Dorothy Pruitt

Dorothy Pruitt has been called “The Fairy God-Mother” of Spokane’s LGBT+

Community. She was a very private person when it came to details about her personal life

and she encouraged the same from others. Especially in a time when being LGBT+ in

Washington State was still illegal, Dorothy often advised her “Boys” to be very careful

about sharing their personal details with anyone, as this could result in a criminal record

which could result in the loss of jobs, housing, make them the targets of harassment, etc.

This may be the reason why there are so many “origin stories” about the woman who was a

surrogate “Mother” to so many of Spokane’s Gay Men in the 60s and early 70s.

Born as Dorothy Alice Sowl Burdett, on March 20th, 1906 to Charlotte Willamina “Mina”

Sowl, her father was listed as “unknown”. It is said that Dorothy had a older brother from

her Mother’s first marriage who she was very close to. It has been said that he was “gay”.

Although no records exist regarding her brother or the circumstances of his death, stories

attributed to Dorothy indicate that he committed suicide due to the persecution he endured

because of his sexuality. But in an era when both homosexuality and suicide were “not

discussed” all that exists are the stories told by friends and acquaintances of Dorothy that

have endured. Some believe this is why Dorothy had such affection for the Gay

Community.

One such story is that due to Dorothy being born out of wedlock, her Mother’s first

husband abandoned her, and her family disowned them both. Which resulted in her

mother opening a “House of Ill-repute” in Wallace, ID. “Mina” is said to have operated a

thriving business for many years while Dorothy was growing up. Although there is no

evidence to prove or disprove this “urban legend”. The story has been repeated by more

than one person who knew Dorothy.

Dorothy married Jesse James Whittington Pruitt, from Oklahoma on May 7th, 1924 in Nez

Pierce, ID. Jesse was 26 years old, Dorothy was 19. He worked for the Burlington Northern

Railroad following his service in the US Army during World War I. Jesse served in France

during the first World War, naming his daughter after the Lorraine region where he served

and was decorated for his meritorious service. Dorothy worked at the Crescent Department

Store in downtown Spokane for many years. Jesse and Dorothy were the parents of a

daughter Wanda La Rane Pruitt, born on July 3rd, 1925. Wanda married in 1945 and

moved to North Dakota.

Following her husband’s death in 1962, Dorothy is believed to have taken the life insurance

money and opened what is considered to be the very first “Gay Bar” in Spokane in 1965.

“Dorothy’s Casbah” was located at approximately 915 W. Sprague Ave. The current

location of The Knitting Factory. In 1965 it was illegal to serve alcohol to “Homosexuals”,

it was still illegal to be a homosexual in the state of Washington until 1976. There are

numerous citations archived at the Metropolitan Museum of Art and Culture that were

written to Dorothy and her bar for violating theses laws. It is said that Dorothy had a large

glass “Pickle Jar” on the bar where patrons could contribute to help cover the cost of her

numerous citations. One patron remembers the sign above the jar reading “To Keep The

License”.

Dorothy has been described as a “little Fire-cracker”. She was famous for her flamboyant

manner of dress, dripping in sparkling costume jewelry, fur coats and stoles (regardless of

the weather), and her flaming red hair (which due to the time period was always a

immaculately coiffed wig). She has known for her silver rhinestone cigarette holder with

matching lighter and cigarette case, and racing about town in a sporty red convertible.

Not only was Dorothy a savvy business woman, being able to navigate the State’s strict

Liquor Laws, and harassment by Local Law Enforcement; She also became “The Mother”

to many young gay men in the area who found themselves without any family after being

disowned after coming out as gay. Dorothy is said to have used her contacts from working

at the Crescent Department Store to schedule “Private Fittings” after-hours, for

“Performers” at The Crescent and other stores downtown so that drag queens could buy

evening gowns, stockings, make-up and jewelry without persecution.

Dorothy was also instrumental in the formation of “The Inland Empire Society for the

Arts”. The very first LGBT+ Organization in the Inland Empire. It was loosely modeled

after the popular Fraternal organizations of the time (The Elks, The Oddfellows, and The

Eagles, etc) except it was a “Secret Society” for Gay Men. The Inland Empire Society for

the Arts or IEAS held many balls and pageants at Dorothy’s. It later became the Imperial

Lilac Court, today it is known as the Imperial Sovereign Court of Spokane.

Dorothy Pruitt died on August 20th, 1972. She was laid to rest at the Pines Cemetery in

Spokane Valley, WA. Following her death, her bar was sold by her family. In 1978, the

Dorothy Pruitt Award was created by Her Imperial Majesty,

Empress V, Lucy Ball, and His Imperial Majesty, Emperor II, Dennis Welter of the The

Imperial Lilac Court. The award is given out annually as a “Life Time Achievement

Award” to Individuals or Businesses that have contributed to the advancement of the

LGBT+ Community for decades.

To this day, stories about Dorothy Pruitt are shared with great reverence by the few people

that remain that knew her. Her warmth and larger than life personality have made this tiny

little woman a Titan in the annuals of Gay History in Spokane and the Inland Empire.