Inside Bond Hall on Thursday evenings, the lights dim, the projector hums to life and a group of students settle in for a horror film, but the real focus isn’t just jump scares or monsters. It’s about queerness, community and conversation. 

Founded just a few years ago, Western Scream Queens has quickly become a hub for students who love horror and want to explore the genre’s often-overlooked queer roots. The club provides a space where members can connect, analyze representation in media and simply have fun together.

IMG_6659.HEIC

WWU Scream Queens crypt keeper Atlas Ducote. Image captured at Zoe’s Bookside Bagels on Oct. 13, 2025. // Photo by Mabaindu Mbawa

Atlas Ducote is a second-year student and the crypt keeper (financial manager) of Western Scream Queens, a club at Western Washington University that watches horror films through a queer lens and fosters community for queer identifying students. In this Q&A, Ducote explains how the club works, their upcoming events, and what it means to them and to campus. 

Q: What is Western Scream Queens?

A: Western Scream Queens is a student club where we watch horror movies and then discuss why it’s queer. Horror is a very inherently queer genre, and a lot of horror movies have underlying or very obvious queer themes to them, so that’s typically what we do as a club.

Q: What kinds of activities do you run? Do you do more than just watch movies? 

A: Mostly screening and post-film discussion in Bond Hall. We don’t typically stage theatrical performances ourselves. That said, we do collaborate on events, for example, we’re coordinating a Rocky Horror Picture Show screening with Out in Science.

Q: Tell me about the upcoming event. 

A: On Wednesday, Oct. 29 at 6 p.m., we’ll screen Rocky Horror Picture Show in collaboration with Out in Science. That’s not a regular meeting time, but we wanted it to be more of an event and avoid competing with AMP’s shadow cast production on Thursday. 

Q: How big is the club? What kind of attendance do you see?

A: Attendance varies by film and timing. We tend to have stronger turnout earlier in the year. Overall, we have a solid core of students who show up consistently. 

Q: As crypt keeper, what’s your role?

A: I manage the finances, so I help with grants and making sure that we have the funds to be able to watch these movies, since unfortunately, movies are not free. While we don’t have an external corporation sponsor, as an educational club we get funding support through the university.

Q: You’re also involved in other performance and queer-centered groups, right?

A: Yes, I’m in the Burlesque club and the Royal Gambit Drag Club. Burlesque is welcoming, beginner-friendly, and body positive. Royal Gambit is exciting. I’ll be performing in their Halloween show, which we also sometimes collaborate on.

Q: Why do you think this club matters on campus?

A: For queer students, it can be isolating even in a queer-friendly environment. This club offers a place where you see yourself in media, alongside peers who value that. Personally, I’ve made a lot of friends through it.

Q: How have students responded to these spaces? 

A: From conversations with friends and fellow members, the feedback is overwhelmingly positive. People often say they feel more seen and less alone. I came from Texas as a queer person, so having these communities has been vital to me.

Q: What’s your invitation to students who might be on the fence?

A: Swing by a meeting, you don’t even have to love horror. (Yes, we sometimes watch Scooby-Doo.) We meet on Thursdays from 6 to 9 p.m., in Bond Hall 109. Come see what we’re about. 

Mabaindu Mbawa

Mabaindu Mbawa (she/her) is a senior at Western, majoring in Journalism (News Editorial) and minoring in Political Science. Outside of reporting, she enjoys writing poetry, storytelling, styling, and taking photos. You can reach her at mbawam.thefront@gmail.com