(OUTview NW) END OF AN ERA: Two Seattle LGBTQ landmarks demolished in one week

by MK Scott

We knew this day was coming, but to lose not one, but two buildings, that each meant so much to many in the Seattle LGBTQ Community (during Pride Week, no less): I am talking about the house on 303 17th Ave. E. (home to the Seattle AIDS Support Group, later called Dunshee House, and then Seattle Area Support Groups & Community Center for 26 years) and the former Brass Door and later Brass Connection and later incarnations (a Gay bar and dance club with various owners and names for over 20 years) at 722 E. Pike St.

For SASG, who vacated the house and moved in late 2015 to its current location on 15th Ave. E. between E. Denny Way and E. John St., it was not clear that the 2,460 SF house that was built in 1906 would ever be torn down. So last week's demolition surprised even myself.

(OUTview NW) PRIDE ISN'T CHEAP: Capitol Hill Chamber responds to question about lack of Pride banners on Capitol Hill!

by MK Scott

During all this Capitol Hill Pride chaos, has anyone one wondered where the traditional Pride banners are that used to line Broadway?

The tradition was started in the mid-1980's by Bill Swigart and was taken over by the Capitol Hill Chamber of Commerce. I went directly to Executive Director, Sierra Hansen for a response.

Hansen explained that the company that used to put up the banners had retired. The city also requires a permit to turn off the Metro Trolley lines (which costs about a $1,000) in order to put up the 26 banners, and another $1,000 permit to take the banners down. In addition it costs $6,000 to print the banners raising the price tag to $8,000.

When I asked Hansen if there were any steps to reach out to notify the community of the extra cost, she replied that they had conducted a survey in early 2017, and the banners were not a priority that the Chamber wanted to spend money on. Other steps to notify the community never happened.

Hansen was enthusiastic about if anyone in the community wanted to take this project on to ensure this tradition continues.

Seattle Gay News publisher, George Bakan said he would get involved as a sponsor and would welcome the community to come together and support the project for next year.