Homo LGBT Center Death Rattle
posted by on April 21 at 10:43 AM
Seattle’s LGBT Center announced on Friday that it won’t be holding a third-annual, money-losing, insanely-divisive Queerfest in Volunteer Park the day before the Gay Pride parade this June. Instead Queerfest “will be held at smaller venues around the city,” according to an article in Friday’s SGN.
Obsessive observers of gay community infighting will recall that the LGBT Center launched Queerfest two years ago after the organizers of Seattle Pride moved Seattle’s annual Gay Pride parade downtown. The SGN and gay bar owners on Capitol Hill opposed the move and various self-appointed spokesdouches for the gay community insisted that the parade belonged on Capitol Hill, that the move was a betrayal of the gay community, that gays and lesbians would boycott the downtown parade, etc. And the geniuses in charge of LGBT Center at the time decided to launch a competing event because, they claimed, it was what “the community” wanted. But “the community,” it turned out, rather liked the idea of a parade through the center of the city. Tens of thousands turned out for a downtown parade that was a huge hit, if a financially mismanaged one.
The first Queerfest, in contrast, was a poorly-attended money-loser. And so was the second annual Queerfest. And the third one will be too, in whatever form it takes, if the LGBT Center is foolish enough to go ahead with it.
Anyway, I wanted to bring up the controversy over moving the parade off Capitol Hill—which is the only reason Queerfest existed in first place—because of this:
[Ivan Wright, newly elected co-president], explained the Center’s new plans for this year’s event. “What we’re trying to put together now is a Queerfest event throughout the month of June, which will be held & certainly at Neighbours—they’re one of the sponsors of the event—and beyond that I’m not sure. We’re still very early into this in terms of bringing it together, but we’re hoping to get several venues around Capitol Hill and beyond.”
Capitol Hill and beyond? Beyond Capitol Hill? As in, “off Capitol Hill”? Excuse me for bringing this up, but the whole point of Queerfest—and the divisions it created, and the money it lost, and the community center is caused to implode—was to keep Seattle’s gay pride events on Capitol Hill where the shriekers insisted they belonged.
Hey, SGN! The LGBT Center is moving Queerfest—bits and pieces of it—off the hill! Where are the charges of betrayal and heresy? Where are the furious letters from the gay community’s outraged spokesdouches? What? No quotes from angry bar owners? No calls for the board of the LGBT Center to resign? What gives?
They bitch, you bitch. They don't bitch, you bitch. And this is why I love you.
are LGBT centers and gay community politics really just a vanity issue to some people? thats the impression I get.
Well, you know what they say about people like you, Bellevue Ave.
Namely, you're a moron.
I'm sorry- I read "Neighbors" and tuned out.
You were saying...?
This is so last century.
ziggity, you're evading the question. Are LGBT and Gay Community Politics simply a vanity cause for many LGBT people?
I'm surprised that Neighbours is still 'sponsoring' whatever the Center plans. Especially since they were, to the best of my knowledge, never paid last year.
I'm actually willing to give the LBTGXYZ center the benefit of the doubt here, because they are making a good change - recognizing that "the community" is not going to support the divisive ONLY IN CAP HILL fest that's been done the last 2 years. It helps that the person mentioned in the article as a spokesman is new - makes me think they might be able to make it work.
Sure they're not exactly trumpeting that they screwed up, but I'm willing to see if they're going to go so far as to work with the other Pride events. That would be the best for everyone.
uh, what would Neighbors be paid for?
They were a sponsor last year, so they would be the ones doing the paying...or are you implying that Neighbors didn't come through with the money it pledged to the Center? Please clarify.
Here's another question: is the Stranger going to pony up some prize money for the official Pride parade this year, like they did last year? I think the prize money DID make it difference and there was a higher quality of floats and some actual entertainment value in last year's parade.
@9 - I was under the impression that Neighbours had paid for the stage, lighting and sound equipment for last year's event; and that the Center was supposed to pay them back for it, but ultimately didn't.
If I'm wrong, then nevermind what I said.
@6 still don't understand the question. What exactly is a "vanity cause?" Sorry I'm kinda a moron too... please explain.
I'm with genevieve. Lighten up a little, Dan.
The old director is gone. The center is either moving or closing. They are doing just what you wanted: not having a competing parade on Capitol Hill this year.
While I'm not willing to stand up and cheerlead for the LGBT Community Center, I'm quite willing to see if the new blood will take them in a new direction. Which is exactly what they appear to be doing.
Give them a chance, Dan. Let go of the grudge.
I don't know anything about the inner politics of the LGBTCC but I can speak as a hetero fan of a good old fashioned gay parade. Last years capitol hill "event" blew. And not in the good way. I'm going downtown this year.
wouldn't it be great if the bars and clubs on the hill really embraced the community instead of embracing their wallets? They tried to kill the citywide Pride Parade downtown. Now that they lost that battle, it seems they should unite around what SOAP is doing - from what I hear SOAP is making the changes the community wanted - expanding the board, paying off their debts. So why not actually work together, unless it doesn't serve some bar owners' self interests?
@12 I'm willing to stand up for the center as well - BUT the New Direction shouldn't be producing an event that is already being done successfully by another group. Why don't they decide what their purpose is and do it well? What is the Centers mission anyhow?
jhell, it means people only participate or are part of it to stoke their own egos. They arent actually trying to better the LGBT community, they are just trying to be visible within it for their own vain desires.
@16 You mean all this might be political, perhaps an attempt to save their own paychecks by demonstrating in some way that they're still relevant? Cause that's the way I'd define it.
LGBT-anything is so passe. Join the 21st Century, Seattle. Here in Ann Arbor we've got The Spectrum Center! No more confusing alphabet soup for us!
The Capitol Hill Times cover story April 16th - states the LGBT Center is moving to a new location on First Hill!! So where is the support from their Broadway, Pike/Pine, Madison and Cap Hill Base to keep them in Capitol Hill?
@13 is right. Either do the parade right, or don't bother.
Bellevue ave. Fair enough. I do know some people that do LGBT fund raising that are a little self-glorifying. I'd hate to think there is no true altruism involved at all but I may be naive.
1)Don't know about a Neighbor's payback. I think it's a situation where Neighbor's contribution has earned them the right to be an official sponsor of the Center's events for a very long time...
2)FYI: There are no paychecks at the center to protect or money being hoarded. They have very little money, (and could use a LOT more) and ONE part time paid co-ordinator. The Board is NOT paid, and the Center hasn't had a paid Director for months. The Board's decision to do a greatly scaled back Queerfest, was a sound decision to make, both financially and for the well-being of the community.
3)If they're ever able to put on a full scale Queerfest, I would personally recommend they DON'T do it concurrently with official Pride in June, but hold it in August and make it ARTS based instead of political. A queerer, artier version of Capitol Hill Block Party held on Pike Street and Cal Anderson Park with an emphasis on this city's vast pool of queer and queer friendly talent could be a huge success and a hell of a lot of fun.
Dan Savage linking to the SGN as breaking news...to a concise, well written article with no spelling mistakes...and Dan only saying "douche" once?
Is this the beginning of a beautiful new era of unity between the yin/yang, sibling rivalry of Cap Hill's two papers?
Bellvue Ave: I think LGBT centers used to serve as a rallying point for political action as well as a place for gays who "weren't into the bar scene" to meet.
In an age of broader gay acceptance and the advent of the internet I think their missions have lost clarity and focus.
I don't think it's about ego so much as it is figuring out what role to serve in a quickly changing time.
@23 - it's better than linking to Drudge.
The death knell of the LGBT Center was when they allowed lecherous old troll and Drag Hag "Mark Mom Finley" host their alleged festival.
Finley, a delusional attention whore and con-artist had them publicly print (among many of his bogus qualfications) that he was a "co-founder" of Gay Bingo!!! LOL!!! I used to volunteer with Judy Werley and Carol Sterling when Gay Bingo was first created for Chicken Soup Brigade. I can attest to the fact that Finley was only a host they used once in a while- among others (Peggy Platt was the first I think).
The fact that the LGBT Center would allow themselves to be asspciated and duped by this sociopathic liar and con-artist is beyond me.
I never donated another penny to their cause. I hope the LGBT Center (along with Finley) die a slow, embarassing and painful social death...
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