Charlie Brydon, LGBTQ activist and entrepreneur, died at 81 years old on February 9, 2021. Charlie was known as a master networker, establishing the Dorian Group in the mid 1970s. Under his leadership, the Dorian Group built bridges and understanding with Mayors, Police Chiefs, and the Catholic Church. He built coalitions with the business community, politicians, and community activists. In 1993 Brydon also co-founded Hands Off Washington, which was an organization formed to fight civil rights discrimination and ballot measures that were designed to take away the civil rights of LGBTQ folks. Brydon "believed in working within the system," says his niece, Megan Tracey. "He believed it was important to have more in-your-face activists, too." He also earned two Bronze Stars for his military service in Vietnam.

Drew Griffin was the regional director for PFLAG and the PFLAG Washington State council's vice president. He was an activist and advocate for LGBTQIA rights and creating safe spaces for queer folks to flourish. He grew up in Washington state and did all that he could to make this a better place for LGBTQ folks. "Throughout his time at PFLAG, Drew has been the consummate model of an LGBTQ+ community leader. As a role model, he has worked to ensure other LGBTQ+ people in Washington know they have a caring community in PFLAG. As a PFLAG leader, he has helped to elevate the role of PFLAG chapters in local communities throughout the Pacific Northwest," said PFLAG National Board President Kathy Godwin. Drew had been battling cancer for many years and passed in January of 2021 at only 47 years old. Drew is the co-founder of a non-profit called "Positive Masculinity" that he and I formed to help masculine folks do the work of dismantling toxic masculinity and work together to create a healthier model of masculinity for all people. That work will continue and forever be a part of his legacy.

Allena Gabosch was a community builder, educator, activist, and "Mama" to so many in our community, even though she bore no child of her own. Former owner of the Beyond the Edge Caf� on Capitol Hill, and one of the founders of The Center For Sex Positive Culture, known for many years as The Wet Spot. She was an out bisexual woman, who loved people, adventure, exploration, and who had a huge, open heart. She was a sought-after sex- educator who was committed to ridding the world and people of shame. She spoke at most of the colleges in the area and was appointed to one of the earliest versions of Seattle's LGBTQ Commission, which at that time was called The Commission for Sexual Minorities. She was fierce about defending the rights of folks around sexuality, gender, and their own body autonomy. She co-wrote the book Sex Positive Now, with Jeremy Shub. Allena passed in November of 2020 from cancer. Her tag line was "Life is a banquet, and most poor suckers are starving to death," from her favorite movie, Auntie Mame

Shaun Knittel was the founder of Social Outreach Seattle, which was formed to fight for Marriage Equality in Washington state. After the Marriage Equality law passed in the state, the non-profit went on to take on other community challenges, like safety, discrimination, education, and helping provide safe spaces for the LGBTQIA community. Shaun was also a writer and editor at Seattle Gay News and had been a journalist for many years, including when he was in the U.S. Navy. He was a Public Affairs specialist in the Navy and moved to Seattle in 2009. Shaun was also one of the producers of the Seattle Gay Pride Parade, Pride Asia, and many shows at Neighbor's Nightclub. When a rash of crimes began to happen in Capitol Hill, Shaun and I formed the Social Outreach Seattle Self-Defense and Safety Academy and taught many classes free, or on a donation-only basis to our community, at Neighbor's Nightclub. I was also on the board of directors for Social Outreach Seattle and worked very closely with Shaun. Shaun passed at only 39 years old.

Don Paulson was a contributor to Seattle Gay News over the years, as well as a photographer. He began writing about the Seattle Drag Scene, and then, in 1996, collaborated with University of Washington Professor Roger Simpson on the book, An Evening at the Garden of Allah. Their book won the Governor's Writers Award. Don was a member of Black and White Men Together, an organization which was a gay interracial organization, dedicated to over-coming racial barriers and creating educational, political, cultural, and social supportive environments for all to address racism, sexism, ableism, and heterosexism. Paulson lived the mantra, "There are no strangers, just friends I have not met yet".

Roger Winters joined the faculty at Central Washington University as a professor in the political science department in 1972. He began attending the American Civil Liberties Union of Washington, which is where he became active in Seattle politics. He fought for anti-discrimination laws, marriage equality, and protections for LGBTQ folks. He also held a great deal of Seattle's LGBTQ and political history. He was a part of the Dorian Group, co- chaired the first-ever candidate evaluation committee: Seattle Metropolitan Elections Committee, known as SEAMEC. In 1980 he gave the first-ever keynote speech at a Seattle Pride Parade and Rally. "Roger was a go-to leader and pioneer who helped pave the way for LGBTQ equality," former Seattle City Councilmember Tom Rasmussen said. He passed November of 2020 in his Shoreline home at 75 years old.

Then the indomitable - George Bakan was raised in rural Bellevue, moving to Seattle in 1980. He took the helm of Seattle Gay News in 1983, a time when the AIDS crisis was the dominant story of our community. Also in 1983 he organized The Seattle AIDS Action Committee, which later became Mobilization Against AIDS. He co-chaired The Freedom Day Committee, which is now known as Seattle Out and Proud. From 1987 to 1993, Bakan served as regional chair for Marches on Washington, during which time he pushed for bisexual and transgender inclusion at those events. He was on the Hands On Washington executive committee, and worked tirelessly his entire life to support good LGBTQ candidates and issues. George was known as The Governor of Capitol Hill to many, and he held so much of our state and local LGBTQ history. He was fair, and loved a good debate, and always fought for the marginalized. He passed at 78 years old, working at his desk, like he had been doing for so many years.

One of the hardest things about loss during the pandemic is that we have not been able to gather as a community to mourn. That gathering is an important step in healing. Hopefully soon we will be able to have a big gathering, to be in- community, and celebrate the lives of all whom we have lost during this trying time. Our community has lost some warriors! We must carry their torches, their passion for creating safe spaces and fighting discrimination, and never forget the many gifts they have given to our community.