I think it should be flown. It's just a symbol, to be sure - but it's a good one, and a prominent one, that things are changing for the better.

It irks me that they'll gleefully fly the 12th Man flag during football season, but they have to be hectored and goaded into putting up a pride flag.

Whatever. Just build additional Space Needles and put all the flags up.

the rainbow lights over the arches at the kingdo....er.. quest fiel......er... century link field are cooler.

@4 now that i think about it, it's 'lights ON the arches'

Why don't they move the Pride parade away from Seattle Center and take their money with them? That's what corporations listen to, money. These folks are political naifs. Have the Parade end at Myrtle Edwards Park, give the city the money.

@3 - Tuba Man Memorial Stadium.

You with all the effort/money their putting into their save the views of the space needle campaign, they'd be more inclined to give people reasons to view the space needle as part of the Seattle community, not fighting with the Seattle community.

I tend to come down on the side of not caring, but then I think of the troll, and of our many perpetually angry commenters. They need issues like this to keep them occupied, so I say FLY THAT FLAG!!!

With all the money/effort they're putting into their save the views of the space needle campaign you'd think they'd be giving the Seattle community more reasons to view the space needle, not getting into a fight with a big beloved part of the Seattle community.

Bah I thought my first post didn't post, sorry

Wait why do you guys care about the flag instead of the fair contract part? Its a piece of cloth, the contract means more worker security.

But still, it pretty much show what they think about LGBT people that its an automatic "no". But its their loss

They flew Macklemore's flag, so...

...wait, Macklemore has a flag for some reason.

@14 - There's a Macklemore coup in the works. Don't tell anyone.

Sub Pop also gets a flag on their birthday, which I think is pretty cute.

I'm trying to care about this issue and if I was younger I probably would. But now, I can get married, not lose my job or apartment because I'm gay....

You know...I sorta don't give a shit at this stage of the game

Space Needle Corp. couldn't give a shit about the GLBTQ community, much less progressive liberal values. They only care about $. In 25 years living in Seattle, I've been up the SN once, and thought it incredibly tacky. Now, when visitors come to town, I take them to the water tower in Volunteer Park (higher, 50% more view, free!)

The flag controversy is just one example of the Space Needle's perspective of privilege. They lobby against upzoning, an important tool for a developing metropolis, as if an unobstructed view of their privately owned building were of greater civic benefit than affordable housing and increased density (which would lead to better transportation, etc.). When it suits them, they're all laissez-faire, but they fight hard to protect their (perceived) commercial interests.

They should fly it from the state ferries, actually.

Would do wonders to get more tourists.

I would think the Space Needle would want to fly the flag to serve their unrelenting need to be seen. I mean just think of all the eyes that will look at the Space Needle with the flag on there. They may even be able to abandon their plan to destroy progress in Seattle because their ego will be adequately stroked.

Think of all those eyes. They'll be looking at you, Space Needle. It is what you wanted, isn't it?

@21 - Great, now I'm picturing the owners of the Space Needle as Norma Desmond.

"I'm still big! It's the buildings in South Lake Union that got small!"

On the one hand, I have no use for Space Needle Corp. On the other hand, I find it petulant to demand that the flag be flown every year for an entire month and especially making that demand in conjunction with actually important things, such as labor protections for LGBT workers. Way to keep your eyes on the prize.

@22 exactly

There was no demand that the flag be flown FOR THE ENTIRE MONTH. The request is that the space needle corp. pay it's employees well and end it's 2 year dispute with it's union AND fly the flag for Pride (that could be a single day as it did two years in the past). I think it is a reasonable request to make, it's a flag. Really, what objection could they have? It's silly to think otherwise.

Meh...

If the Space Needle was operated or owned by the city, then yes, I'd demand they fly the flag. But it is a private company, despite its symbolism as a city icon. I thought it was cool that they flew it a couple of times before, and it would be cool if they'd do it again, but I'm not going to demand that any company kowtow to the gay community like that.

This year more than ever. R74, SCOTUS decisions, for or against. This year there has been visible progress towards equality. Let me see the flag!

FYI *thatsnotright*, the Space Needle is a privately-owned, very tall restaurant adjacent to city property. While the pride parade can start and end via a combination of wherever the hell they want to AND the city essentially issuing a permit to do so, the Space Needle does nothing but derive valuable tourist dollars (literally millions across hotels, restaurants and attractions for Pride weekend, they get a piece of that action).

Interestingly, the pride flag was originally commissioned by none other than one of the tourist bureaus in the city, as a direct attempt to pull in more 'gay dollars' (whatever those are. was Ben Franklin gay? #dontthinkso). So, when they fly the flag, it was for tourism. But without a strong policy of 'we only fly these things either once EVER, or if we repeat it, it's because fuck you, we are a private company, not a 600-foot flagpole.

So flying the flag naturally contributes to tourism. Not flying it contributes to staying the hell out of politics, except not, because they forgot to tell everyone Sorry, Once ONLY. The really benevolent fundraiser for the second year also looked like a hostage situation to some, which was super-awkward.

I can envision them now, stubbornly refusing to be bullied. What they need is someone to come along and say exactly the right set of words to unlock this mess. Then they can get back to being awesome (for everyone! not just the 'straights' and the tourists).

FYI *thatsnotright*, the Space Needle is a privately-owned, very tall restaurant adjacent to city property. While the pride parade can start and end via a combination of wherever the hell they want to AND the city essentially issuing a permit to do so, the Space Needle does nothing but derive valuable tourist dollars (literally millions across hotels, restaurants and attractions for Pride weekend, they get a piece of that action).

Interestingly, the pride flag was originally commissioned by none other than one of the tourist bureaus in the city, as a direct attempt to pull in more 'gay dollars' (whatever those are. was Ben Franklin gay? #dontthinkso). So, when they fly the flag, it was for tourism. But without a strong policy of 'we only fly these things either once EVER, or if we repeat it, it's because fuck you, we are a private company, not a 600-foot flagpole.

So flying the flag naturally contributes to tourism. Not flying it contributes to staying the hell out of politics, except not, because they forgot to tell everyone Sorry, Once ONLY. The really benevolent fundraiser for the second year also looked like a hostage situation to some, which was super-awkward.

I can envision them now, stubbornly refusing to be bullied. What they need is someone to come along and say exactly the right set of words to unlock this mess. Then they can get back to being awesome (for everyone! not just the 'straights' and the tourists).

I don't think we (the gay community in Seattle) are entitled to having the flag flown at all. We have this poor mindset that when something awesome happens (like it did in 2011 and 2012, even though there was a $50K extortion at hand in '12), it should ALWAYS happen. People can be angry if they want, but maybe the Space Needle should just fly the US flag, or perhaps the Washington State flag, or hell, even City of Seattle flag. Who cares. If this is what anyone bases the success or failure of their Pride celebration on, then they're probably not in the best mindset to begin with.