vibe and still attracts a large, inclusive crowd. This bar, on the corner of 11th Avenue and East Pike Street, was in plain sight with large street-facing windows. At the time, most gay bars were for men and were hidden with unmarked signs. Wildrose opened on New Year’s Day in 1985 and is now one of the country’s longest-running lesbian bars. Seattle queers opened gay bars, establishments, and cabarets in the 1930s and on, making the city a popular destination for LGBTQ residents and tourists. In her 48-hour trip, Cloud uncovered what makes Seattle’s LGBTQ scene so special. Seattle has one of the largest percentages of LGBTQ-identifying people in the country, a celebrated PrideFest every June, and some of the oldest and longest-running gay bars in the nation. But few outside the populous coastal cities know that Seattle’s LGBTQ scene is among the nation’s most active. Having lived in New York for 20 years, Cloud knows what it feels like to be a part of a larger LGBTQ community.
Today, Cloud lives in Los Angeles, where she’s working on developing her short for a series, hosting her podcast, “Dear Queer,” and doing voiceover work.
Her film has been viewed more than 2 million times and was shown in countless film festivals. Armed with only a notebook and a Polaroid camera to record the experience, our fearless sightseers could only rely on the recommendations of Seattleites to guide their adventure.Ĭomedian and writer Robin Cloud is best known for her short film, Out Again, about coming out to her family. The catch? No phones, no planning, no research. We sent travelers on a whirlwind journey to discover Seattle’s rich culture and history.