As the summer comes to an end, people all across Seattle check the weather report to try and catch the last couple of beautiful sunny days. Behind those reports is a member of Seattle’s Queer community, Abby Acone. A meteorologist for FOX13 Seattle, Acone has used her passion for journalism and meteorology to anchor the morning weather forecasts, informing viewers of what’s in store for them.
Born and raised in Bellevue, Acone started her journey at Washington State University before covering the weather in Colorado and returning to Seattle.
“My first job, I did reporting, like hard news and crime, and they also threw me up on the weather wall,” she told the SGN. “I was super reluctant and nervous to do it.”
That initial fear gave way to a love of science and communication. Not only did Acone enjoy the analytical side of things, she also resonated with the communal aspect. “I liked that weather is a very practical way of helping people,” she said.
More recently, Acone has started anchoring the news as well. “It was something I was really apprehensive about,” she admitted. “There’s a degree of having to fake a confidence, but the more reps you get, the more that feels a lot more natural.”
Transitioning to anchor has also let Acone give back and inform the community that she grew up in. She recalled watching the local news every night with her family over dinner.“It feels really satisfying, not just achieving a lifelong personal dream of mine to work in the Seattle market but to help people that I actually know,” she said.
More recently Acone announced her engagement to her partner. Acone, who identifies as Bisexual, met her fiancée in the spring of 2024 on Capitol Hill.“In fact, I met my fiancée at the Lesbian bar Wildrose,” she said. “So I have a lot of warm, fuzzy feelings when I think about Capitol Hill.”
Despite being in the public eye, Acone didn’t talk about her queerness publicly and kept this solely to her family and friends.
“For me the slow burn, the slow reveal of coming out over a long amount of time was really helpful for me,” she said. “It wasn’t something I incorporated into my career until very recently, and it has been an incredibly liberating and freeing experience.”
Acone also addressed the contradiction of working at FOX while being Queer, emphasizing that FOX13 Seattle is a separate local outlet from the national network, while also acknowledging FOX News’s history of damaging rhetoric toward the Queer community.
“The Queer community has felt hurt by those national FOX hosts and commentators and I want to validate those experiences,” Acone said. “For me, it’s been such a different experience. I made sure to do my research about the local station, and it’s a very positive, warm encouraging environment here.”
Acone ended with some words of encouragement for other Queer people who are just getting started in news and media.
“It’s hard working for a place where it’s discouraged to be yourself,” she said. “I want to protect them and just encourage them to go to places where they’re going to feel that encouragement to be that authentic version of themselves.”
Support the Seattle Gay News: Celebrate 51 Years with Us!
As the third-oldest LGBTQIA+ newspaper in the United States, the Seattle Gay News (SGN) has been a vital independent source of news and entertainment for Seattle and the Pacific Northwest since 1974.
As we celebrate our 51st year, we need your support to continue our mission.
A monthly contribution will ensure that SGN remains a beacon of truth and a virtual gathering place for community dialogue.
Help us keep printing and providing a platform for LGBTQIA+ voices.
How you can donate!
Using this link: givebutter.com/6lZnDB
Text “SGN” to 53-555
Or Scan the QR code below!
