The Rainbow Center features a lounge, a library with computers, a large community kitchen, games and resources for those with questions about sexuality, advocacy, or who were victims of hate crimes. “They wanted a place to connect to their fellow community.” “This was started by a group of friends who wanted to know where they could hang out in Tacoma,” Santiago said. Established in 1997, the center is a hub of resources and a safe space for the LGBTQA community to meet for different events and gatherings. The Tacoma Rainbow Center, located on Pacific Avenue, is also about to celebrate its 20th anniversary. Helens Avenue but you can go to Proctor and they are very friendly and then you can go to Sixth Avenue and find a lot of friendly businesses there too.” “And because of our educational outreach many of the businesses and organizations in Tacoma are LGBT-competent. Helens Avenue? What made that the hot spot for some of the most colorful people in the City of Destiny? Manny Santiago, executive director of the Tacoma Rainbow Center, says the local nonprofit had a lot to do with it. “ Queen Indika Haze hosts the show for everyone.”īy why St. “Every first and second Friday of the month we have drag karaoke,” Leach said. “And everyone in this area keeps in touch and tries to work together.”īoth Pate and Leach said if they were going to tour a new queer friend around the area they would go and get coffee at the unofficial “gay Tully’s”, show them the local theaters, visit some of the kooky shops on Antique Row, eat some delicious snacks at Black Kettle and of course introduce them to some of the queens and kings of Tacoma. “Capitol Hill, like the Castro, has become commercialized,” Pate said.
Although Pate is a straight married man, to the disappointment of some of his customers, he says he has always kept the LGBTQA community close to his heart and feels that Tacoma has one of the few, authentic neighborhoods in the area. Their son, Matt Fields, grew up hanging out in the bar and now sells some of his favorite patrons beers on the weekends. The Fields also own a few bars, such as The Cuff, in Seattle on Capitol Hill. Club Silverstone is owned by Randy and Cheryl Fields. Pate has been working at the club for over two years and says he feels like part of the Silverstone family. We like to know our customers by their first name and treat them like family.” “We are a tight-knit community down here. “Some of these people have been coming here for 20 years,” Assistant Manager David Pate said. A walk down the stairs on a Friday evening after work and you’ll see a few regulars at the bar or playing pool, chatting with the bar keep and singing drunken renditions of “Friends in Low Places”. The club is celebrating it’s 20th birthday in May. Helens Avenue from The Mix towards Broadway will take you to Tacoma’s longest-running gay-bar, Club Silverstone. Scheff and Henderson also own The Office Bar and Grill located on Pacific Ave, which is described as a “gay-friendly” bar but is not strictly a bar for the LGBTQA community.Ī quick walk down St. The Mix is one of the two official gay-bars in the city of Tacoma. Bigger cities have more cliques and small groups.” “Don’t get me wrong I love going to Seattle,” Leach said. He moved to Tacoma 10 years prior and has become a big part of the neighborhood, which he describes as laid-back. Leach is also a math professor at Tacoma Community and Pierce colleges. Leach Is the co-owner of The Mix with Travis Scheff and Matt Henderson. I get my haircut at Supernova, I work out at the ”
“I get my wine, beer and cheese at Stink. Helens Avenue near Market Street and meet Brock Leach, co-owner of The Mix. The answer is yes, and if you want a tour it would be a good idea to start on St. How do you make new friends, find a safe space and support the community in this new city? Seattle has the hill, San Francisco the Castro, but is there a “gayborhood” in Tacoma? On first arrival to Tacoma, a new queer transplant might wonder what there is for them in a city not as well known as nearby Capitol Hill.