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Friday, June 26, 2009

Homo Save Pride’s Indebted Gay Ass

Posted by Dominic Holden on Fri, Jun 26, 2009 at 10:00 AM

3f68/1246034441-pride_button.jpg Want the gay pride parade to pay off its $85,000 debt to the city? Wait, let me rephrase that: Want to have a pride parade in Seattle next year? If Seattle Out and Proud, the parade's sponsor organization, doesn’t pay off its obligation from 2006 according to the exact terms of settlement agreement, the city is going to have their hide. This Sunday, volunteers in special pride tee-shirts will canvas the crowd offering buttons for a donation. “We are asking for a minimum of a dollar per button, but the more we get the more quickly we can pay the debt,” says Jon Mejia, spokesman for Seattle Out and Proud.

For all the folks kvetching about how pride got itself into debt and wondering why the hell it’s taken them so long to pay it off—folks like, um, me—this is our chance to put our money where our blabbering gay mouths are. A new regime of board members is diligently taking over the reins for SOaP and trying to keep the parade alive. Get a cocksucking button and put ten dollars in the donation bucket; after all, the event is free, run by volunteers, and it’s part of a conspiracy to make Belltown gayer than a jacuzzi full of lube and kittens. (You can also donate over here.)

The parade begins at 11:00 a.m. this Sunday, running north on 4th Avenue, from Union Street to Denny Way. I’m getting conflicting reports about the weather. My iPhone claims it will rain; Accuweather says it’ll be nice and sunny.

Comments (11) RSS

Oldest First Unregistered On Registered On Add a comment

Dom, is there a way to contribute or donate if you're outside of the Seattle area?

Posted by Hyzenthlayk9

on June 26, 2009 at 10:07 AM

Well, I seem to remember everyone screaming that if the debt wasn't paid off last year there would be no parade this year.

Posted by Cato the Younger Younger on June 26, 2009 at 10:11 AM

@ 1) I added a link to the SOaP website in the post. Just click on the "donate" page and contribute using PayPal.

Posted by Dominic Holden on June 26, 2009 at 10:12 AM

I see George Bakan is a Grand Marshal this year. I imagine he's having his crack SGN staff whip up a "Gran Marshull" sash for him to wear.

Posted by gloomy gus on June 26, 2009 at 10:21 AM

#4

Curious comment, what does that have to do with SOAP paying their debt? Are you going to throw ten in the can for a button?

That seems to be the thread as I read the post. SOAP is going to get twenty from me, and maybe more - glad to see active fund raising to get this money thing solved. Cash has always been the solution, time to fork over en masse.

Right on Domenic, did you say there is a button about sucking cock? Gloomy might get happy over that one ... and dump a ten in the can ... maybe.

Posted by Alex la Rouge on June 26, 2009 at 10:42 AM

I always throw my dollars on the big rainbow flag when I can go to Pride ... now I have to use a can?

Won't I get tetanus?

Posted by Will in Seattle

on June 26, 2009 at 10:44 AM

#4 for the win.

Posted by scary tyler moore

on June 26, 2009 at 12:00 PM

Sorry, I call bullshit on the city shutting down Pride over a measly $85,000. SOAP will make a good effort (as it should), and the city will, eventually, write-off whatever isn't paid back. Seattle thinks itself too big a town not to have a big ol' Gay Pride Parade (and the money it generates), and a mayor who kills Pride is a mayor that doesn't get re-elected.

Posted by Mason on June 26, 2009 at 12:49 PM

Hey Dominic,

You said you wouldn't quote me about the jacuzzi full of lube and kittens. Now I'll be fielding calls from PETA all day Sunday!

See you at Pride!

Posted by joncmejia on June 26, 2009 at 1:11 PM

Can you provide more information about who is taking on responsibility for the parade?

Posted by Concerned Lesbian on June 26, 2009 at 3:44 PM

#10-
SOAP - Seattle Out and Proud is doing the parade - and have done so under that name for 5 years. They took over from the previous group, Freedom Day Commitee, which had done the event since 1983.

All is well, the present group went into debt, long story, and is paying the city back.... five year plan announced.

This year will be big - they took a maximum number of contingents and had to close the event several weeks ago.

Send them money to help pay the debt, they have a good site, Seattle Out and Proud.

Seattle has a free event and the committee is all volunteer, still, most cites have made the event totally commercial with getting in costing up to 40.00 --- not Seattle.

Posted by Pride Vampire on June 27, 2009 at 5:35 AM