Space Needle: Where’s the Pride flag?

by Joe Mirabella · 2011-06-02 20:02:00 UTC
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Last year, the Space Needle made history by flying the Pride flag for the first time ever during Seattle's Pride weekend. Thousands of people celebrated  under the Space Needle and a giant rainbow flag showing the company's commitment to the lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) community.

Notably, Representative Jim McDermott addressed a crowd of hundreds at Pride. He spoke about how important it was to repeal "Don't Ask, Don't Tell."  LGBT service men and women stood with roses in front of the stage as he spoke.

My partner was among those veterans. He was brought to tears as the power of that moment overwhelmed him. I remember watching him, and the other soldiers and feeling incredibly sad that our soldiers not only had to fight for our freedom abroad, but their own freedom at home as well.

Meanwhile, the Space Needle's enormous flag caught the patches of summer sun that graced the crowd. The rainbow, symbolic of the entire diversity of humanity, shimmered in the light. It was comforting. It brought me hope. I can't count how many people pointed towards the Space Needle with praises of their own, "It is beautiful," they said. "I never thought I would see this in my lifetime," a friend told me.

Later that year, a bill was passed that began the repeal process for "Don't Ask, Don't Tell," bringing new hope to thousands of gay and lesbian service men and women. While DADT is still the law of the land, it will end soon -- but not soon enough. On April 29th another member of our forces was discharged under "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" for being gay.

I called the Space Needle on Thursday to confirm a rumor I heard that they were not going to fly the flag this year. A receptionist told me that there were not plans to fly the flag this year. The Space Needle's online event calendar was noticeably absent of Pride events. Why?

My friend Josh Castle decided to encourage the Space Needle to raise the flag once again. He wrote a petition on Change.org urging the Space Needle to raise the flag again. I hope you will consider signing it and sharing it with your friends. I strongly believe, the Space Needle just needs to hear how important it is for us to see the Pride flag on the Space Needle. They need to hear, we still need a visible sign of hope.

Please click here to sign Josh's petition: http://www.change.org/petitions/space-needle-please-raise-the-pride-flag-for-seattle-pride-weekend

Photo by Joe Mirabella

Joe Mirabella is a Change.org Organizing Manager for LGBT rights.

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Space Needle: Please Raise the Pride Flag for Seattle Pride Weekend
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