Charlette LeFevre, founder of Capitol Hill Pride Festival, said she was told there wouldnt be enough SPD officers to cover both CHPF and PrideFest in Seattle Center.
Charlette LeFevre, founder of Capitol Hill Pride Festival, said she was told there wouldn't be enough SPD officers to cover both CHPF and PrideFest in Seattle Center. AGNIESZKA LOBODZINSKA/SHUTTERSTOCK

According to the Capitol Hill Times, the Capitol Hill Pride Festival will only be one day this year. Despite submitting a request to extend the festival from June 25 to June 26, CHPF founders Charlette LeFevre and Philip Lipson said their request was turned down because there would not be enough Seattle police officers on deck to cover both Seattle Pride Festival and PrideFest in Seattle Center.

SPD had already planned to have an increased presence at the the downtown festival before the Orlando shooting, which killed 49 people and injured 53 people at Pulse, an LGBT nightclub, CHT reported.

While the Capitol Hill Pride Festival has grown over the past seven years along five blocks of Broadway, attendance is vastly greater at the Seattle Pride Parade and Pridefest, and the mass shooting in Orlando could mean an even larger showing this year, [said Joe Mirabella, communications director for the Seattle Office of Film + Music + Special Events.]

ā€œThatā€™s what weā€™ve started to see in other cities that have already had pride events,ā€ he said.

Mirabella said Police Chief Kathleen Oā€™Toole has ordered a revised security review ahead of Seattle Pride and law enforcement will conduct active-shooter trainings with interested Capitol Hill businesses next week, ahead of the weekend pride events.

When the Stranger caught up with LeFevre, she said it didn't make sense that the Capitol Hill Pride Festival couldn't get enough police for a second day of festivities. After all, she said, previously, SPD had been able to cover multiple events on the same day, like Mariners games and Seafair.

LeFevre said her organization's request was properly communicated months ago, but they were "not given an inkling that there was going to be a 'police staff shortage.' It's such a disregard and we're really surprised and, of course, disappointed." SPD public affairs rep Sean Whitcomb did not return calls for comment at the time of publication.

According to LeFevre, in lieu of extending the Capitol Hill Pride Festival to Sunday, city officials are open to activating the sidewalks to host vendors and booths. In the meantime, she and Lipson will appeal the extension denial, CHT reported.

"Regardless if there's a street festival or not, we expect thousands of people back on the Hill. We just want to make sure there's a secure environment," LeFevre told the Stranger.