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Friday, May 4, 2007

Clark and Rasmussen Fail to Unite Pride

posted by on May 4 at 11:31 AM

Yesterday Seattle City Council member Tom Rasmussen had this to say about today’s pride parade meeting at City Hall…

It gets very complicated very quickly, particularly for community groups, when there are two parades or festivals over two different days in two different locations,” says Rasmussen. “They have to get volunteers and materials and staff to two different places, and that’s taxing. Ideally we should have one event..”

Rasmussen and Sally Clark—the two gay members of the Seattle City Council—sat down this morning with representatives from SOaP, the group that moved the pride parade downtown last year, and the LGBT Community Center, the organization that ran a rival parade the night before on Capitol Hill. Rasmussen was a few minutes late because he stopped to pick up cupcakes from Cupcake Royal.

As everyone now knows, last year’s downtown pride parade was popular success—more than 200,000 people attended—but the equally-if-not-more-popular festival at Seattle Center after the parade was a financial disaster, leaving SOaP $100,000 in debt. The LGBT Community Center’s rival parade on Capitol Hill attracted far fewer participants; the Center claims 20,000, people that attended put the number at 3,000. A few weeks ago SOaP announced that it was disbanding and declaring bankruptcy; the LGBT Community Center pounced, announced that it would be organizing pride—and moving the parade back to Capitol Hill, and the festival back to Volunteer Park. Then SOaP reversed course, decided not to disband, cancelled the festival but committed itself to organizing the parade downtown on Sunday.

This morning’s meeting had the stated goal of bringing both groups together to work on one set of pride events—i.e. one parade, one rally. But after the meeting Clark and Rasmussen announced that Seattle is going to have two pride parades, on two different days, in two neighborhoods—but at the same hour of the morning. The LGBT Community Center will organizing a Capitol Hill parade on Saturday morning, June 23, at 11 AM; SOaP will be organizing a downtown parade on Sunday morning, June 24, also at 11 AM.

According to Clark and Rasmussen, SOaP and the LGBT Community Center had already been meeting to coordinate their efforts.

“Maybe the fact that they knew they were going to be meeting with Sally and me helped,” said Rasmussen.

The groups pledged to Clark and Rasmussen that they would continue to work together.

“We pressed them on that. What does working together mean? They agreed to weekly meetings, to go over where everyone is at. Shannon [Thomas] was clear that the LGBT Community Center was working on Queer Fest 2007, or the Pride Festival, or whatever they’re calling it. And their march is scheduled for 11 AM Saturday.”

Last year the LGBT Community Center’s parade was held at night before SOaP’s parade, which did help to distinguish it in some ways from Sunday morning’s parade. However, the LGBT Community Center and the Seattle Gay News actively encouraged people to attend the Saturday night event and in place of the traditional Sunday morning parade. With both events scheduled for the same time but 24 hours apart, the distinction between them seems blurrier than ever.

“Look at it this way,” said Clark. “You have many things to choose from for pride weekend, and you can set alarm at 10 AM for both days.”

In this morning’s meeting the LGBT Community Center argued that their parade will be distinct from SOaP’s. “Shannon was clear that her thing is supposed to be more of a political march,” said Clark, “and less of a colorful celebration or a ‘parade.’ They’re doing something different, and they’re not interested in competing. They’re just trying to respond to community members that say they want pride events on Capitol Hill.”

Rasmussen is confident that Seattle’s two pride parades will be distinct.

“The Capitol Hill one is going to be much more a walking neighborhood ‘parade,’ political type of event, no floats—those kind of limitations,” said Rasmussen. “The downtown will be the one with floats and a lot larger. Each one will have its own unique style and appeal.”

But the logistical headaches posed by two parades—for participants, not organizers—remain.

“Logistically, sure, for organizations like Lifelong or the GSBA, for nonprofits and politicians, it’s going to be like, ‘Oh, my god, we have to get the troops out to one or the other or both.’ That’s still an issue. But I’m going to get out to both and I hope everyone will.”

Two other developments came out of this morning’s meeting:

The groups floated the idea of creating a community advisory board. “Some sort of umbrella group to oversee and advise the many organizations that do events for pride,” said Clark. “They’re not sure now if it would be an informal group, or network, or a seperate 501c3 that does fundraising for pride events as well as overseeing them.”

The groups also hope to hire one person to coordinate sponsorships for both events.

RSS icon Comments

1

What is it with Seattle? Can anybody make any decent decisions around here?

- Monorail/Lightrail ($$$)

- Alaskan Way Viaduct Rebuild/Tunnel ($$$)

- SOap/LGBT

- Paper/Plastic

- Earth/Wind/Fire/Water

And where is this mega-weed that was promised from that retarded article? Still smells and tastes like regular dank to me.

I hate everything. Roar.

Posted by Mr. Poe | May 4, 2007 11:37 AM
2

they gonna do the saturday parade IN THE FRICKIN MORNING ?...i don't know what to say ...does that mean that the drunks wil now have a full 48 hours to make the bars some money ?

Posted by riz | May 4, 2007 11:44 AM
3

Why does the LGBT Community Center even want to get involved in this? Don't they already have enough to do? SOaP did a great job last year so let them do it.

Posted by crazycatguy | May 4, 2007 11:47 AM
4

hmm if the saturday one was really political and the sunday one was more Pridy I could see that working and would be intersted in attending both for diffrent reasons.

I think it would be neat to have a parade where we focus on us as a community and another where we focus on the issues that we are still fighting for maybe with a more political rally at the end.

Posted by CodyBolt | May 4, 2007 11:49 AM
5

why couldn't SOaP handle the parade and LGBT Com Center deal with the post parade celebrations, wouldn't that solve SOaPs logistical ineptitude and give LGBT some turf to call their own

Posted by Vooodooo84 | May 4, 2007 11:52 AM
6

Oh for fuck's sake!

Now we all have to decide if we want to go to both parades, or one or the other, or neither. And every homo non-profit in the state has to make the same decision, effectively splitting their time and resources.

Can somebody please explain to me how this can be viewed as anything BUT rival events?

Posted by SDA in SEA | May 4, 2007 11:57 AM
7

LAME!

Posted by Kate | May 4, 2007 11:57 AM
8

The LGBT Center wants to be involved in this because they want to raise money. Reference their letter Savage printed last week.

Shannon is one devisive person. Sad the city has to suffer this divide because of self-serving people preaching about 'community' while serving only their own interests.

See you Downtown at the SEATTLE PRIDE parade. Hope someone does something to follow up the parade with some events downtown I can bring my kids to. I guess I'll be missing the "internal politics" March on the hill.

Posted by Frank | May 4, 2007 11:58 AM
9

Why can't the parade start at the north end of Broadway, head south, turn west on Pike, the North on whatever street the down town parade was supposed to route?

Posted by elswinger | May 4, 2007 12:03 PM
10

Thats it- ITS TIME FOR A TURF WAR

Picture it: Rival gangs in swishy dance numbers ala West Side Story. And you best watch out, cause you know somebody's going to get stabbed with a mascara brush.

Posted by Colin | May 4, 2007 12:04 PM
11

"And you best watch out, cause you know somebody's going to get stabbed with a mascara brush."

Oh my!

Posted by Mr. Poe | May 4, 2007 12:06 PM
12

Oh, and good luck getting major corporations to sponsor one or the other (or both) of two rival events. Or any other serious business.

Brilliant solution.

Posted by SDA in SEA | May 4, 2007 12:07 PM
13

@6 just remember the same choice had to be made last year. And the overwhelming choice made by over 100 times more poeple was to attend the better organized Pride Parade over the Queer March.

To view the difference between the two, check out The Official Seattle Pride website at www.SeattlePride.org vs. the LGBT Center Queer Fest site - http://www.seattlelgbt.org/pride2007.html which oddly enough shows that LGBT Center's event is also called the Pride Festival. Ironic how the Official Pride website promotes all sorts of non SOaP events, bars and businesses while the LGBT Center promotes...themselves

Posted by tbf | May 4, 2007 12:08 PM
14

Just come to New York for Pride. You'll actually have a good time--and wouldn't that make for a nice change?

Posted by Boomer in NYC | May 4, 2007 12:11 PM
15

OH FOR CHRIST'S SAKE!!!

Shannon! Why can't the LGBT Community Center host a big party in Volunteer Park the night before the pride parade?! Why MUST you organize a separate and DIVISIVE parade?! That's utter BULLSHIT!

I'm sad that Sally and Tom couldn't get both groups to agree on one parade. Very little came of this meeting if we're now faced with two parades on two different days AT THE SAME FUCKING TIME!!!

Sally and Tom needed to LEAD on this. They needed to say NO, THE COMMUNITY DOESN'T NEED TWO PARADES. Sally and Tom should have come down in favor of the clearly SUPERIOR EVENT--the downtown pride parade--and offered to back a festival on the hill for the LGBT Community Center on the condition that THE CENTER NOT HOST A PRIDE PARADE THE DAY BEFORE THE DAMN PRIDE PARADE!!!

Christ. Now I'm disappointed in EVERYONE. The inept men and women of SOaP, the greedy, selfish asshats at the LGBT Community Center, and our openly-gay elected officials. This is the best they could do? Please!

Posted by EXTC | May 4, 2007 12:12 PM
16

It's competing events, but so what. The community gets to make choices - so what, the community is made of grown ups who MAKE CHOICES.

Call a spade a spade and let both events be full-out pridey. Both groups hold their events, we get TWO parties to go to, two parades with hot boys (or girls) on floats and the rest only matters to the LGBT/SOAP people.

Afterwards, give the LGBT & SOAP groups big clubs and let'm fight it out at Westlake and sell tickets.

Posted by pixel | May 4, 2007 12:13 PM
17

@ #16 SRSLY!

but its more fun to bitch and whine about it. If its going to happen its going to happen. If we stop bitching and all work on making them both awsome we Win twice :)

Posted by CodyBolt | May 4, 2007 12:16 PM
18

That is so... gay.

Posted by Carollani | May 4, 2007 12:19 PM
19

If the groups are truly committed to working together, they can prove it by calling off one of the parades. I vote for calling off the Capitol Hill parade.

Posted by Not Coming This Year | May 4, 2007 12:23 PM
20

you crazy-ass gay people! you crack me up! you think the christian right has these problems? fuck NO. no wonder nothing gets done about full lgbt equality under the law. yer too busy arguing about PARADES, fer christ' sake.

Posted by scary tyloer moore | May 4, 2007 12:26 PM
21

I think I am just going to to to New York and find a real man that weekend. Seattle is nothing but a bunch of passive aggressive bottom bois!

Posted by Andrew | May 4, 2007 12:28 PM
22

@20 - this isn't a 'gay' issue, it's an 'ego' issue about two self-serving people - George Bakan and Shannon from the LGBT Center, or so it appears. LGBT should do just their queer fest and no parade, and support the Parade that has happened for years put on by the people who have been doing it for years. Shannon's 'march' is the new thing here, the divisiveness seems to be all on her, probably with the SGN's support. Pathetic.

Posted by Frank | May 4, 2007 12:34 PM
23

For serious?

I'm absolutely not participating whatsoever this year. This is absolutely ridiculous.

Posted by justjunk | May 4, 2007 12:39 PM
24

@22, don't put this on George. He's been a Pride supporter for decades. I doubt he's suporting Shannon as I've heard him say many times that she barely pulled off Queer Fest last year and is too busy with the Center to do a parade and festival. This is all LGBT Center and their Board. Not sure where they are coming from. And isn't there also a Dyke March on Broadway Saturday night?

Posted by friendofgeorge | May 4, 2007 12:39 PM
25

scary tyler moore @ 20..
well it's obviously been centuries since you belonged to a conservative right winged church.. you should see the in-fighting that goes on during their meetings when the doors are closed.. but since they ultimately have one guy who oversees the operation HE then decides what the public policy is going to be.. the rest who disagree are free to leave and start their own party somewhere else.. and that's why there are more churches in america than one can ever count..
trust me the fighting of the gays is much much tamer

Posted by reverend dr. dj riz | May 4, 2007 12:43 PM
26

This is officially the stupidest thing I've ever heard.

Posted by Fnarf | May 4, 2007 12:47 PM
27

And for such a regular reader of Slog, Fnarf, that's really saying something.

Posted by Dan Savage | May 4, 2007 12:51 PM
28

one: the Center has very little money
two: Shannon is the only poorly paid employee.a city the size of seattle should have a lgbt comm. center with more than one paid staff member
three: the problems at the center can't all be laid at shannons feat. the board there is preety damn worhtless.
4: george bakan is the biggest shit stirrer in the this whole brouhaha

Posted by coreyharthrob | May 4, 2007 12:59 PM
29

hahahahahahaha! What a bunch of maroons.
Why don't we have a meaningless referendum on it? Then we can ignore that too!
We're already going to charge a toll, no?
No, wait, a Fudge Tunnel! No a via-dick!


I'm really just waiting for someone to blame Frank Chopp.

Posted by calvin | May 4, 2007 1:00 PM
30

I live on the Hill and last year for Pride I was resistant to change. I thought that, for historical reasons, the parade should be kept on the Hill. In the end though, I didn't go to either because there was just too much bullshit and I didn't want to support either of it.

Now I regret not going to the downtown parade and festival. Everything I heard about that parade was that it was a refreshing change, one that the city needed. As for the the Cap Hill parade, I'm glad I didn't go because I heard it sucked.

Something tells me I'm not the only person to have this sort of revelation. The "parade" on Cap Hill is decisive. Didn't we learn last year that having two parades was a failed model and that the community overwhelmingly preferred the downtown parade? Wrapping LGBT Center's proposal in "it's different" language is dishonest. This proposal is divisive and stretches already taxed resources even more.

To the LGBT Center - it's time to get over it and move forward, the market has decidedly spoken. We want a downtown parade and unified Pride movement. Competing events will not make this a success as it will only drive away skittish advertisers and make the community even more cynical. Please, serve your community and not yourselves. If you chose to go forward with your plan and Pride as a whole fails, that failure will be directly applicable to you and your actions.

(CC'd to SOAP, LGBT Community Center)

Posted by DE Dono | May 4, 2007 1:05 PM
31

Has anyone eles thought that maybe the parade on sunday last year was more heavely attended because of its time and the fact that there was a big party at seattle center afterwards? If theres no party at seattle center afterwards are you confident that it will be as well attended this year?

Also at this point it looks like were going to have two parades we need to stop our bitching and just embrace it. Honestly We got a lemon its time to make some lemonaid. Once its done with thats the time to start figuring out how we can avoid this problem again next year. (IE don't procrastinate untill 2 months before again)

Posted by CodyBolt | May 4, 2007 1:18 PM
32

Is anyone going to blame Frank Chopp for the Pride dilemma? Probably not, since the last bad thing he did was to ammend the Domestic Partnership Bill with the heterosexuals 62 and over clause, and threaten that if we didn't allow it to happen we'd never get "our" bill out of committee...there really doesn't need to be more evidence that he is the most self-serving behemoth in our midst.

Regarding Pride 2007 (by any other nanme or location):

It's a shame there has to be fighting over this when we need as much visibility as we can get to show diversity and unity to everyone else.

The decision has been made, by all parties involved, and with arbitration from Seattle City Councilmembers, to have a dual event. Despite the argument that it dilutes the event and the proceeds, the up side is that we are seen by a wider demographic and - as long as we can "play nice" with each other, there is no reason we cannot coexist and thrive.

There are a lot of arrows flying at George Bakan and Shannon Thomas for wanting to do what they know how to do best on Capitol Hill. Most of the strings on this blog are dedicated to lambasting them for their efforts, and painting them to be self-serving and exclusive. Please remind yourselves of the organizations that the LGBT Community Center have fostered and supported over the years for YOUR benefit.

Equal Rights Washington (ERW)was started under their guidance, and has become the frontrunner of political action groups to help secure equal rights for LGBT persons. In addition to ERW, if you go to the website for The Center, you can see the many other diversified groups that they sponsor and support.

As for SOaP, I am happy to hear that they aren't filing for bankrupcy and have chosen to work toward ammending the past year's problem. It takes a lot of courage to tackle that, and I think all of us (George and Shannon included) would like to do what we can to help.

I am planning to attend both, if for no other reason than to show that those of you who think that anyone supporting the Capitol Hill event is "against SOaP" and attempting to hijack the Pride weekend for themselves.

Holding a grudge is counter productive to either side, and since we now have the "wisdom to know the difference" it's time to put away the swords and get this underway.

Posted by dmcavalier | May 4, 2007 1:28 PM
33

Here here Dmcavalier. Lets get our BIG party started!

Posted by CodyBolt | May 4, 2007 1:30 PM
34

People who are saying it's cool, just accept it and go to both are looking at it from only the attendees perspective. I marched in the parade last year, and it was really, really fun, but also exhausting. And I wasn't even dressed up or anything. For the groups that march in the parade to have to do it two days in a row is asking a lot. Having done volunteer coordination before, I can tell you that the people who are probably most pissed about this are the people who are going to try to get people to march.

Unless I can be guaranteed some sexy turf war dancing a la the suggestion @10 (ILU, Colin!), I might just vote with my ass and stay on my couch.

Also the exchange between Fnarf and Dan @26 and 27 is the best thing I've ever read on Slog.

Posted by exelizabeth | May 4, 2007 1:30 PM
35

I'll be holding a gay pride parade on Saturday June 23rd at 2 pm. It'll be on Summit Ave E between Olive and Roy. Hope you can all make it. THAT should teach those splitters!

Posted by mattro | May 4, 2007 1:36 PM
36

DM and Cody -

We're having two events because LGBTCC refuses to accept the reality of what their community wants, for what appears to be selfish reasons. You can talk of "upsides" and a big (but separate!) "party" (shouldn't that be plural?) but it's tripe.

Posted by DE Dono | May 4, 2007 1:42 PM
37

I'm not saying I disagree but bitching about it isn't going to solve the problem at this point its time to pony up have fun do our thing and then start solving it for next year.

Posted by CodyBolt | May 4, 2007 1:47 PM
38

Dear MATTRO,

I'm sure that your'e a parade on your own, but at least let us bring balloons or something...

LOL

I like seeing a sense of humor for a change...

To DE Dono: There's always "Menudo".

Posted by dmcavalier | May 4, 2007 1:50 PM
39

As a straight gal with many gay friends, I've learned one simple truth. When given a choice between a party organized by gay men vs. gay women, the men's party is always going to be done with more style, wit, and fun. Supporting the downtown parade over a parade organized by an egocentric lesbian is a no brainer.

Posted by straight gal | May 4, 2007 2:00 PM
40

So there are two events. The more choices the better, I say. This whole 'drama' was probably drummed up by Pride organizers in the first place. I stopped caring about Pride about 10 years ago. Last year, curious about all the commotion, I went for the first time in years (to the "lesser" march on the hill). Despite what Dan would have you believe, it was fun. Yes, smaller, but more my style. Who says Pride should one unified event? Pride had gotten so bloated and boring anyway: beer trucks and gays on the backs of pick-up trucks--woo hoo. Now we have some drama, choice, and prizes (thanks Stranger)! Now we're talking.

Posted by Xu-tech | May 4, 2007 3:03 PM
41

Which parade is the Stranger going to choose for their prizes? And Straight Gal 39 , that is a great idea - the downtown parade can be for fags in drag on floats and the hill parade can be for dykes on bykes in spykes.

Posted by crazycatguy | May 4, 2007 4:21 PM
42

For potential attendees, they can possibly look at this as a double opportunity to go to two parades and two parties on one weekend. What fun! For non-profits and potential sponsors, it is a nightmare.

Non-profits are now faced with trying to drum up enough volunteers and money to put together contingents for both parades. Or face the potential of pissing off one or the other side by skipping one of the parades. Same with all the politicians kissing gay babies. Now the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence have to dress up for two parades, and march miles on two days in platform boots (I can't imagine doing that once, much less two days in a row). The practical reality is that a lot of people will choose one or the other parade because they simply can't manage both.

Now SOaP and LGBT Center are going to go to Microsoft and other major donors for a handout. All of these businesses are going to take one look at this clusterfuck and all the back stabbing, and say: Hell no; come back to us next year when you get your shit together. Large companies get solicited by every charity in the state. They prioritize their donations where they think it will get them the best PR. Donating to either side of this clusterfuck would be viewed as potentially bad PR, and they will avoid it like the plague. The businesses on Capitol Hill will give minimal support because they don't want their money going to the downtown parade. The fundraising oportunity for this fiasco just got way worse.

I'm not really surprised by the actions of SOaP or the LGBT Center. However, I'm very disappointed in Rasmussen and Clark. This settlement is lame. This is the best that could be accomplished by the combined efforts of two city council members? WTF?!

Posted by SDA in SEA | May 4, 2007 4:37 PM
43

CAT FIGHT!

Posted by elswinger | May 4, 2007 4:42 PM
44

What is everyone bitching about? For the last ten+ (teehee) years, all I've heard from the LGBT community is that "Pride Sucks!" and "the parade should be more fun" or "the parade should be more political"...well you go what you wanted!! Now there will be a political march on B-way and a big celebration D-town! Change is never easy but it's sooooo much better than the alternative, staying exactly the same for 10+ (teehee) years! Get behind (teehee) PRIDE and make this year the best ever!

Posted by assasahat | May 4, 2007 4:49 PM
45

Why is everyone just assuming that all of the non-profits need to struggle over this "nightmare"? This is great!! The parade downtown provides exposure to 200,000+ people and the march on the hill is an activist's dream "upstart and edgy". Pick one you silly homos. There is absolutely no reason that every struggling non-profit with limited resources must participate in both events. If it was wrong of Sally and Tom to not step in and decide on only one parade then wouldn't we expect our local orgs to make that decision as well? Stop quibling and PICK ONE! There is more than enough PRIDE to go around.

Posted by assasahat | May 4, 2007 4:56 PM
46

March. Saturday. Broadway. Participatory. Political.

Parade. Sunday. Downtown. Spectatory (?). Celebratory.

Can't this work?

Posted by gkb | May 4, 2007 4:58 PM
47

YES! IT CAN!!

Posted by assasahat | May 4, 2007 5:02 PM
48

OMG! Read comment #10! I almost peed. Now I'm sad, if there isn't a chorus line of slick haired bois in leather jackets waving mascara wands in the parade this year I will be sorely disapointed. Colin you are my hero.

Posted by allmykids@abc.com | May 4, 2007 5:20 PM
49

Two parades at 11 AM on two different days is dumb, even if one is "political" and the other is nothing but buttplug-sportin' go-go boys. Festival on Saturday NIGHT on the hill, parade downtown on Sunday.

Tom and Sally had a chance to hammer this into one cohesive, coherent series of events and they didn't do it. They didn't lead. They got played. For a second there it looked like the grownups were going to step in. They didn't. I don't think our community has any grownups in it.

Posted by Not Coming This Year | May 4, 2007 5:48 PM
50

@ 24 - Ha ha ha... think again. George Bakon of the SGN is "in bed with" Shannon. He is on the QueerFest Committee. WAKE THE FUCK UP!

Posted by pride diva | May 4, 2007 8:36 PM
51

Reply to above--
To make it clear - SGN supported QueerFest, and the Fruit Bowl Awards, both produced from the LGBT Center last year, and have continued that support to this year.

IMHO --The Center is one of the best projects in the community, serving many functions. And in the past six months they have even enlarged their project list.Those who doubt should do a bit of fact finding.

So, what is the conspiracy, that the Seattle Gay News would be openly supportive of the Gay Community Center???? Go figure that mindset.

Posted by George Bakan | May 5, 2007 1:16 AM
52

The conspiracy, George, is that you're in bed with the LGBT Center and did all you could to hurt SOaP. Your stupid paper argued against the downtown parade and all but ignored it last year. And guess what? Actual gays and lesbians apparently ignore your paper because they turned out by the tens of thousands for the downtown parade that you and Shannon insisted they didn't support and didn't want to attend. Go re-read a few of the stories your paper wrote before last year's pride downtown. You and your paper don't speak for the community. That's a tiny circle jerk you've got, George, not a newspaper.

Posted by Not Coming This Year | May 5, 2007 11:28 AM
53

"The mind once suddenly aware of a verity for the first time immediately invents it again" (Agnes Sligh Turnbull).

Posted by dmcavalier | May 5, 2007 9:07 PM
54

What do you all suppose the outcome would be if an official audit of SOaP happens, and who would be wearing the "bracelets"? It sure won't be Shannon or George!

Posted by Nun Ya | May 5, 2007 9:12 PM
55

If you separate the politics (march) from the party (parade), we may as a community re-discover why one needs the other.

Those who do not learn from history are destined to repeat it. Someone, please write the lesson down this time...preferably in stone for future generations who will, undoubtedly, stumble in your footsteps.

Thing, which matter most, should never be a the mercy of things, which matter least. - Goethe

Posted by yin-yang bear | May 5, 2007 11:13 PM
56

above #52

You can just blame the SGN for SOAP over spending their budgets by some $140,000.-- - their actual debt over two years, maybe more? It is all my fault.

Not on their board, never asked for my opinion, no fiscal problems announced to the community affected by their board -- oh sure, just blame the SGN. Come on Not, get a grip.

Whatever your grudge is in life, don't project it to me and SGN.

There is no conspiracy, SGN will support the LGBT Center - and the problems that exist for SOAP at present are of their own making.....largely very poor fiscal management.

And, like most of fags, dykes, queers, gays, lesbians and trans folk - and all the others - looking forward to a big pride weekend this year, both Sat. and Sunday.

SGN has had a great float idea - floating around for years - just very exhausted by pride weekend to do it - but now, with Stranger cash on the line, THIS might be the year. And it is a winner....


Posted by George Bakan | May 6, 2007 4:33 AM
57

Hey, George: I hear the LGBT Community Discord Generator is in the red too.

Posted by Not Coming This Year | May 6, 2007 10:59 AM
58

funny Shannon is promoting her 'march' as the 'polticial' march. The Pride March downtown will be led by big name local and State politicians. A Gay Pride parade going through the middle of the region's largest City that is also home to internationally known radical gay haters like Ken Hutcherson, THAT is the 'poltical' march making the biggest socials and political statement. Again, it's amazing how devisive the LGBT Center is, trying to strip the 'politics' out of the official Seattle Pride March and celebration for their own egos. Sooo tiring.

But here's to SGN building the Float that would win the Stranger's float contest. That would make Savage's head pop off. Would be fun to watch.

Posted by Frank | May 6, 2007 11:56 AM
59

Isn't Savage one of the judges? And a bunch of other Stranger people?

Good luck, George.

Posted by EXTC | May 6, 2007 10:11 PM
60

MSN I NIIPET
MSN

Posted by Bill | May 12, 2007 6:43 AM
61

MSN I NIIPET
MSN

Posted by Bill | May 12, 2007 6:43 AM
62

MSN I NIIPET
MSN

Posted by Bill | May 12, 2007 6:16 PM

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