President: Tara LaPeligrosa Lee (She/Her/Hers/Hey You)
What got you interested/started in the gothic scene/lifestyle?
My father was a funeral director and my mother was an English major before becoming a teacher. I kind of didn’t have a choice in the matter.
Why did you join GPS?
The first time I joined GPS, I was asked to join. I accepted because I believed in the organization and the goals they were trying to accomplish for the community. I had to step away for a bit to deal with some personal stuff, but now I’m back and ready to roll up the sleeves again for GPS!
What would you like to see in the community?
I would like see more unity. Right now, our community is extremely fragmented, and it doesn’t have to be. I know everyone has their difference of opinion, but it would be nice if we could all just get along. There’s strength in numbers
Vice President: Daemon Chadeau (He/Him/His)
Tell us about you in 25 words or less:
Seattle by way of Long Beach since 2011. Musician, DJ, activist, and Jerk of All Trades.
What got you into the gothic scene/lifestyle?
I just managed to fall into the goth scene by accident having been a square peg in many round holes (oh my!).
Why did you join GPS?
I joined GPS because I wanted to help give back to the very community that has given me so much.
What would you like to see in the community?
I would love to see more awareness and solidarity within our community, especially among the younger folx who are its future.
Treasurer: Stephen MacRae (He/Him…most of the time…)
Tell us about you in 25 words or less:
RN at Swedish First Hill, in ICU. Wear a mask. VOTE!
What got you into the gothic scene/lifestyle?
The Eurythmics debut on MTV was my gateway drug/moment…
Why did you join GPS?
I wanted to make a difference in my community, in the community around me.
What would you like to see in the community?
Tolerance for everything except intolerance
Secretary: Debbie Fisher (She/Her)
About me:
I’m an engineer in the aerospace industry, for fun I am really into backpacking or camping in general, I’m crafty and I love to travel.
What got you into the gothic scene/lifestyle:
Friends in high school and college, then I realized I’ve always had dark inclinations: I love dark art, or art in general, horror movies, and I wanted to be Wednesday or Lydia from Beetlejuice when I was a kid.
Why did you join GPS?
A friend on the board and it really means a lot to me to build inclusivity within the goth community, we shouldn’t be gatekeepers – we should help everyone belong to the community.
What would you like to see in the community?
Just a stronger, more inclusive community. It would be cool if we were more like a big family.
Consent Workshop Coordinator: Samandra (She/Her)
Tell us about you in 25 words or less:
Seattle born, raised in Vancouver B.C. Working as a Dental Assistant and Bellydancer. Former dancer in Devoleb (2018) Loves cooking, traveling, cats, music and costuming.
What got you into the gothic scene/lifestyle?
I’ve always been uniquely different growing up, attracted to the darker, alternative, unusual aesthetics and lifestyle. I love having the freedom to be myself and being able to share my interest with others
Why did you join GPS?
I have attended some GPS events, both volunteering and performing in the past, but I was trying to find my place in the community where I could make an impact. When I heard there where openings, I had to apply.
What would you like to see in the community?
I think that more representation for alternative scenes in general is a great thing. For helping others find their voice, to help people find a place they feel they can belong, for making new connections. Seeing the scene strengthen because members have more reasons to make the community a bigger part of their lives
Membership Coordinator: Summy (She/Her)
Tell us about you in 25 words or less:
I am an artist, a weirdo, and a witch. Professional Fairy Gothmother. I’ve lived in the Seattle area my whole life.
What got you into the gothic scene/lifestyle?
Honestly, I just showed up here. Robert Smith was involved. It was a bit serendipitous.
Why did you join GPS?
I had been wanting to connect with the community for a long time but didn’t know how. Joining the GPS board was a good first step!
What would you like to see in the community?
More inclusion, goths doing good in their community and having fun while doing it.
Web Designer and Photographer: George Vernon
Tell us about you in 25 words or less:
Born in the PNW and have remained pretty local with photography and design being my favorites.
What got you into the gothic scene/lifestyle?
Got an inquire to shoot a 256 shades of gray photo for a book cover about a corporate goth who lived the dark lifestyle when the sun set. Never did the shoot but did find creative enough to be part of and add my own dark style of photos.
Why did you join GPS?
I had been an official photographer for a few years and when I noticed that there was an opening for Web Designer I applied.
What would you like to see in the community?
Freedom for everyone who is oppressed as well as abolish classism. I also into the arts and would like to see more creative shows to show talents.
Photographer/Tara’s Evil Minion: Chuckiebear
Tell us about you in 25 words or less:
Emerged from the mosh pit with camera in hand. Bloodengel Photography, Starfish Studios, SAKE, Dethcon DJ, VTC alumni, worked at Tower Records and Film Stop.
What would you like to see in the community?
Consent is an important issue and the GPS hosted consent workshops are a positive way to support the community. I would like to see this movement grow. To quote Monsignor, “Yes means yes. No means no.”
Member At Large: Adam Armstrong (He/Him)
Tell us about you in 25 words or less:
I’m a Project Manager for a local utility company, lifelong nerd, military brat and community supporter. I started training in martial arts in 1994.
What got you into the gothic scene/lifestyle?
I had friends in the pagan community who introduced me to the scene. The aesthetic and diversity appealed to me.
Why did you join GPS?
To help give back to the community that helped me grow as a person and supported me emotionally during my most difficult times
What would you like to see in the community?
Support, diversity, social networking, mutual aid
Member At Large: Antonio F. Rodriguez (He/Him)
Tell us about you in 25 words or less:
I’m an advertising professional and former DJ/host (DJ naMe, Club Jade, Tallahassee, 2000’s) who enjoys live/DJed music, travel, gardening, gaming, and fixing things.
What got you into the gothic scene/lifestyle?
I was working overnight shifts in Tampa and needed a place open late to study for college on my days off. The Castle was open mid-week, so I was exposed to the music while reading at the bottom bar and quickly became a fan.
Why did you join GPS?
I’ve been looking for ways to give back to the community and serve in leadership roles. I feel that GPS represents an opportunity to do both. On a more personal level, I’ve also been feeling the itch to become more musically involved after a long hiatus, so the musical tie-in is a great bonus!
What would you like to see in the community?
I’d like the local goth community to receive positive public recognition for service and outreach within the scene as well as to everyone in the Greater Seattle metro area. Additionally, I’d love to increase public knowledge of the musical scene as an open, welcoming, and inclusive community order to drive growth in local goth/industrial music fandom.
Member At Large: Rota Freeman (He/Him)
Tell us about you in 25 words or less:
Originally from Florida, but lived in the SF Bay Area for 16 years. Community /event organizer and outreach specialist.
What got you into the Gothic scene/lifestyle?
A chance encounter in middle school changed my life. I was a metal-head on the road to no where, now I’m a goth building and growing our community.
Why did you join GPS?
I heard there was cake. Haven’t seen any yet, but am hopeful. But seriously, being a queer goth in trumps ‘ameriakkka’ is difficult, we need to band together to share our strength and weather the storm.
What would you like to see in the community?
More interpersonal connections! I would like every one to at least be aware of each other member of our community. I do my best to make introductions, and make sure I introduce myself too!
Member At Large: Olushola Bolonduro (Shola) (He/they)
Tell us about you in 25 words or less:
Raised in Tacoma, work as a cardiovascular technologist and founded and run the Dark Side of Everett. My hobbies include reading, video gaming, and calisthenics.
What got you into the gothic scene/lifestyle?
Growing up, I was fasincated with the dark and spooky in general although I knew very few people in K-12 and in my early college days that were alternative of any sort. In 2017 however, I went to what was the first of a number of monthly “gothic picnics” and was introduced to a lot of goths and other alternative types in Tacoma. I started going month after month and from that, a community started I had the honor of seeing grow into what is now known as the Dark Side of Tacoma. Since then, I moved to Seattle and got introduced to GPS and the Seattle gothic scene in general, then moved again to Everett and decided to start the Dark Side of Everett after noticing there wasn’t a gothic group in Snohomish County so I decided to…fill the void.
Why did you join GPS?
I felt very welcomed to the group’s events and became friends with both attendes and members of the group itself. A major highlight for me was being able to walk with GPS in Seattle’s 2019 Pride Parade and I remember that day very fondly. I thought being a part of more positive things with GPS would be splendid so I decide to express my interest.
What would you like to see in the community?
I would like to help with bringing more awareness to the community in the Greater Seattle Area and with bringing people together through events. Seattle in paticluar is known as a place that is hard to find friends. I hope I can help address that for those in the community with GPS!
Returning former Board Member/Pageant Coordinator: Dizzy Giggleflix (He/Him)
Tell us about you in 25 words or less:
like some of my other board members I’ve been here for decades, seen changes and have changed over time.
What got you into the gothic scene/lifestyle?
The music, my heart.
Why did you join GPS?
The first time I wanted to help my partner as he ruled as Mr. Gothic Seattle and joined the group, it was neither a organization nor 501c3 back then. The second time I was encouraged to help a struggling organization flourish again.
What would you like to see in the community?
We have been splintered by distance, politics and tradition, I hope in time we can help heal old wounds and confront our collective past.