SGN: Seattle Gay News

09/12/2025

For two months, Mia Larotonda has been fighting a legal battle to have her Transgender fiancée’s burial rites honored in accordance with her gender identity.

Ms. Indigo Greene, aka Alice Alexandra Greene, was a crew member of Impact Foundation, a nonprofit created in 2022 and dedicated to Seattle’s underground LGBTQ+ music and arts. She was also known for being a compassionate, dedicated member of the Q***r mutual aid scene. On July 9, Greene was reportedly found by Larotonda in their Seattle home, alongside units from the Seattle Police Department and the King County Medical Examiner (KCME), after tragically taking her own life.

Larotonda has been challenging Greene's transphobic, estranged biological family in Alabama over their claim to her remains in court. Highlighting the injustice of Greene being stripped of her Transgender identity by the family, Larotonda pointed out that “they want to bury her in more ways than one — pulling her out of her community, her loved ones. Only using her old name, only using her old pronouns.”

As Greene’s surviving romantic partner and deeply upset by these circumstances, she said, “They can just swoop in, disregard what her last wish was, and then take her away and hide her. I think that’s the worst part. They think that a Trans su***de is something that’s shameful. So better to remember her as an unhappy man than as a traumatized Trans person that was deliberately abused.”

A Go Fund Me page has been established by Larotonda to raise funds for legal costs and a memorial service for Greene at https://www.gofundme.com/f/help-us-honor-indigos-final-wishes-and-fight-unfair-laws

We also wrote a full story about the circumstances, and interviewed Larotonda about what her and friends have been going through during this very difficult process:

https://www.sgn.org/story/157914/News/Seattle/Justice%20for%20Indigo%20Greene%3A%20A%20fianc%C3%A9e%E2%80%99s%20battle%20to%20honor%20the%20final%20wishes%20of%20a%20beloved%20Seattle%20Trans%20woman

09/12/2025

A candlelight vigil for Charlie Kirk was held at Westlake Park last night on Wednesday.

Pastor Russell Johnson, a conservative religious leader who often fuses politics and religion, led the event that featured the Washington State Republican Party Chair and controversial state legislator serving the 19th Legislative District, Jim Walsh, and self-avowed Republican and Seattle City Council candidate (Position 8 ) Racheal Savage. Radio talk show hosts Ari Hoffman of KVI and Jason Rantz of KIRO also spoke. Cam Higby was also at the event taking video, and had gotten up close in one of our reporter's faces to try and debate her.

Speakers noted Kirk was a defender of free speech who became a target of the left. At times, the event resembled a political rally with concerns regarding "morality" and "gender ideology" also raised. The image of a troubled Seattle was another theme of the night.

09/11/2025

A message from our publisher, Renee Raketty, regarding the shooting at Utah Valley University and the death of Charlie Kirk on Wednesday, 9/10/25:

"Our thoughts and prayers..."

Today was a tragedy. Two kids lost their father, and a wife lost her husband. And a movement found a martyr, further deepening the divide that disinformation has widened.

I imagine the death of Charlie Kirk will only fuel the rhetoric that has displaced families, increased the risk of violence for many minorities (particularly BIPOC Trans people), and stoke white nationalist sentiments.

Let me be clear: I disagree with almost everything the man stood for. And I would happily rise up to resist his presence in my community. However, political violence is never the answer.

The motives behind the shooting at Utah Valley University in Orem are still unclear. The fact that he was still spreading the lie that there were "too many" Trans shooters shortly before he was shot is irrelevant to the evil that was displayed today.

What we need to do is stop sending "thoughts and prayers" and instead search our souls — on both sides of the political spectrum — as to how we might bridge the ideological divide on human rights, working class issues, and gun safety.

Lately, I was losing hope... I exchanged texts with a mom in Eastern Washington for 12 hours who considered my leadership at the SGN: Seattle Gay News to be a threat to her family. She literally saw me as the leader of "Transtifa" and promoting a dangerous agenda that mutilates children, encourages pe******ia, and ultimately will lead to the downfall of the United States.

With every text, I would send this woman truthful information. She couldn't hear it. That is why people like Kirk are part of the problem, feeding misinformation... even when a quick prompt to ChatGPT could provide clarity.

For example, Kirk was recently quoted as saying after the mass shooting at Annunciation Catholic Church, "The Trans movement is radicalizing the mentally ill into becoming violent terrorists who target children for murder."

We are going to hear a lot of words being thrown around in the next few weeks: hero, patriot, etc. I guess that is a matter of perspective and one's political ideology. It never really solves anything.

Until Trump's recent attempts to rewrite or whitewash history, we tended to uphold the memories of people of the past who — through their acts, words, or deeds — were able to break through the noise.

I don't know who that person or those people will be at this critical juncture, but until then, those of us at the margins have no choice but to resist. And, when necessary, throw a wrench into the works. But at the end of the day, is that going to bring the two sides closer? I don't think so.

While people like me don't have the luxury of silence, we can't afford to disengage either. No one can tell our story better than we can. And maybe, through that effort, understanding can happen.

Photo credit: Gage Skidmore

09/09/2025

For five years, Seattle-based fashion designer Bryce Rail has hosted Pride Fashion Week, a runway show that uplifts the Q***r community and promotes gender diversity and inclusivity. The event also raises money for Lambert House, a local LGBTQ+ youth community center, through a silent auction.

The first catwalk of the show presented garments by Kilvani Designs, a brand that utilizes body chain jewelry in its products. Numerous examples of intricately tailored silver chains were draped over entirely black fabrics. The look was dark yet elegant; one can only admire the enigmatic stoicism displayed not only in the designer's work but also in the body language of the runway models.

Check out the SGN's rundown on the runway:
https://www.sgn.org/story/157382/News/Seattle/Pride%20Fashion%20Week%202025%3A%20The%20rundown%20of%20the%20runway%20

09/08/2025

The SGN is excited to announce that it will be offering two unpaid, part-time (10-15 hours/week) Social Media internships for the Fall!

We would like to assist up-and-coming journalism students gain useful experience in the field, and help them apply for scholarships. The full job description, and instructions to apply, can be found on our LinkedIn page posted below 👇

Posted 8:18:19 PM. Seattle Gay News (SGN) is the third-oldest LGBTQIA+ newspaper in the United States, founded in…See this and similar jobs on LinkedIn.

09/04/2025

On August 23, the Seattle Gay News (SGN) held a "Celebration of Life" memorial service for Roxy Doll at All Pilgrims Church. We would like to sincerely thank the family (Nickole Brennan, Evan Evans, and Jimmy Cafarella), friends, volunteers, drag performers including our MCs Aleksa Manila and Gaysha Starr, church venue, and organizations for all their hard work in helping make this memorial service possible! Roxy Doll will forever live on in all our hearts 💜

And special thanks to Nate Gowdy for taking these phenomenal snapshots of the event.

09/03/2025

On August 30, a concert for Christian nationalist musician Sean Feucht was expected to take place at Cal Anderson Park. The city of Seattle had announced the concert officially after convincing the group to move its event to Gas Works Park instead.

We just published an article about the event, protesters, and their circumstances on our website at www.sgn.org 🏳️‍🌈🏳️‍⚧️

As we continue through our 51st year, more than ever we need your support to help us continue our mission!

A monthly contribution will ensure that SGN remains a beacon of truth and a virtual gathering place for community dialogue, please go to https://givebutter.com/6lZnDB

Help us keep printing and providing a platform for LGBTQIA+ voices 📰 🗣️

09/02/2025

The Ugandan Watoto Church is sending its chidlren’s choir to perform fundraising concerts across WA state Sept. 11-24th.

Watoto was founded in 1984 by evangelical pastor Gary Skinner, whose ministry has faced numerous anti-LGBTQ+ and human right abuse allegations over the past decade.

The SGN was able to obtain several new legal and financial documents around the organization that have not been made available to the public before.

Please give this article a read, and consider donating to help the third-oldest LGBTQIA newspaper in the US continue to provide investigative reporting 🏳️‍🌈🏳️‍⚧️

https://www.sgn.org/story/157461/News/International/Ugandan%20Watoto%20Church%20with%20ties%20to%20“Kill%20the%20Gays”%20laws%20is%20sending%20its%20children’s%20choir%20to%20WA%20state

Watoto is a religious organization based in Uganda, founded in 1984 by Gary Skinner, an evangelical missionary born in Zimbabwe and raised in Canada, and his spouse Marylin. It has faced over a decade of anti-LGBTQIA+ and human rights abuse allegations.

08/28/2025

Hello everyone, welcome back to SGN Out Loud! A new podcast series where staff at the Seattle Gay News (SGN) do weekly deep dives into the topics and issues that most greatly impact our LGBTQIA+ community.

In this week's episode, Managing Editor Madison Jones has a conversation with Glen Stellmacher about his above-the-fold investigative feature on Israeli security training institute ASTI and its founder Yisroel Stefansky, creating ties with Seattle officials spanning from the Seattle Fire Department, Police, Office of Emergency Management, and former mayor Ed Murray's delegation to Israel in 2015.

Thank you so very much Glen for agreeing to sit down and interview with us!

You can find our full episdoe with Glen on our new YouTube channel (please subscribe!)

Glen's story can also be found posted on our website at sgn.org.

https://youtu.be/sbYlol3s-xA?si=J3kDRkZDVBPWz0oO

Welcome to the second episode of: SGN Out Loud! A new podcast series where staff at the Seattle Gay News do weekly deep dives into the topics and issues that...

08/27/2025

The SGN mourns the loss of Seattle Olympia Empress XVII, Cha Cha (Thomas Rantz), who reined from 1987-1988 and was an active participant in the Imperial Sovereign Court Of Seattle at the time.

Rantz was a long supporter of the SGN: Seattle Gay News and spoke with our publisher as recently as last month. He was active in Seattle's LGBTQ+ community.

He was also a former Terminal Supervisor at the
Washington State Ferries, according to his personal page.

This is a developing story. Go to SGN.org for future updates.

08/22/2025

🎉 Happy Birthday, Speaker Laurie Jinkins! 🎂

Today, we celebrate Laurie—not just for her birthday, but for her steadfast leadership and the love she shows to her family and community. As the first woman and first out le***an to serve as Speaker of the Washington State House, Laurie has broken barriers while staying true to her values. 🏳️‍🌈

08/16/2025

Happy Alki Beach Pride everybody! 🏳️‍🌈🌲🏖️

The SGN is sharing a joint booth with Out NW today so come by, grab some free SGN copies, and say hi~ 📰