My first Seattle Pride experience was the first unofficial parade in 1977.

I came out while living on Hood Canal in the mid-1970s. My first boyfriend, who was also a Gay virgin, and I didn’t think there were many other “guys into guys” in our area. One night, his therapist took us on a tour of Gay Seattle. First stop” The Mocambo at Second and Yesler. I was astonished at how many guys were there!

In 1975, I applied for a job as a waiter at “The Mo,” and two days later was hired as a bartender. The night before my first shift, my mom and I studied a bartending guide to learn the current drinks. Little did I know that my first shift was a packed Sunday brunch, and the favorite drink was a Ramos Fizz, which I had not learned! By the middle of my shift, David Burget (who later became one of my best friends) told me I was the worst bartender he had ever seen! Two years later, I was voted Seattle’s Best Bartender at the annual “Nelly Awards,” which always followed the sold-out, reservation-only Academy Awards party.

In 1977, I joined the unofficial march from Occidental Park to Westlake Park with a moderate number of people. We were all scared of what would happen — but were amazed to find the streets lined with people cheering and more people hanging out of windows.

At Westlake, the weather was sunny and hot, so all the guys took off their shirts. The women in the crowd demanded we put our shirts back on since they could not take off theirs, which all the guys did!

While working at “The Mo,” I decided my lifetime goal was to own a great Gay bar. With my life partner Nathan Benedict, Tom Rantz (at The Inside Passage), and Greg Scheaffer (at Union), I have been very fortunate to have owned three of them! 

I have always believed Pride celebrations should be free and open to all, and all these years later, I am proud to have cocreated Union Pride, which welcomes everyone and is a free event!