Who are you people?
You can learn all about us by visiting our “About Us” page. Outside of that, all you need to know is that we’re awesome.

What do you do?
We are promoters of events in the South Sound area. We act as a bridge between organizations and the community to help folks find resources, great businesses, and to simply have a good time. We build a float for the Daffodil Parade, organize South Sound’s official Pride Day celebration and do a super bunch more. We go out all the time to local events and volunteer our time for other organizations as well.

How long have you been doing this?
Out In Tacoma became an official idea in 2004 when a bunch of people met and had too much wine. Some members stayed and some left but the direction of the group just grew and became stronger. Some of us have been here since the beginning, others just signed up as Board Members.

How can I join Out In Tacoma?
It’s so flippin’ easy. If you want to be a Board Member and be able to vote in new ideas and changes, all you have to do is come to three (3) Board meetings in a row. THEN all you have to do to stay on the Board is to not miss three (3) Board meetings without letting us know what’s going on with you. We meet twice a month, the first and third Saturdays at Tully’s on Broadway in Downtown Tacoma. Email Roger, our Volunteer Coordinator, and he’ll hook you up with the time and give us a head’s up that you’ll be stopping by. That way we can dress fancy and impress you!

What if I just want to volunteer, not join a Board?
Then just let us know what you want to do! We need folks that can hammer, glue and blow up balloons for all kinds of events. We also need help with business stuff like mailings and collecting data. Whatever you want to do for however long you want to do it!

Why don’t you organize a Tacoma Gay Pride Parade?
We’d love to! However we don’t have the money or the volunteer base to do such an event. It really takes a lot, which we see every year when we build a float for the Daffodil Parade and run it in the Seattle Pride parade as well. As it strands, we have a very small amount of folks that help with the current float and still need financial support to buy decorations. We would support and participate in any parade that anyone organized, we just can’t do it ourselves right now.

Why do you have a float in the Daffodil Parade?
Because it’s a hometown tradition, a well organized event, and it focuses on local community getting together to show Pride and support one another! It is a reflection of the communities of the South Sound, and all her sister cities, and it doesn’t make sense for us not to be visible and proud. And it would be ignorant for us to think there aren’t any LGBTQA folks in the crowd; it’s a parade for goodness sakes!

It may seem conservative to some but it is a crazy fun time. In 2006 our float fell apart as it drove down the street. In 2007 we honed our skills and got amazing feedback. In 2008, we are glamming it up for realz! Check out the design HERE!
Seriously, you should check it out. You can cheer us on from the crowd, you can donate, you can help up build it, or you can even Sponsor the float and get your organization’s logo on it. Oh yeah, that’s what I forgot to mention, we do it to spotlight all the local organizations that rock.  It’s amazing to see them all together, makes us real proud.

How do I sponsor an event?
Check out our Sponsorship page HERE.

When and where is Pride this year?
Out In The Park is always the SECOND SATURDAY OF JULY. It is being held in Wright Park for 2008 which is located on 6th and “I” St. in Tacoma, Washington. MAP
The event starts at Noon and goes until 6PM.

How do I become a Vendor at Out In The Park?
Visit our page HERE for the application.
Once you fill out the application, you will receive a postcard confirmation in the mail.
Your confirmation will give you further instructions on where to go the day of the event. In case you lose it, here’s all you need to know:
Vendor set up starts at 8am and must be set up by 11:30 am, day of the event. If you show up before 8, we’ll still be getting ready and you’ll do a lot of standing around.
Due to the venue, we give you your booth assignment the DAY OF THE EVENT. We do not give it to you before then. Go to the Out In Tacoma booth during check in times of 8 and 11:30 AM and we’ll give you all the information you will need.
No vehicles will be allowed back on the grounds until after 6 pm. NO EXCEPTIONS. If you must leave early, you will take out all your booth materials by foot.
Each booth space is 10’ X 10’. Booth fee includes one table.
Each vendor is to be in operation from 12 pm to 5 pm on the day of the event.

How do I know if I donate money it’ll go to what I want it to?
Simple, just let us know what you want to donate for and we’ll do it. We are unpaid volunteers and donate our money too. All general donations will go into our general fund and help keep us afloat.