Interview: Ashley Lucas of The Welcoming Committee
September 19, 2012Do you ever find yourself hanging out somewhere – a bar, club, restaurant, video game arcade, dog grooming salon, whatever – and thinking, “Man, this place would be a lot cooler with a few more queer people?” Good news, citizens – the folks at The Welcoming Committee are here to save the day! With their new iPhone app, TWC gives you the power to turn any humdrum location into an instant epic queer party. Diffuse 5′s Bren caught up with Ashley Lucas, TWC Boston Community Manager, to talk about the app, TWC’s vision for LGBT world domination, and, of course, donuts.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
Bren (Diffuse 5): So! First things first. This fancy electronic cellular phone-based application: What is it? What does it do? Why should I, a queer person, care about it?
Ashley: TWC, the app, helps people create gay bars anywhere at any time. It was created because we wanted people to be able to make spaces a little bit gayer.
While TWC creates larger takeovers, we wanted everyone inside of the movement to be able to create their own takeovers whenever they felt like it. That way, they can rally more people at different venues across the country, to turn traditionally straight places into gay bars – or gay ice cream shops, bowling alleys, theater shows…. you get the idea.
The app is very simple. If you want to create your own takeover, all you have to do is search for any local venue that you want to have trend a little more gay, select the date and time, and add a short description of the event. Others nearby can vote-up the events they want to attend and then check-in when they get there.
If you just want to see which venues in your area are trending gay right now, boot up the app and you will see a list of the takeovers that have been created around you.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
It’s important because as a community, we should be able to feel comfortable no matter where we go. The app allows you to recreate the feeling you get when you go to a gay bar, no matter where you decide to go out that night.
Bren: Instant community, on-the-go. I approve, especially of that part about gay ice cream shops. Have you guys received any feedback from users yet?
Ashley: Yes we have! First and foremost, we know that Android users are anxious to be able to download it.
Bren: Yes, yes we are.
Ashley: Well, I’m happy to report that we’ve begun cranking away at a web-based version that will be accessible on all smartphones.
Bren: Oh, happy/gay days!
Ashley: We’re also working to include things like message boards so that people can interact on the app before, during, and after the takeover. But, overall, the response has been great. People are really excited about the app and have been downloading it all over the country.
Bren: Let’s talk about The Welcoming Committee itself. How did it evolve from the old Guerrilla Queer Bar?
Ashley: Great question.
Bren: I only ask great questions.
Ashley: Boston Guerrilla Queer Bar started almost five years ago as a handful of people who loved the idea of taking over straight venues. Within four months, it quickly grew to hundreds of people and we haven’t looked back since.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
Last spring, GQB Founder Daniel Heller decided that GQB was just the beginning of what could be a bigger and better movement. Rather than just taking over bars, why not take over other events and venues like Cirque du Soleil, Tough Mudder, or Dollywood? We wanted to do it under one big gay heading. One that was friendlier in name, but no less aggressive in presentation.
Thus, The Welcoming Committee was born, and the shield, spears, and pineapple were divined to join her. Think of TWC as a movement, and GQB as an event. Like McDonalds to the Big Mac, Judaism to Hannukah, Warmth to the Snuggie, etc.
Bren: I’ve also heard something about a committee made up of donuts. Could you perhaps elaborate?
Ashley: The Donut Committee is a group of individuals who pledge to show up through the end of September in a Zipcar (special thanks to our friends at Zipcar for giving us wheels just when we wanted them), and deliver donuts to the biggest events created on the app. You can see more about it on one of our blog posts.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
Bren: OK, so we need the next big takeover to be My Home Office. Got it. So, one last question before I let you get back to gaying the world: What is your fantasy takeover? Any spot – in Boston or beyond – that you can’t wait to stake claim to with a big ol’ Pride flag?
Ashley: I think everyone at TWC Headquarters probably has their own, but I’d say a favorite would have to be Spring Break in Cancun.
Bren: Taking over all of Cancun? You dream big. I like it.
Ashley: Imagine taking over an entire hotel and enjoying the very straight institution that is Spring Break with a huge community of LGBT folks. That would be incredible!
__
TWC on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/TheWelcomingCommittee
TWC on Twitter: https://twitter.com/TheWCommittee
__
Diffuse 5 is a website providing events, news, articles and interviews for the lesbian, bisexual, transgender and queer community in Boston and beyond.
Comments are closed.