Slog
News & ArtsThursday, June 21, 2012
Homo Space Needle Refuses to Fly Pride Flag
Posted by Dominic Holden on Thu, Jun 21, 2012 at 1:58 PM
After flying the rainbow flag for the last two years, the Space Needle says it won't do it again. "As we don't raise any flag but the American flag on a regular basis, there are no plans to raise the Rainbow Flag again this year," the Space Needle tells Q13 News.
This issue shall be resolved now in a poll.
1
hey what about that seahawks flag they also fly on a regular basis? http://blog.seahawks.com/2011/01/07/12th…
5
If you combine the US flag with the WA state flag, you get blue, red, white, green, yellow, black and white.
6
BULL!!! Let people have their day! Stupid father's get one, mother's get one....let the queers and freaks have their day too!
9
I can understand them not wanting to fly the pride flag (symbol of a very politically charged issue).
But to say that it is because they only fly the American flag, BS! I have seen a lot of flags fly atop the Space Needle that were not the American one! That is just a piss-poor excuse.
But to say that it is because they only fly the American flag, BS! I have seen a lot of flags fly atop the Space Needle that were not the American one! That is just a piss-poor excuse.
12
We're not asking them to raise it on a regular basis though. Unless one week a year is too regular for them.
15
Can't we just tear down the Space Needle and move on?
It's not a very good emblem for a city that prides itself on good engineering.
19
What does gay pride have to do with the Space Needle? Why SHOULD they fly it?
Oh, because it's your american right to be gay? Then shouldn't we also volley for them to fly the KKK flag sometimes? A confederate flag once in a while? Seahawks flag I can understand, because that DOES have something to do with Seattle. Just because they don't want to put a giant gay flag on top of our city doesn't mean they are oppressing the homosexuals. Sheesh!
Oh, because it's your american right to be gay? Then shouldn't we also volley for them to fly the KKK flag sometimes? A confederate flag once in a while? Seahawks flag I can understand, because that DOES have something to do with Seattle. Just because they don't want to put a giant gay flag on top of our city doesn't mean they are oppressing the homosexuals. Sheesh!
20
Seattle prides itself on good engineering? It's a city full of stupid engineering. Take for example the fact that it built subway tunnels trhough the whole of downtown and then ran busses through them for the better part of two decades. Or what about the fact that because David Denny and Doc Maynard hated each other and couldn't agree which way was north, all the streets change direction at Yesler Way? Or what about the perrenial monorail debacle? Or the viaduct conundrum? or the fact that it's just stupid to build a downtown on a bottleneck between too large bodies of water so it only has room to grow in two directions?
21
I would have supported that argument but for that whole Angry Bird thing. If that's okay, there is almost nothing that is not okay so long as it isn't hateful.
22
Just keep the needle that orange color they painted it for the 50th anniversary. That's all I ask.
Oh, and Dear Leader: Do go take a long walk of a short pier. The Space Needle is exquisite. Only bores think otherwise.
Oh, and Dear Leader: Do go take a long walk of a short pier. The Space Needle is exquisite. Only bores think otherwise.
23
Came here to whine about the 12th man flag, the /half/ painted orange updated color, and the angry bird promo.
This isn't the Washington Monument in DC, it's a goofy commercial enterprise. You damn well better fly that pride flag.
This isn't the Washington Monument in DC, it's a goofy commercial enterprise. You damn well better fly that pride flag.
24
Didn't we go over this last year? They gave an exception to their "one-time only" rule then. I think it's a silly rule, but the headline here is unfair. They didn't routinely or even annually have the Angry Birds thing up. I don't know about the Sounders flag... how many times have they flown it?
And how many times is Seattle Pride and/or The Stranger going to be cry-babies over this issue? I mean it's cute that you guys need annual validation of your sexual liberation from the Space Needle Corporation, but also you could try dealing with it like grown ups.
And how many times is Seattle Pride and/or The Stranger going to be cry-babies over this issue? I mean it's cute that you guys need annual validation of your sexual liberation from the Space Needle Corporation, but also you could try dealing with it like grown ups.
25
Another year in which we all groggily rediscover that the Space Needle is not public property and is occasionally for sale.
26
I think the big deal, @24 and others, is that is seems like such an awesome show of solidarity when they fly it. I don't think anyone actually believes the Space Needle needs to validate their sexuality, come on you're just being obnoxious saying that. I see little downside with the Pride flag being flown, and plenty of negative reaction and disappointment with the declaration that it won't be flown. So really, what's to lose by flying it for a week or so every year?
Personally, when I see ANY flag other than that of the US hoisted above the Needle, I feel so happy and excited that such an icon of the city can share in the carefree spirit of displaying an enormous Angry Bird, or the oneness of our NFL team's flag, or in the warm and fuzzy feeling that comes with supporting Gay Pride. Gay Pride, since people love to forget, exists because gay people have been marginalized, by other people, by society, and by their government. So when I see my oblivious Midwest friends back home join Facebook groups called "Straight Pride", I want to shake them by their shirt collars. You know that's not a fair comparison at all!
Basically, what's the big deal with flying it? By flying it and then not a year or two later, the Space Needle makes it seem as though they're caving to pressure. Whereas, had they never flown it, that would be another matter. Come on guys, just everyone lighten up a little and be supportive of all the diversity in our city! Oh, and by the way, I LOVE the throwback orange, and I vote it should be kept that way, much longer than six months at least!
Personally, when I see ANY flag other than that of the US hoisted above the Needle, I feel so happy and excited that such an icon of the city can share in the carefree spirit of displaying an enormous Angry Bird, or the oneness of our NFL team's flag, or in the warm and fuzzy feeling that comes with supporting Gay Pride. Gay Pride, since people love to forget, exists because gay people have been marginalized, by other people, by society, and by their government. So when I see my oblivious Midwest friends back home join Facebook groups called "Straight Pride", I want to shake them by their shirt collars. You know that's not a fair comparison at all!
Basically, what's the big deal with flying it? By flying it and then not a year or two later, the Space Needle makes it seem as though they're caving to pressure. Whereas, had they never flown it, that would be another matter. Come on guys, just everyone lighten up a little and be supportive of all the diversity in our city! Oh, and by the way, I LOVE the throwback orange, and I vote it should be kept that way, much longer than six months at least!
28
The story, it seems to me, is why they happily flew the rainbow flag...those two years...and decided to discontinue the practice. Why fly it in the first place and then yank it off the menu. What happened? Why the change of heart?
29
Make the lights on Qwestlink field glow rainbow. That'd be something.
Hell, make some sort of oily soup back up into the streets at Pike Place market. Something that will adopt a rainbow sheen when the occasional sunlight hits it.
Hell, make some sort of oily soup back up into the streets at Pike Place market. Something that will adopt a rainbow sheen when the occasional sunlight hits it.
30
WHO ARE THESE ASSHOLES? I want names! I want emails! I want to remind them that Seattle is a freaky town that needs freak flags to fly!
P.S. God hates flags.
P.S. God hates flags.
32
Another contrived issue by the Stranger. Hey, where's my white, heterosexual pride flag? Oh, that's right. I'm not part of a special class.
33
Private corporation; they get to do what they want. And isn't the Space Needle owned and run by Republicans, anyway? So they're hypocritical. So what. Call them out on it publicly and don't visit them (if you were even planning to).
35
I absolutely love & endorse this ^^^ comment. Well said, my friend ;) I'm a straight American citizen, and I appreciate & embrace the diversity of this town with all my heart. Why not?
37
@26
By flying it last year, they actually were caving to pressure.
Hey I'm all for them deciding to fly the gay pride flag if they want to. But you can't bitch and moan and threaten a boycott (like anyone here has paid to go up the Space Needle more than once w/o an out of town friend visiting), and then claim it's a symbol of solidarity. Hint: solidarity doesn't have to be coerced.
Seattle is such a gay-friendly city, it's amazing... but some people just can't be satisfied. They should fly the damn flag cause it's a big day for a lot of people, but if they don't want to, then whatever. No need to turn into those ribbon guys from Seinfeld. It's just a fuckin' flag on a tourist attraction (or not, as the case may be).
By flying it and then not a year or two later, the Space Needle makes it seem as though they're caving to pressure.
By flying it last year, they actually were caving to pressure.
Hey I'm all for them deciding to fly the gay pride flag if they want to. But you can't bitch and moan and threaten a boycott (like anyone here has paid to go up the Space Needle more than once w/o an out of town friend visiting), and then claim it's a symbol of solidarity. Hint: solidarity doesn't have to be coerced.
Seattle is such a gay-friendly city, it's amazing... but some people just can't be satisfied. They should fly the damn flag cause it's a big day for a lot of people, but if they don't want to, then whatever. No need to turn into those ribbon guys from Seinfeld. It's just a fuckin' flag on a tourist attraction (or not, as the case may be).
38
@32, poor whiny privileged Stranger'sWorstNightmare: You're already playing the video game of life at its easiest setting -- and you're already part of a very special class. Go read http://whatever.scalzi.com/2012/05/15/st… and then STFU.
40
This whole thing really irritates me. I doubt it gets read and probably has zero impact... but for what it's worth I sent this email to the president and community relations manager address listed on the Space Needle homepage:
"It is my opinion that you have repeatedly failed to build goodwill with our community in the battle for equal rights by not voluntarily displaying the pride flag. I understand that you are a private enterprise, that there are many “causes” that could be represented, and that not all people are supportive of LGBT rights. However, I consider the fight for equal rights to be of great importance. You have an opportunity to stand on the right side of history and help Seattle be a symbol in our own state and to the rest of the world.
I’ve watched as your organization has back-pedaled the past two years on this issue, based on the loudness of the public outcry. I find that I don’t want to support you as a business any longer. We will not be bringing clients to dine there anymore; and my husband and I will no longer bring our personal guests to the space needle."
"It is my opinion that you have repeatedly failed to build goodwill with our community in the battle for equal rights by not voluntarily displaying the pride flag. I understand that you are a private enterprise, that there are many “causes” that could be represented, and that not all people are supportive of LGBT rights. However, I consider the fight for equal rights to be of great importance. You have an opportunity to stand on the right side of history and help Seattle be a symbol in our own state and to the rest of the world.
I’ve watched as your organization has back-pedaled the past two years on this issue, based on the loudness of the public outcry. I find that I don’t want to support you as a business any longer. We will not be bringing clients to dine there anymore; and my husband and I will no longer bring our personal guests to the space needle."
41
Every year this happens. What about that stupid 12th man flag? Oh and they gladly paint it any old gaudy color, but fly a flag? Oh gee that might bother someone.
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