Queers descend upon this romantic Pacific Northwest city to re-tie the knot

Seattle celebrates the LGBTQIA+ community year-round, and on May 30, 2024, the Emerald City welcomes couples to celebrate their love with a vow renewal ceremony on board the Love For All Boat.

Same-sex marriage has been legal in Washington State since 2012, so the city is embracing that welcoming spirit and is throwing a party just ahead of the city’s 50th anniversary of Seattle Pride.

Travelers will set sail aboard an Argosy Cruises ship to renew their vows as they soak in the beauty of the Seattle skyline. Guests staying at participating downtown hotels will receive complimentary access to the event ($100 value), while non-hotel guests can purchase tickets separately.

Longtime Seattle resident David Neth was one of the original Pride organizers. “Seattle, being up in the corner of the country, and sort of away from everything — it was its own little island of misfits and various people that were more accepting,” he recalls.

Over the decades, Seattle has continued to attract creatives who call the city home, such as drag entrepreneur BenDeLaCreme, who will emcee and perform on the special sailing. 

“When I first moved to Seattle, what impacted me most was the intersectionality of art forms,” says BenDeLaCreme. “Drag, cabaret, burlesque, contemporary dance, circus, standup, and improv comedy — all these types of performers were sharing the same stage. And each of these art forms was influenced by all the others. We have incredible performers breaking the boundaries of drag, theater, and performance art. Seattle certainly shaped how I make art in a way I am extremely grateful for.”

Fans are now intimately familiar with BenDeLaCreme’s “sweet as pie and sharp as cheddar” performance style, including two seasons on RuPaul’s Drag Race and the co-creator of The Jinkx & DeLa Holiday Show. This award-winning touring production plays to sold-out theaters across the US, Canada, and the UK. 

“By the time I moved to Seattle, I’d already lived in three other states, but I quickly realized Seattle was the first place to feel like home,” BenDeLaCreme tells GayCities. “At first, it was just something in the air. A freeness. The way that queer people, artists, and unique weirdos of all sorts were just… themselves. In public! In the streets! I started dressing like myself, acting like myself. It was not just safe but celebratory. Seattle has a unique energy all its own. Creative and joyful, with a true sense of community.”

Proceeds from the one-of-a-kind event will benefit the GSBA Scholarship & Education Fund. Dating back to 1981, GSBA is the largest LGBTQ+ and ally chamber of commerce in North America. To date, the fund has invested more than $6 million in queer and allied students, contributing to a graduation rate 18% higher than the national average. 

When the vows have been re-exchanged, hit the town to discover Capitol Hill, the epicenter for LGBTQ+ nightlife, to exclaim, “Love is love is love!” and discover all that Seattle has to offer. 

Ready to renew your vows in Seattle? Visit loveforallboat.org

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