Friday March 2, 2007 SGN.org |
 |
Volume 35 Issue 09 |
 |
|
Tuesday, Jul 08, 2008
|
 |
|||||||||||
|
|||||||||||
|
| |||||||||||
|
Letters |
|
 |
|
|
SEATTLE OUT AND PROUD'S DEBT, PRIDE Dear SGN, As members of our community, it is disheartening to read that the inaction of the Seattle Out and Proud leadership to resolve outstanding financial issues from the 2006 Pride Festival held at the Seattle Center has led to the possible cancellation of the 2007 Pride Festival [Seattle Center cancels site contract - SOAP admits $30,000 more debt (SGN Feb 23, 2007 Volume 35 Issue 08)]. One would think that prior to moving a festival to a location that will potentially triple the operating costs to stage the event, the finances of SOAP would be in order. If the goal of the move to the Seattle Center was to become accepted and a part of the annual festival circuit held at the Seattle Center, one would think that the SOAP leadership would have ensured that any potential obstacles, whether expected or unexpected, would be addressed accordingly and in a professional manner. Canceling meetings, avoiding contact, and lack of a financial plan to resolve the debt are not actions of a professional organization. The theme for 2007 Pride is "Come Together," yet the irony is that SOAP has failed to come together with the Seattle Center to address the issues and concerns of the outstanding balance from the 2006 festival. It's also ironic that when plans were in the works to move the annual festival from Capital Hill to the Seattle Center, the general GLBT community and businesses were left in the dark. Now, we are expected to come together? If we truly want to come together, lets first look inward and determine if the actions of SOAP are in the best interest of the community. At this point in time, it appears that SOAP has failed miserably. Now, how do we correct the mistakes and move forward? Sincerely, Aaron Parker & Randy Boucher SeaTac, WA. It is with regret - and hope - that I add my two cents about the whole Pride disaster. How much more news do we need to read about this group who calls themselves the sole 'owners' of Seattle's Pride Festival? It is disheartening to see our community (those who pay attention) in a precarious position: we, as LGBT people, look like we can't even manage our own event. Regardless of what they've done, they are a fast sinking ship with us on it. I for one, am jumping ship. They have no credibility, can't manage funds, have no way for broad-based community input, and don't seem to know basic nonprofit law regarding charitable registration (noted in the PI article). Who in the heck are these people and what are they doing???? I have heard no one mention that the Seattle LGBT Community Center stepped up in 2005 to collaborate with SOAP to make Pride stronger, give it infrastructure, and build it slowly to a point that it could possibly move downtown, while keeping events on Capitol Hill and promoting more of our other community groups' events all over Seattle. SOAP refused to work with our community center, and went along their merry way making internal decisions without any real input from the community. Then, when the Community Center stood up for all those who had no voice in the process of moving pride, and began planning a community event on Capitol Hill, they were slapped with a Cease and Desist from SOAP for using the word "Pride." SHAME ON SOAP! And shame on us for not standing up for our community center. Also, many in our community didn't reach out and support the community center because some felt that it was they who were dividing the community. In fact THEY were the ones who were cautious, did diligent planning, and had the support of sponsors (including Microsoft, Budweiser, GSBA, SGN, Gay bars and businesses) because those supporters see all the good that our community center does and trusts their leadership. The fact is, and I have been told this by a board member, that it was not a Capitol Hill vs. Downtown scenario; rather, the community center stepped up when people were left behind, also knowing full well, that SOAP had not properly planned for such an enormous move. I understand they are still moving forward with QueerFest again, which last year, done on a shoestring budget, I'm sure, was a huge success. It showed that the community center's leadership can listen to input, produce an event AND not go broke. Why are we not all marching down Pike Street to the community center and throwing money at THEM to produce Pride? They have been around for years, have proven themselves as 'protectors' of our community by saving Ingersoll Gender Center and Gay Community Social Services (I heard they merged into the community center rather than die), and are still keeping housing for Gay elders on their plate. As a community, we say we want someone to produce Pride; someone we trust. Our community needs to know that it is unreasonable to ask them to do this without full financial support - and I'm not talking about a few bucks here and there. I think they currently have one staff person. Amazing, considering all they do. I for one am writing a check today that stretches my finances, but that I know will be spent well, along with my letter imploring them to take the lead on creating a new Pride. We don't need factions of groups thinking now that SOAP is dying they should movie forward without mechanisms for wide-community involvement, infrastructure, staff, and credibility. I want to regain my pride in and respect for our community organizations. Seattle is well known for its focus on process, process, and process. Now is the time to act if we want something to happen this year. If there is one organization in town that I want to make the Pride Festival happen this year (even if we have to downsize to regain momentum), it's our community center. I'll be the first one at the meeting if they call one, with another check. Sincerely, Ronnie Proud LGBT Community Member Seattle, WA FUAH WRITES LETTER TO GREY ANATOMY STAR OVER HOMOPHOBIC SLUR [Editor's Note: The following letter from Families United Against Hate (FUAH), a nonprofit grassroots organization created by and for families and survivors of hate motivated violence, was sent to Grey Anatomy star Isaiah Washington and the show's Executive Producer, Shonda Rhimes. FUAH sent a copy to the SGN.] January 30, 2007 We are writing to you regarding the recent anti-Gay slur Isaiah Washington used referring to T.R. Knight. We write to you as the mothers of two teenage sons who were beaten in homophobic assaults. At seventeen in 1995 Bill Clayton, who was openly Bisexual, committed suicide in Olympia, Washington shortly after an assault by four young men based on his sexual orientation. In December 1996, sixteen-year-old William Wagner was assaulted in a Gay bashing by six young men on a high school lunch break in Fayetteville, Arkansas. We understand all too well the damage that hate speech does. It creates a climate of intolerance where people like the youths who beat our children see them as less than human and believe there is nothing wrong with assaulting them. We have supported other families whose children and loved ones have been murdered by people who also believed they were doing nothing wrong when they directed their hate violently at others including those who were Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender or who were perceived to be. We understand that Mr. Washington has apologized and may be going to counseling. We have heard that he has met with GLAAD and GLSEN. We are aware that some people have called for Mr. Washington to lose his job. We are not asking for that. In the long run that will not do anything to repair the damage he has done, and we believe it will be letting him off of his responsibility too easily. We believe that Mr. Washington is in a position of great responsibility because he is a public figure and a role model. We would like to see him make a lifetime commitment to help end the prejudice and ignorance which leads to hate speech, bashings and murder against our Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender loved ones. We understand he will have a learning curve in order to do this as we all do, but we know that he will not have to do it alone. There are many wonderful people who will be willing to stand with him if he is willing to sincerely make this journey. We will be glad to help him if he chooses to contact us. Sincerely, Gabi Clayton and Carolyn Wagner FUAH co-founders |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
International Readers read the SGN in Arabic, Chinese, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Portuguese, Spanish |
|
 |
|
 For more info & to sign up: email aniab@llaa.org or call 206.328.8979 |
|
 |
|
|
|
 |
|
 |
|
 |
|
 |
|
 |
|
 |
|
 post your own information on Seattle Gay Blog |
|
 |
copyright Seattle Gay News - DigitalTeamWorks 2006