It takes more than a record-breaking heatwave to dampen Seattle's Pride weekend festivities. There was something for everyone looking to take part in the annual LGBTQIA+ community tradition, which always falls around the anniversary of the Stonewall Riots in New York City in 1969.
Traditionally, the largest happening is the Pride Parade downtown on the last Sunday in June. However, organizers Seattle Out and Proud (SOAP) have taken Seattle Pride online since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. For those seeking shelter from the sweltering sun, this year's virtual celebration on Sunday was the perfect respite.
"Resilience" was the theme of the SOAP event, which included a full day of online programming. A ticketed, adults-only affair, dubbed "Pride After Dark," was a new addition this year. The special streaming event featured "burlesque, humor, and sensuality," according to SOAP. More than a hundred paid attendees took part and helped raise more than $10,000 to offset the non-profit's expenses.
"We'd like to extend a huge thank-you to our event sponsors and other partners who have stood by us these past two years with their participation, encouragement, and financial support," said Seattle Pride Executive Director Krystal Marx in a written statement. "This support has allowed us to bring our community together when we needed it most, and has enabled us to grow our year-round programming by 750%. For this, we will be forever grateful."
Approximately, 2,500 people from 35 countries registered to participate this year. According to SOAP, individuals as far away as Australia, Nigeria, and Europe took part. A portion of the weekend's programming will be made available on SOAP's YouTube channel.
AIDS Memorial Pathway
On Sunday, this journalist witnessed a police response to Cal Anderson Park, the site of Capitol Hill Pride. Four patrol cars blocking E. Pine St. could be observed, and officers were seen entering the park. This journalist livestreamed an arrest and conducted an interview with LeFevre and her sister, Carla Pitsinger. Mark Anthony, the president of CHOP Art, could be seen talking to Seattle Police Department officers. Witnesses offered conflicting reports of what happened. SPD Detective Michaud told the SGN that the matter had been "forwarded to the City Attorney's Office" and "all questions are going to have to be answered by them."Dan Nolte, a spokesperson for the City Attorney's Office, said they had "not file[d] charges in this instance," because the "assigned detective found there wasn't enough information to suggest bias was the motive for the alleged assault, which is why it was referred to our office." Since race-based hate crimes are felonies in King County, the matter was also referred to the King County Prosecutor's Office. Capitol Hill Pride had announced it would not allow police at the event, but Pitsinger said that the SPD could respond to incidents at Capitol Hill Pride. She also said she visited the East Precinct herself to complain about hecklers using a bullhorn who had driven by Cal Anderson Park late Saturday night "spewing hate." She and LeFevre pointed to Nikkita Oliver, a candidate for Seattle City Council, who they believed to have been responsible."If they are bold enough to drive right in front of our booth at 11:30 at night on a bullhorn, what else could they do," asked Pitsinger. "I told Charlette I know about abusive relationships, stalking, and that sort of stuff. You need to have it written down, a police report or something — even if it is not a crime, each little incident that causes mental distress, bullying and stuff. Especially because Nikkita Oliver is an attorney. That makes it worse."The SGN provided Oliver with clips from the livestream of the police response and resulting interview. They were adamant they were not involved. "I am gravely disturbed by these false accusations," said Oliver. "I was nowhere near Cap Hill Pride. The accusations in this video are 100% false. "I was not there and I had nothing to do with the situation referenced by the speaker in this video."The SGN obtained and reviewed a video from inside the vehicle in question. The individuals appear to be laughing and mocking Capitol Hill Pride with a bullhorn as the vehicle quickly passes by. The remarks did not appear to be hateful or constitute bullying. One individual, who asked to remain anonymous, confirmed that "Nikkita definitely was not ever there nor were they associated with anyone who spoke on the bullhorn." They added that they had been going to find food when they "realized we were next to their event" and it was "all spontaneous."This journalist has made the livestream private to avoid further spreading possible misinformation about the candidate.
Capitol Hill Pride and controversy
South of Cal Anderson Park and adjacent to E. Pine St. was Capitol Hill Pride. It was billed as "Seattle and the state of Washington's largest in-person Pride event," according to a press release from organizers Charlette LeFevre and Philip Lipson. However, it appeared sparsely attended on Saturday afternoon and again on Sunday, when this journalist visited.Vendors and a modest stage were positioned around the outskirts of the Bobby Morris Playfield. A small tent with sheltered seating was placed in front of the stage. A crafts table and an inflatable bouncy-house intended for children were also present but devoid of children. Most of the people observed were tucked away under the shade of nearby trees — within earshot of recorded music but too far from the event to be considered active participants.John Mitchell, a resident near Cal Anderson Park, told the SGN that about 200 people participated in a march organized by Capitol Hill Pride and that a sizable crowd gathered to hear the Marshall Law Band perform at the park on Saturday night.It's unclear if LeFevre's criticism of Taking B(l)ack Pride, also being held on Saturday a few miles away, or the oppressive heat were contributing factors for the low attendance. Capitol Hill Pride organizers had taken issue with Taking B(l)ack Pride's decision to charge a "reparations" fee of $10 to $50 to white attendees to ensure the event remained free for its intended audience, the Black, Indigenous, and people of color (BIPOC) community. Advocates seeking to address the intergenerational wealth gap — stemming from slavery, segregation, and racist practices, such as "red lining" — have suggested reparations as one way to right a historical wrong. However, LeFevre believed that Taking B(l)ack Pride may have been in violation of local, state, and federal laws for charging a fee, according to a letter it wrote to the Seattle Human Rights Commission. However, the commission, which operates under the UN Declaration of Human Rights, pushed back."We would like to recommend, if possible, that you educate yourself on the harm it may cause Seattle's BIPOC community in your pursuit of a free ticket to an event that is not expressly meant for you and your entertainment," the letter reads.Capitol Hill Pride doubled down on their stance a day later. "We will never charge admission over the color of a person's skin," read a June 18 press release. "Capitol Hill Pride continues to work with ground-level organizations to promote equality and social justice with community and stand proud in those values, and we should not be pressured, attacked, or defamed for our commitment."
Responses from organizations and individuals
LGBTQIA+ organizations began to address the issue and joined sponsors, speakers, and entertainers who withdrew their participation from Capitol Hill Pride. Mayoral candidates Lorena González, Colleen Echohawk, and Andrew Grant Houston also cancelled. "We are appalled to hear of the hateful, racist attacks on the organizers of Taking B(l)ack Pride," read a statement from the GSBA, the LGBTQIA+ chamber of commerce. "As with many Pride events across our region, Taking B(l)ack Pride is organized to reflect the values, priorities, and the needs of the community. As an event by and for BIPOC LGBTQ+ people, they are entitled to arrange their own event as they see fit, including sliding-scale admission from certain attendees."Our LGBTQ+ community is big and diverse. There are many options to experience Pride. This should be celebrated and supported. Seeing the many ways of expressing Pride also provides us an opportunity to reflect on why certain LGBTQ+ people may not feel welcome, celebrated, or included at some events, and why some groups need to create community-specific events that better reflect their needs. Intentionally creating spaces for marginalized populations, including BIPOC LGBTQ+ people, is essential."Instead, we have seen Taking B(l)ack Pride targeted misleadingly in local and national media and subject to horrific racist, transphobic, and homophobic online attacks. This must stop."The SGN, United Seattle magazine, and Malcontent News issued a joint statement announcing they were "no longer supporting the event" and would be "moving their booth to the AIDS Memorial Pathway." This journalist, who was scheduled to speak on behalf of the SGN, also withdrew from Capitol Hill Pride.When the SGN contacted Capitol Hill Pride for comment for this article, LeFevre sent the following email on Tuesday:"Renee,"You disrespect us for standing up against discrimination, you further slander our Pride event and Mark Anthony over facts, and you pressure the SGN to drop support, and you have the gall to ask us questions? Really?"Charlette and Philip, Capitol Hill Pride"
Police activity
On Sunday, this journalist witnessed a police response to Cal Anderson Park, the site of Capitol Hill Pride. Four patrol cars blocking E. Pine St. could be observed, and officers were seen entering the park. This journalist livestreamed an arrest and conducted an interview with LeFevre and her sister, Carla Pitsinger. Mark Anthony, the president of CHOP Art, could be seen talking to Seattle Police Department officers. Witnesses offered conflicting reports of what happened. SPD Detective Michaud told the SGN that the matter had been "forwarded to the City Attorney's Office" and "all questions are going to have to be answered by them."Dan Nolte, a spokesperson for the City Attorney's Office, said they had "not file[d] charges in this instance," because the "assigned detective found there wasn't enough information to suggest bias was the motive for the alleged assault, which is why it was referred to our office." Since race-based hate crimes are felonies in King County, the matter was also referred to the King County Prosecutor's Office. Capitol Hill Pride had announced it would not allow police at the event, but Pitsinger said that the SPD could respond to incidents at Capitol Hill Pride. She also said she visited the East Precinct herself to complain about hecklers using a bullhorn who had driven by Cal Anderson Park late Saturday night "spewing hate." She and LeFevre pointed to Nikkita Oliver, a candidate for Seattle City Council, who they believed to have been responsible."If they are bold enough to drive right in front of our booth at 11:30 at night on a bullhorn, what else could they do," asked Pitsinger. "I told Charlette I know about abusive relationships, stalking, and that sort of stuff. You need to have it written down, a police report or something — even if it is not a crime, each little incident that causes mental distress, bullying and stuff. Especially because Nikkita Oliver is an attorney. That makes it worse."The SGN provided Oliver with clips from the livestream of the police response and resulting interview. They were adamant they were not involved. "I am gravely disturbed by these false accusations," said Oliver. "I was nowhere near Cap Hill Pride. The accusations in this video are 100% false. "I was not there and I had nothing to do with the situation referenced by the speaker in this video."The SGN obtained and reviewed a video from inside the vehicle in question. The individuals appear to be laughing and mocking Capitol Hill Pride with a bullhorn as the vehicle quickly passes by. The remarks did not appear to be hateful or constitute bullying. One individual, who asked to remain anonymous, confirmed that "Nikkita definitely was not ever there nor were they associated with anyone who spoke on the bullhorn." They added that they had been going to find food when they "realized we were next to their event" and it was "all spontaneous."This journalist has made the livestream private to avoid further spreading possible misinformation about the candidate.
Taking B(l)ack Pride
The controversy with Capitol Hill Pride wasn't a common topic of discussion at the Taking B(l)ack Pride event, which was held in the shadow of the Northwest African American Museum at Jimi Hendrix Park. It was crowded with hundreds of participants. The vendors appeared to be busy with customers, and volunteers were wandering around offering water, condoms, and other freebies.The stage was always busy with live entertainment and a DJ who spun beats between acts. There was a moment of silence for a member of the Trans Women Solidarity Network, one of the event sponsors, who had passed away. Finally, there was the Hoevid-19 Ball, the night's main happening. The heavy security was the only sign that Taking B(l)ack Pride, also organized by Queer the Land and the Alphabet Alliance of Color, had been the subject of unwanted national attention. Instead, everyone appeared to be having a good time.
Pride isn't over
While we don't need in-person events to celebrate LGBTQIA+ Pride all-year long, more in-person fun will continue this summer and into the fall.
PrideFest, the nonprofit organizer of the much-anticipated Seattle Center Pride festival, announced that they will be bringing it to Capitol Hill on Labor Day weekend, after canceling it the past two years due to COVID-19.
SOAP also announced they will hold an in-person event this fall titled "All Together Now." It will be smaller than the typical Seattle Pride in the Park, but it will still mean lots of family-focused fun to start the school year.