SGN: Seattle Gay News

10/29/2024

🏳️‍🌈 It may soon be a wrap on LGBTQIA+ History Month, but not before Seattle honored its own LGBTQIA+ roots today by unveiling a historic marker in Pioneer Square's Occidental Square. 🎉

🌈Community members gathered to commemorate the city’s first Pride celebration in 1974. The original organizer of Gay Pride Week, David Neth, Seattle Pride’s Executive Director Patti Hearn, and Alliance for Pioneer Square Executive Director Lisa Howard, spoke at the event.

In addition to an abbreviated underground tour of LGBTQIA+ history in Pioneer Square by Beneath the Streets during the event, the marker will be added to Pioneer Square's "Trail to Treasure" historic walking trails and waysides. 🚶

10/25/2024

🏳️‍🌈 It’s time to make our voices heard! VOTE!!! 🗳️

Early voting in Washington has begun. Find info on voting centers and drop box locations at https://vote.wa.gov ! 📬 Ballots must be postmarked by Nov. 5 or dropped in person by 8 p.m. Don’t forget to sign the envelope – no stamp needed.

🗓️ Online voter registration ends Oct. 28, but you can register in person until 8 p.m. on Election Day. Many county elections will also have vote centers open for those who need assistance.

This year, Washingtonians will also vote on ballot initiatives addressing the Climate Commitment Act, WA Cares program, natural gas regulations, and the capital gains tax.

We need strong advocates to protect LGBTQ+ rights at every level. Electing these candidates means progress on equality, human rights, and inclusion.

The SGN’s Endorsed Candidates include:
▪️ President: Kamala Harris
▪️ US Senate: Maria Cantwell
▪️ WA Governor: Bob Ferguson
▪️ WA State Lands Commissioner: Dave Upthegrove
▪️ Superintendent of Public Instruction: Chris Reykdal
▪️ Pierce County Council District 3: John Linboe
▪️ Pierce County Executive: Ryan Mello

🔗 Read more about the SGN’s endorsements: https://www.sgn.org/story.php?ch=news&sc=regional&id=335649

👀 Check out our most popular candidate interviews:
▪️ Defending Q***r Lives: AG Bob Ferguson on civil rights and his run for governor: https://www.sgn.org/story.php?ch=news&sc=regional&id=333809
▪️ Breaking a glass ceiling: Dave Upthegrove’s campaign for Public Lands Commissioner: https://www.sgn.org/story.php?ch=news&sc=regional&id=332717
▪️ Ryan Mello’s historic bid to become WA’s first LGBTQ county executive: https://www.sgn.org/story.php?ch=news&sc=local&id=335972

🌟 Check out the Gender Justice League’s Voter Guide with info on ballot measures and FAQs for Trans voters: https://drive.google.com/drive/u/1/folders/1vcNpQ2cxHwKFneWcFD73SH1-cwm2eQ8E?ths=true

🌟 News is Out hosted a live virtual panel event, “Project 2025: The Impact on the LGBTQ+ community," featuring Chasten Buttigieg 💖. We recommend you watch this: https://www.youtube.com/live/7-t6piBH8sk

Your vote is your voice – let’s build a future where everyone can live authentically and free from discrimination! 🌈

[Editor's note: Image is AI generated using Microsoft Designer]

10/15/2024

🌈 Would you like to see the SGN in your community? 🏳️‍🌈

The Seattle Gay News is seeking passionate volunteers to help us distribute the paper outside the Puget Sound area! 🚗✨

We currently need help in Ocean Shores and Aberdeen. Or, you can develop your own route.📍

💪 Join us in spreading the news and staying connected! If you're interested, send us a message us at [email protected]. Let's keep our communities informed and empowered! 💖📰

10/14/2024

🎃💸 Trick or Treat... or Boo-jee!? 🧛‍♂️

Alan Motley’s latest piece in the SGN reveals the scariest part of Halloween this year—💀 the prices! From weekend-long spooky soirées to high-priced tables, Seattle’s Q***r nightlife is going all out... and it's hitting our wallets hard. 🕸️💵

Want a three-day Halloween marathon? That’ll cost you 👻💳. With events like ***r/Bar’s drag royalty lineup and The Cuff's massive costume contests, it's a wicked good time—if you can afford it. 😱🧙‍♀️

But hey, don’t let your bank account haunt you all weekend. 🎤👺 The Wildrose is keeping it real with "Scaryoke"—a free karaoke night that will hit all the right notes without the spooky sticker shock! 🎶👻

Check out the full story in SGN and remember, Halloween's about community and fun, not just the $$$. 🎃

🔗 https://www.sgn.org/story.php?ch=news&sc=seattle&id=335642

***rNightlife

When did Halloween become so- boo-jee? Let’s dive into the numbers and see if the Q***r community is getting tricked or treated this holiday.

10/11/2024

🌈✨ On National Coming Out Day, we want to say THANK YOU for allowing the Seattle Gay News (SGN) to share your stories for five incredible decades. Together, we have helped shape a more inclusive and accepting Pacific Northwest. 🏳️‍🌈

The SGN has been the independent voice for the LGBTQIA+ community, standing with you through every triumph, challenge, and fight for equality. We are also the nation's third oldest LGBTQIA+ newspaper and Seattle's oldest continuously operating LGBTQIA+ institution.

Let’s ensure SGN can continue to uplift and empower our community for the next 50 years!

🫶 Support our mission by donating today at 🔗 https://givebutter.com/6lZnDB

10/07/2024

We are thrilled to introduce Mattie Mooney, a passionate Trans health educator, as the newest columnist for the SGN!

Mattie's first piece dives deep into a critical issue within the transgender healthcare landscape: the harmful reliance on body mass index (BMI) as a gatekeeping tool for gender-affirming surgeries.

Despite advancements in inclusivity and access to healthcare, BMI restrictions still disproportionately impact transgender and gender nonconforming individuals on state-funded insurance programs like Medicaid and Medicare, including here in Washington State.

Read it here: https://www.sgn.org/story.php?ch=op-ed&sc=&id=335643

Stay tuned for more from Mattie in the SGN! 🌈✨

10/06/2024

🏳️‍🌈 It's time to make our voices heard! The Seattle Gay News endorses a powerful slate of LGBTQ+ leaders and allies for this critical election.

We need strong advocates to protect LGBTQ+ rights at all levels. Electing these candidates ensures progress on equality, human rights, and inclusion. Early voting in Washington begins on October 18! 🗳

Here’s a list of candidates endorsed by SGN:
▪️President: Kamala Harris
▪️US Senate: Maria Cantwell
▪️WA Governor: Bob Ferguson
▪️WA State Lands Commissioner: Dave Upthegrove
▪️Superintendent of Public Instruction: Chris Reykdal
▪️Pierce County Council District 3: John Linboe
▪️Pierce County Executive: Ryan Mello

Your vote is your voice. Let’s shape a future where everyone can live authentically and free from discrimination. 🌈

🔗 Read more about our endorsements here! https://www.sgn.org/story.php?ch=news&sc=regional&id=335649

As with all elections, the SGN believes it is vital to uplift the voices of marginalized, disenfranchised, and oppressed people across the nation.

10/04/2024

🎉✨ Today, October 3rd, we celebrate what would have been George Bakan's 83rd birthday! 🎂 George began as a volunteer at the Seattle Gay News in 1983 and quickly rose to become editor-in-chief within just five years. His legacy? Becoming the longest-running editor and publisher of the SGN! 📰💫

Plus, it’s LGBTQ+ History Month! 🌈📚 As the oldest LGBTQ+ institution continuously operating in Seattle and the 3rd-oldest LGBTQ+ newspaper in the U.S., the SGN has been there to capture our history in every edition.

In honor of this milestone, we’ve teamed up with University of Washington Libraries to share highlights from their exhibit, "Celebrating 50 Years of Seattle Gay News," which was originally displayed at the UW’s Allen Library 📖 and later at the Seattle Central Library’s stunning 8th-floor gallery. 🏛️✨

Join us as we celebrate our rich history—past, present, and future! 🏳️‍🌈💖 Enjoy! 🎉

Click here: https://www.sgn.org/display/viewPublicationIssue.php?issueID=1003

10/01/2024

Seattle's is throwing it back to the '80s 🎉 with its upcoming exhibit on the life, activism, and art of Keith Haring 🎨. Curators are busy preparing the original artwork, pop shop prints 🖼️, and even old yearbooks 📚 of Haring's for the October 11 debut.

SGN Staff Writer Lindsey Anderson has all the details, click here: https://www.sgn.org/story.php?ch=arts__entertainment&sc=art&id=335634

Seattle’s Museum of Pop Culture, known by locals as MoPOP, is throwing it back to the ’80s with its upcoming exhibit on the life, activism, and art of Keith Haring.

09/16/2024

I got a cool gift from an avid reader! Do you see a connection?

08/17/2024

(Bad cell phone pics by Renee Raketty)

🎤 Few artists have had such an epic career that they've transformed a moment in time into a stylistic epiphany, sparking an insurgency of androgyny in popular culture both here and around the world. For the die-hard fans assembled at Marymoor Park on Thursday for the summer concert series, Boy George transported them back in time. The scenic backdrop and bohemian vibe of the venue perfectly matched Boy George's energy. 🌟

I've never seen the artist more relaxed as he played a set of mostly his more contemporary compositions. 🎶 However, the crowd was totally into it, listening patiently as he explained the influences behind his newer works. There were fewer outfit changes and less on-stage acrobatics than usual, but that didn’t dampen the experience. He even performed the song "Mistake Number 3," a track rarely included in his concerts, which, despite not being a commercial success, remains beloved by his fans. 💜

Of course, Boy George didn’t disappoint, delivering some of his biggest hits. The audience went wild when he performed classics like "Do You Really Want to Hurt Me" (his first big hit), "The Crying Game" (featured in the 1992 major motion picture of the same name), and "Karma Chameleon" (his closing song). 🎵

Boy George was followed by the hit UK band Squeeze, but despite his repeated urging for folks to stick around and give them a listen, many of us headed for the exit. For some reason, they never quite caught on here in the US. 🇬🇧

08/11/2024

📢 In case you missed it, our August issue hit the streets in late July! 🗞️
Link: https://www.sgn.org/index.php?VID=222

✨ Take a moment to read about our 50th Anniversary Reception at the Seattle Central Library and the exhibit, which ends August 25th:
https://www.sgn.org/story.php?ch=news&sc=seattle&id=334592

📰 Don't miss our outstanding news and feature articles:

- "Breaking the monotony: A call for true inclusivity in Seattle's LGBTQ+ nightlife" by Alan Motley
- "Republican National Convention touts culture wars over policy despite calls for unity" by Lindsey Anderson/Photos by Nate Gowdy
- "Seattle firefighter climbs to the top: Lance Garland leads Q***r Swiss Alps expedition" by Arul Gnanasivam
- "Local Q***r author's book rejected, then snapped up" by Lindsey Anderson

📖 If you want to read our August issue cover-to-cover, click here:
https://issuu.com/.../docs/special_sgn_7-26-24_home_finance

The Seattle Gay News (SGN) is one of the largest Gay/Lesbian/LGBTQ newspapers in the world, serving the Washington and Pacific Northwest USA with arts, entertainment, local, international and equality news for over 45 years

08/11/2024

🎉 You love to see it! Q***r artists are topping the list of America’s richest music artists under 25. 🌟 A new study by Hello Millions, using Celebrity Net Worth data, analyzed 46 young American artists and their wealth. While some stars were excluded due to influencer origins, Billie Eilish shines as the richest under 25, with a $50M net worth. 💸 JoJo Siwa, with $20M, is a close second (tied with Roddy Ricch). Lil Nas X rounds out the top ten at $9M. 🏆 If Willow Smith's ($6M) and Noah Cyrus' ($3M) net worth are any indication, they are also killing it with their talent.

Photo Credit: "Billie Eilish 2019 (48590443241)" by crommelincklars is licensed under CC BY 2.0.

***rArtists

08/11/2024

🎬 What's more iconic for us die-hard soap fans than Days of our Lives, now streaming on Peacock TV ? 🌟 Celebrating its 59th anniversary this November, "Days" has historically included q***r topics and relationships, including bisexuality.

🌈 Now, our favorite program, "Drag Race," makes a cameo appearance on Monday, August 12!

🎉 Greg Rikaart, openly gay actor, activist, and Emmy award winner, portrays the popular character "Leo Starke" alongside Deidre Hall, who brings to life the over-the-top, hilarious, and b***y "Hattie" character. The pair sit down for a "Drag Race" watch party during the episode. 📺✨

***rTV

08/09/2024

🚢✨ It's a great weekend to take the ferry and enjoy the 2024 Vashon Island Film Festival! 🎬🍿 Don't miss out! 🌊🎥

Read our preview: https://www.sgn.org/story.php?ch=arts__entertainment&sc=film&id=334595

A candid chat with Vashon Film Institute president Mark Mathias Sayre

06/27/2024

By Proclamation, The City of Seattle has declared today, June 27, 2024, SEATTLE GAY NEWS DAY.

06/25/2024

The SGN interviews former Seattle Police Chief Adrian Diaz.

05/18/2024

There's a great moment in Challengers that's like something out of a Looney Tunes cartoon crossed with a 1940s Bette Davis melodrama. Former best friends and tennis doubles partners Art Donaldson (Mike Faist) and Patrick Zweig (Josh O'Connor) — facing off in the finale of a US Open challenger tournament — are in the middle of a heated point. The camera starts with a wide shot showing both players batting the ball back and forth, and in the background are the grandstands full of people excitedly watching the action.

Read the full review here: https://www.sgn.org/story.php?ch=arts__entertainment&sc=film&id=332983

05/17/2024

The 68th edition of Eurovision — the world's most-watched non-sporting event and the longest-running annual TV music competition— took place in Malmö, Sweden. And, along with the thousands of LGBTQ+ fans in the arena (and tens of millions watching at home), a number of Q***r artists took the stage to represent their country.

Read about the artists here: https://www.sgn.org/story.php?ch=arts__entertainment&sc=music&id=332976

05/16/2024

The Center on Contemporary Art, also known as CoCA, is working with Gothic Pride Seattle (GPS) to launch Dreadful Beauty: History and Art from Gothic Pride Seattle. This exhibition will not only showcase many talented members of Seattle's goth community over time but is also working to raise money to fund GPS's Pride float for the 2024 parade.

The exhibition will open on Thursday evening, May 2, at CoCaA at the TK Building in Pioneer Square. All artists featured are local to the Seattle area and members of the LGBTQ+ community, and receive payment to feature their artwork. Any donations made at the exhibit, and all additional profits after the artists are compensated, will go toward Gothic Pride Seattle's giant bat float, a hit during the annual Pride Parade in June.

Read the full story here: https://www.sgn.org/story.php?ch=arts__entertainment&sc=art&id=332975

05/15/2024

In 2023, Washington state passed one of the most comprehensive animal welfare laws in the country. HB 1424, introduced by Rep. April Berg of Mill Creek, is intended to protect consumers by implementing harsh fines on any pet store that imports domestic dogs and cats from unlawful "puppy mills." Washington's previous law barring puppy mills shut down such in-state operations but did not prevent pet stores from obtaining animals from out of state.

Despite earlier laws banning puppy mill operations, many continued to run shady dog breeding businesses under the guise of "backyard breeding." According to PAWS, today, puppy mills are hiding in plain sight. "Puppy mills are commercial breeding facilities that mass-produce dogs (and cats in cat mills) for sale through pet stores, or directly to consumers through classified ads or the internet," PAWS said in a statement. "Roughly 90% of puppies in pet stores come from puppy mills. Many retailers who buy animals from such facilities take the wholesaler's word that the animals are happy and healthy without seeing for themselves."

Read the full story here: https://www.sgn.org/story.php?ch=news&sc=regional&id=332966

05/14/2024

Compete Sports Diversity, an organization that provides certificates in sports diversity leadership with a mission to unite the world through sports, will host an online training on May 16. The event will focus on using privilege to bolster marginalized communities and feature special guests Luchie Javelosa, senior sports sales manager at Tempe Tourism; and Martin Stark, chief executive officer of World Gay Boxing Championships.

The course qualifies for sports diversity leadership certification credit, assuming the attendee is registered for that program. Designed specifically to teach aspiring professionals about DEI initiatives in the sporting world, the SDL track focuses primarily on the LGBTQ+ sports community. The website offers explanations of what the initials mean, what the "pink dollar" is, and why Q***r sporting events and Pride festivals are important.

Read the full story here: https://www.sgn.org/story.php?ch=news&sc=seattle&id=332968

05/11/2024

Get out your finest attire for the first-ever "Ties and Tiaras" fundraiser for Trans Pride Seattle on Sunday, May 19 from 7 to 9 p.m., hosted at Sleight of Hand Cellars in S**o. There will be live performances, a silent auction, and a plethora of wines, beers and desserts.

Mac S. McGregor, who fought hard for marriage equality and is author of Positive Masculinity Now, began the planning process about three months ago. The idea stemmed from a conversation he held with leaders at Gender Justice League (GJL) about the state of the world and attacks on the Transgender and gender-diverse communities.

Read the full story here: https://www.sgn.org/story.php?ch=news&sc=seattle&id=332969

05/10/2024

Visit Seattle, a private nonprofit destination marketing organization serving Seattle and King County, is seeking Q***r-made art to honor Seattle's 50th anniversary of Pride.

"We are doing an open call to creators/artists of all kinds," said Britt Fero of PB& on behalf of Visit Seattle. "We're hoping to get a diverse range of creators to answer the question 'How do you feel love/acceptance in Seattle?' through their craft. And then we will feature them on Instagram. Based on the submissions, we will also look for other opportunities to display and highlight that work, whether that's in real life or other digital properties, but social will be our main way of amplifying their response."

Read here: https://www.sgn.org/story.php?ch=news&sc=seattle&id=332967