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News & ArtsFriday, June 3, 2011
LGBTQITSLFA Space Needle: We're Never Flying the Pride Flag Again
Posted by Dominic Holden on Fri, Jun 3, 2011 at 11:52 AM
Is case you haven't been following this hothothot story, gay-rights activists are petitioning the Space Needle to fly a giant gay-pride flag this year, which the Space Needle did for the first time last year, to the celebration of 'mosexuals and the constipation of 'publicans. Officially, the petitioners said "the Space Needle has not committed to raising the Pride flag."
Not committed or outright refused, anti-gay or anti-flag? This morning, Space Needle Spokeswoman Mary Bacarella writes that "we are not flying the flag again."
Bacarella continues: "We are now partnering with Seattle Out and Proud and giving them the flag. We are proud and excited to know that this flag will be leading the Gay Pride Parade this year! As you should know, we don’t make a habit of flying flags on top of the Space Needle. In fact, we make an effort not to fly any flags on a recurring basis." That said, Bacarella notes that the Space Needle loves it some gays, is working with the sponsors of the gay pride parade on a major fundraiser, and "will continue to be a strong supporter and advocate of diversity for everyone in Seattle."
So, gays, they love you/us/rainbows. They just hate flags (which sounds suspiciously like hating fags, amirite?) And if you want evidence, the Space Needle even rejected the Seattle Center's request to fly a 50th anniversary flag this April. "They told us they weren't going to be doing that for any group any more," says Seattle Center spokeswoman Deborah Daoust. "They are getting out of the flag-flying business." So I guess they'll never fly that 12th Man flag again, eh?
1
Well that sucks. I was surprised at how great it made me feel to see the rainbow flag flying on top of the Space Needle last year. I thought it would be a great new tradition.
If I see a fucking 12th man flag fly on top of that stick I'm going to be pissed.
If I see a fucking 12th man flag fly on top of that stick I'm going to be pissed.
6
Yes... but the family that owns the fucking needle made damn sure we would end up with a vanity project for a one-eyed loon hogging our public space for all eternity. Fuck these people.
7
@5 As a fan of the Hawks and the flying of all flags, I assure you it is not an "all the time" situation. They only fly it the week of any home playoff games.
8
Why don't they just fly flags more frequently? I get that they're putting their foot down on all flags (and they'd better mean it come football season), but it's something that the populous really enjoys and gets into. Why deny us? Way to be a party pooper.
11
One aspect of the struggle for LGBT rights is visibility.
It's unfortunate that the Space Needle is unsupportive of that and chooses instead to make a token gesture that ignores their visibility and the impact of their rejection.
It's unfortunate that the Space Needle is unsupportive of that and chooses instead to make a token gesture that ignores their visibility and the impact of their rejection.
14
Maybe they could just fly a flag with a big 'P' on it instead? You know, a PFLAG? Right? Am I right?
17
@15 You may be on to something. Perhaps someone at SO&P forgot to include their "donation" with their flag flying request?
20
Domnic, get a life. If I remember correctly, your boss, Mr. Dan Savage, has always HATED the rainbow flag, and has written why in the past. (Sorry I can't paraphrase his old argument - I never felt it was something worth storing in my brain cells for all time.) So they flew the flag last year for the first time, and now they're not flying it this year. Does that make every Pride Day before and after 2010's "less special"? Geez. So sad for you.
21
Sounds like people need to gather signatures and force a citywide vote that replaces the space needle with a surface street.
22
They'll fly the 12th man flag again, but only if the Hawks make it to the playoffs (which is typically the only time they to raise it). Seahawks shouldnt really matter since most of SLOG hates football and prefer a more redneck white washed sport like Hockey.
23
@18: tholt@waholdings.com, Tim Holt, GM for Union Square.
Respectfully request that they allow us to do this, point out that it's a popular thing and that it generates publicity (GMs love publicity for their places, imagine 2 Union Square triumphantly saying "when asked, we took up the standard and stood in the face of hate proudly with all Seattle residents"). I was going to post a link to that petition, but if he googles for 3 seconds that's one of the first results on the matter, along with this post.
2 Union Square is the highest flagpole on the west coast, btw.
Respectfully request that they allow us to do this, point out that it's a popular thing and that it generates publicity (GMs love publicity for their places, imagine 2 Union Square triumphantly saying "when asked, we took up the standard and stood in the face of hate proudly with all Seattle residents"). I was going to post a link to that petition, but if he googles for 3 seconds that's one of the first results on the matter, along with this post.
2 Union Square is the highest flagpole on the west coast, btw.
24
Can I ask an honest question here without being accused of trolling? Because I'm not. But if they flew the rainbow flag, why shouldn't they have to fly a Mexican flag on Cinco de Mayo? Or a Chinese flag, or even a confederate flag on days that are important to those folks? There are probably at least as many of them in Seattle as there are gays.
In other words, why should gays think they're any more special than anybody else?
In other words, why should gays think they're any more special than anybody else?
26
@24: They've flown a flag with Shrek on it. They've painted the top like a donut and the wheel of fortune. They've had cultural flags, they've had frivolous flags. They've used many sports flags. They've had NO flags most of the time.
The "what if someone else wants to fly their flag" discussion is irrelevant and almost blatant distraction. And so what if someone DOES want to fly their own flag? I'm ready to cede that, say, mexican culture is both relevant to Seattle and more important than Shrek.
The "what if someone else wants to fly their flag" discussion is irrelevant and almost blatant distraction. And so what if someone DOES want to fly their own flag? I'm ready to cede that, say, mexican culture is both relevant to Seattle and more important than Shrek.
27
@24 I'm not sure that the local Mexican/Chinese/confederate communities have ever made this type of request. There's also no Mexican/Chinese/confederate event that has the same profile and visibility here as the Gay Pride Parade. That doesn't answer your question, just trying to provide a little context.
29
Yeah I call bullshit, the Space Needle people are pandering to the right-wingers who don't want their kids subjected to seeing the international standard of the worldwide gay conspiracy.
30
@24 C'mon, 5280. Baconcat answered you with #11. They don't "have" to do jack, we're just really disappointed that they want to stop doing something that meant a helluva lot to a lot of people. We're not disputing their 1st Amendment right to be dicks.
32
Gotcha. So we can continue to not support that ghastly restaurant, and continue not mentioning how gay HS Wright is. Done.
34
Anyone else remember back in the 70s/80s when the needle had all kinds of crap on it? Inflatable crabs, gorillas.
Ah here:
http://blog.seattlepi.com/thebigblog/200…
Ah here:
http://blog.seattlepi.com/thebigblog/200…
36
I call bullcrap. If they are getting out of the flag business then I assume they will never fly a shrek flag or a seahawks flag again. more likely one person complained or made the same stupid complaint that #24 did of assuming that having a pride flag equals gay is better than being straight. I am a straight guy in a straight marriage and so far what gay people do hasn't affected my life one freaking bit but I know for them not having basic rights that I do as straight dude really messes up their lifes. a freaking flag is the least we can do. most of the gay people i've met seem to want all the same ordinary things I've want and why the heck not?
37
THIS is why they're getting out of the flag flying business...
people complaining when THEIR flag doesn't get to fly EVERY TIME they want it to. stupid. they very well might put the seahawks flag up again next season, but it's a private building! they can do what they want! they acknowledged pride day in 2010. they flew a huge rainbow flag on one of the most recognizable buildings in the world. so, now you want that EVERY YEAR? why would they go from never doing anything like that, to doing that ALL THE TIME? repetition cheapens the message, anyways. the statement was made; they shouldn't have to re-state it over and over. the seahawks, the mariners, the stars and stripes, these are symbols of the city and the nation. the pride flag isn't the symbol of the city, or the nation. it was given the nod, as it should. but, it doesn't need to fly every year. people are making WAY too big of a deal of this.
people complaining when THEIR flag doesn't get to fly EVERY TIME they want it to. stupid. they very well might put the seahawks flag up again next season, but it's a private building! they can do what they want! they acknowledged pride day in 2010. they flew a huge rainbow flag on one of the most recognizable buildings in the world. so, now you want that EVERY YEAR? why would they go from never doing anything like that, to doing that ALL THE TIME? repetition cheapens the message, anyways. the statement was made; they shouldn't have to re-state it over and over. the seahawks, the mariners, the stars and stripes, these are symbols of the city and the nation. the pride flag isn't the symbol of the city, or the nation. it was given the nod, as it should. but, it doesn't need to fly every year. people are making WAY too big of a deal of this.
38
@24: "Can I ask an honest question here without being accused of trolling? "
No, because you're frankly one of the more obnoxious posters here short of Kinison.
No, because you're frankly one of the more obnoxious posters here short of Kinison.
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