Islanders packed Vashon Highway near Vashon Theatre on Friday, June 7 for an evening of dancing and celebration of the island’s LGBTQ+ community.
The party took place amid the street’s closure for the warm, first First Friday of the summer. As the DJ spun disco and house tunes and drag artist Sativa the Queen visited islanders along the road, a youthful crowd proudly displayed flags belonging to all sorts of identities — from bisexual to asexual to trans.
Bertha Stanfill wore a shirt that stated “Do Ask, Do Tell,” satirizing the infamous U.S. Army policy that, from 1993 until its repeal in 2011, barred openly gay, lesbian or bisexual people from military service, and only ambiguously let them serve as long as they did not reveal their sexual identity.
Being bisexual, Stanfill was herself affected by the homophobic restrictions.
“I was (on) an ROTC scholarship — and had to sign the paperwork saying that I wasn’t gay or homosexual,” Stanfill said. “And I didn’t even know I was! … I didn’t come out until I was 24.”
Stanfill said she appreciates how “fluid” the younger generation’s understanding of gender and sexuality is — and the chance to celebrate with the community.
“I also realize that we’re in a very special bubble right here and that there are people who live in other places where they don’t have that,” she said.
Sativa, who is based in the Seattle area and grew up in Enumclaw, has visited Vashon numerous times to host LGBTQ socials.
“I still love coming up here,” Sativa said. “I always joke (that) it’s like one of the gayest little rocks in all the Pacific Northwest.”
Bertha Stanfill smiles for a photograph at the pride event on June 7 on Vashon. “I think pride is something to celebrate every day,” Stanfill said. “But it’s nice that we all get together for something like this.” Alex Bruell photo.
Sativa the Queen poses by a car on display the evening of June 7. Kent Phelan photo.
Young people soak in the festivities June 7 at the Pride Street Dance on Vashon. Kent Phelan photo.
