The Monastery (community center)

The Monastery was a church in Seattle, Washington, United States, open from 1977 to 1985. Minister George Freeman established and operated it as part of the broader Universal Life Church Monastery religious organization. It was simultaneously a gay church, a gay nightclub, an LGBTQ community center, and a homeless shelter for queer youth. In a typical event, it would host DJs playing dance music at night, then at 2am, Freeman would stop the music and party to deliver a sermon.

Throughout its existence, Freeman defended the organization against opponents including Seattle officials, police, and the organization Parents in Arms as they accused the Monastery of various offenses including alcohol violations and being a public nuisance. In the end, Seattle's government closed the venue and also enacted the Teen Dance Ordinance to ban anything similar. Freeman was a public figure in the media throughout this, with him advocating for civic rights while others denounced him.