Beyond the Rainbow
The joyful and vibrant ambiance of Friends of Dorothy (FoD) Lounge Victoria may obscure its origins, but mixed with the colourful atmosphere lies a history of queer rights. In a former era marked by the criminalization of homosexuality, the LGBT2Q+ community found discreet means of identification. “A friend of Dorothy" has long been a euphemism for a gay man, inspired by Dorothy from The Wizard of Oz who was accepting of all her friends, no matter how queer. At least since before World War II, gay men have been asking, “Are you a friend of Dorothy?” as a sly and non-invasive inquiry into one's sexual orientation. Today, the lounge stands as a testament to resilience and acceptance, offering not only food, drink and community-driven drag, but also a celebration of progress in LGBT2Q+ rights.
After his own experiences growing up in a strictly religious household and not being able to express his own sexuality, founder of FoD, Rudy Tomazic, sought to build on the community he never had as a young man. “I lived a very straight, heterosexual lifestyle until I was in my mid-thirties,” says Tomazic. “I have three kids that I love and feel very blessed to have in my life, but at some point, I realized this is not who I am.”
FoD started in Kelowna in 2019. At the time, Tomazic worked in the land development and hospitality industry but had aspirations of running a restaurant. “I wanted to supply the queer community with space and, for my own selfish reasons, have a place to watch drag,” he says. When a restaurant space suddenly became available for rent, Tomazic didn’t pass on the opportunity. “I just jumped on it,” he says. “It wasn’t a plan for me, it just fell in my lap.”
For Tomazic, the name has a double meaning. There is a nod to the age-old expression inspired by the Wizard of Oz, but the deeper meaning is in tribute to his aunt Dorothy who was formative in his upbringing. “I thought about what inspired me the most as a young man and who informed me to who I am today—the most instrumental woman in my life is my aunt Dorothy. She’s still alive; she’s 95 years old and living in Pittsburgh.” Their company logo and banner feature a spray of flowers mirroring the colours of the pride flag. The flowers included are a combination of his mother’s, his own and his aunt Dorothy’s favourites.
Following the success of the inaugural FoD in Kelowna, Tomazic began plans to expand across B.C., hoping to open three or four locations in the coming years. “Our first location in Kelowna took off with great success, so we committed to open in this space in Victoria,” he says. “But then COVID hit as we were opening.” Starting a restaurant is already daunting under normal circumstances, but navigating through the pandemic added an extra layer of complexity. Tomazic likened the experience to "having a forever changing and moving target."
After extensive effort, FoD Victoria proudly opened its doors on lower Johnson Street, at the former site of B.C.’s oldest bakery, Willie’s Bakery and Cafe. The historic location has been redone, blending its historic past with a look for a modern age. The lofty 14-foot ceilings and exposed brickwork are complicated by bright hand-painted flower murals and plush emerald-green velvet lounge chairs. A two-metre chandelier in the centre of the room makes for a sparkling statement piece.
FoD serves a style of comforting shared plates and elevated pub food. “We have a great variety of things,” says Tomazic. “We try to listen to our patrons and adapt so it’s an ever-evolving recipe.” Many of their signature dishes and drinks include cheeky nods to the Wizard of Oz including the Lions, Tigers and Bears cocktail, made with Lot 40 Rye, Okanagan Spirits Cherry Liqueur and Fee Brothers Cherry Aromatic Bitters. Similarly, the I’m Melting includes mango-infused Altos Reposado, triple sec, roasted habanero simple syrup and lime. Although the lounge has a collection of comfort food options to choose from, Tomazic says he often prefers to keep it simple with a charcuterie board paired with a glass of wine for his own meal.
While the pandemic put a hold on Tomazic’s plans of expansion, he is still working towards his goal of opening additional locations across B.C. In the meantime, FoD Victoria stands as a testament to how far we’ve come in terms of LGBT2Q+ rights, reminding us that every step forward is a victory worth savouring. Far from needing coded language, this colourful community space is where allies and members of the queer community come to mingle in a celebration of acceptance, contributing to a legacy of love and inclusivity.
