Tacky Tourist Clubs: History bits

It might seem silly to even try to record a history of several parties. After all, each of the parties was just a few hours of frivolity. Unlike so much else that happened here during the same time, the parties were hardly something intended to change the world, the city, or the state. One might argue that history should be left for the "important" things.

Maybe.

But the parties raised funds for many of those "important" causes. Our list of beneficiaries tells a story by itself about what was important and where we, as a community, were heading in those years. What's more telling, however, is that the parties helped to set a tone for the gay/lesbian/queer communities in Seattle. The "important" activists tended to be humorless and even -- sometimes -- dour during the decades when Tacky Tourist Clubs offered its evenings or days of frivolity. The parties created and continue to provide a humorous antidote.

The first Cruise in 1981 showed a style that has continued to characterize Tacky Tourist events: At a time when gay bars in town still featured discreet signage and no windows, the Cruise offered up a boatload of queers who sought out the most public of places on the water to hold a daytime party under the bright sun.

Like the Cruise, The Prom became a party that attracted visitors eager to watch the festivities. Folks from all sides of Queen Anne Hill walked down to the Mountaineers Buildings to gawk at and enjoy part of the night's festivities that were held on the outdoor courtyard.

The Prom was a huge party that attracted both men and women in nearly equal proportions. That wasn't an accident, but it was unlike so many of the big parties in other cities. At least one of the Prom beneficiaries was always a major Lesbian group. Women were prominently features among the extensive lineup of entertainers.

We can't recreate any of those past parties, but perhaps we can help those who were there remember the nights or days a bit more clearly.

Please consider these pages a work in progress.

You can contribute to that progress by adding your own stories. Use the form below or email me to share with us highlights of your own participation in Tacky Tourist Clubs events.

-- Robin Evans (Web wrangler)