I suppose covering it with a gigantic condom is out of the question then?

It's a private (read: commercial) venue, yet they want to avoid "any appearance of commercialization"?

Sounds more like they're afraid Cousin Flo from Kansas won't want to come have an extremely expensive dinner in their restaurant to me.

let's face it, Pulling the Parade off Broadway was a bad idea.

This is a slap in the face for all of the Capitol Hill businesses that have supported Gay Pride over these years.

So, is the Space Needle Homophobic? Who cares?

Did the Gay Pride management act like a bunch of flaming queens and snub their noses at Capitol Hill? You betcha

I am so tired of the idea in this city that no one ever wants anything to change. What if that had been the mindset of the dykes and drag queens that stormed Stonewall? The festival is moving and it is a great thing. Stop hiding out in the Capitol Hill gay ghetto and let EVERYONE see how proud you are. Yes, the Space Needle probably is homophobic but it is fights like this that let people know that we are not going to just 'stay put' in the Capitol Hill box.

I'm generally not big on the whole pride flag thing, but I'd like to see it just because it would piss off my conservative co-worker, since we have a clear, unobstructed view of the needle from our office :-)

But let's look at it objectively....

On the one hand, I can see why they don't want to start waving a flag for every event that books at the Center. I don't think they do that for the biggies (Folklife, Bumbershoot) so I can see why they don't want to do it for this one.

On the other hand, Pride is (I think) recognized each year by the council, or proclamation of the mayor or something like that. Since Seattle is known as a "gay-friendly" city, and the needle is iconic of Seattle, it would be appropriate.

Also, since it may be argued that the UW alumni and the WSU alumni are both self-recognized community groups (like the LGBT "community" or whatever we are calling ourselves these days) and these groups have participated in the whole flag-on-the-needle thing, there is a precendent there.

I don't think it's homophobia as much as it is fear of conservative backlash (although they are related, in a way) but why was a lawyer bought in right away?

This is a fucking embarassment to Seattle!

The Space Needle makes millions per year. What someone should look into is the smoking deal they get from the City and how much profit they actually make, I think it would shock people. They have no issue with paingting the top of the Needle WSU red, putting a giant alien on it for a month for the EMP opening (that looked like a frog), flying the Seahawks banner, letting Bumbershoot have people hang from it or hook up a big harp to it, shoot fireworks off of it, etc, etc,etc, but when it comes to flying a fag flag, their "... primary focus is charitable giving and, although we do some “community service events�, they are closely aligned with the city, county, travel & tourism and our own objectives."

This is a total croc of shit. I am sure people at the Center are embarassed by this. I am not one to cry 'racism', 'sexism' or 'homophobia' at every decision made effecting minorities, women or gays, but the Needle has a clear double standard. Pride at Seattle center is DEFINITELY alligned with City, County, and travel & tourism objectives, ask the Mayor and or Ron Sims. Moving Pride to the Center was a a coup for the Center and this decision by the Needle should make the organizers move it right back the Cap Hill. Fuck those old school assholes at the Needle.

Here's the dude who led this decision's contact info - let him know how you feel deann@spaceneedle.com

The UW and WSU flags were part of a charity competition and fall in line with the guidelines mentioned in the e-mail. I don't know about the other flags that have made their way up there, but that's the deal with those two.

Isn't a celebration put on by a 501 c 3(a charity) promoting equal rights and supported by the City Council,Mayor, County Executive (the Grand Marshall of the Pride Parade), Governor, Seattle School District and a ton of other health and human services organizations considered a charity event by the Needle?

There is no way around this one. The Needle clearly has an issue with flying the flag because of it's association with homosexuals.

Here's some other neat info on the Needle

http://action.unitehere.org/heregetactive/alert-description.tcl?alert_id=1479766

I think the Fremont Solstice Parade should move to Seattle Center too.

I don't know...I think everyone's going a little off the deep end here. It sounds like more of a scheduling issue to me...they only want to do promotions on the Needle a few times a year, and this year is booked. Isn't it just possible that's the main explanation? Everybody take a breath.

Nope. They have the day available. Since they don't have a Bumbershoot Space Needle thing this year, nor the EMP opening frog, nor the probably the Seahawks Superbowl flag, they should have plenty of space right? Any one of those not happening should free up some space in their schedule. And really, that sounds like a pretty thin excuse to start with.

Organizing by attorney --- how novel. Isn't this the group that was going to sue everybody for saying Seattle Pride without their permission?

They just signed a three year NO COST lease with Seattle Center, watched the Ok by Council on TV today, perhaps they should quiet down a bit ..... or bring in more expensive attorneys ..... sue, sue, sue .... all for Pride.

Check the details - there's no free lunch! I watched the same meeting/approval - the contract is NOT NO COST - The city doesn't give it away for free. In fact it costs Tens of thousands of dollars to put on an event anywhere in the City, Volunteer Park or Seattle Center. Don't fool yourself - you have to pay for everything from the City Permits/Fire Permits, trash removal, security, fencing, port-a-toilets, signage, insurance, and yes even rent to Seattle Center. Read the fine print before you open your mouth.

Seems to me they should test the explanation given, and submit at the earliest possible time (can they do it now?) to fly a flag at next year's Pride. Then let's see the response...