When people think about Icons they usually have the image of Che Guevara, Rosa Parks or Pelé flash through their minds. Each community, however small, can have their own Icons and these are just as important to the circle of people in a community whose lives it has touched or has been an important resource for it’s development.
An Icon can be defined as ssomething that is an emblem or symbol from within the context of the community which it is a part of or society as a whole (in my opinion). This brings me to last night (Well last night when I started writing this, I’ve been working on it awhile, it was actually December 30th)…
The Roost in Edmonton has been a bastion of the LGBT community for thirty years. I have not been in Edmonton nearly that long and, I have to confess, have not really visited this venue on any regular basis. I know various groups use or have used it as a meeting point for their get togethers (NLA in the past and Illusions Edmonton to name just two that I have participated in albeit briefly). The last day for the Roost is December 31st; it is closing as of new years day. My girlfriend and I went to the Roost last night to attend the last ever drag show to be held there (we had a friend performing and it’s always good to lend your support). Other people from our circle of friends also turned up to help make the evening more enjoyable and to say goodbye to the old place.
I found myself feeling a bit down with an odd sense of melancholy. This was somewhat surprising to me as I have not really been a regular at this venue but given it’s history and the good times I have had there it seemed really sad that it was finally going to close it’s doors for good. Talking to others and getting a sense of the history of the place made its role feel more profound and I began to realize that it will create a hole that will be hard to fill as there are not many alternative venues in town as it is. A bar of any type surviving more or less intact for 30 years is quite remarkable (how many examples can you think of?).
Memories I have include attending play parties in the upstairs part of the Roost, the NLA meeting I once attended with a whopping 4 people (including myself) present (as an aside the Edmonton NLA branch is much more active these days); going to my first Illusions Edmonton meeting and going out with friends occasionally for a ‘girls night out’. Talking to others and viewing my own experiences leads me to believe that it was indeed an Edmonton Icon of sorts that will be missed.
The place had its issues like most venues of this type. The carpet probably had a higher alcohol content then some of the drinks served, the management had a weird rule where TG girls could not use the ladies room (this is the only venue of this flavour that I have encountered that tried to enforce this policy as I’ve been to similar places in Western Canada and Europe and have never had this issue). The decor was definitely on the dark and dingy side. Sometimes this can lend a charm of its own.
It will be interesting to see if, perhaps, a new venue opens up or if some of the current ones become more active as a result (surely they will realize an increase in trade as the regulars at a venue this size will try to find a new hang out).
At the end of the last drag act as the performers walked off the stage for the final time I could not help but wonder where they would be performing next. This was truly the last dance for this Edmonton Icon and at least I had the privilege to see it out amongst good friends and some of my leather family.
Goodbye Roost. You will be missed.
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