A year when Capitol Hill’s Pride celebration was delayed until Labor Day also featured a delayed celebration of the life of one of the city’s pioneer queer community leaders.

Saturday, November 13th was officially George Bakan Day in Seattle.

“George Bakan was a legendary activist for the LGBTQ+ community and fierce friend to many,” Mayor Jenny Durkan said in her proclamation.

“During his 37 years as editor of the Seattle Gay News, George gave a voice to the voiceless and moved the national conversation forward on LGBTQ+ rights. His legacy will never be forgotten.”

The declaration came as loved ones and friends gathered Saturday in Broadway’s All Pilgrims for a pandemic-delayed remembrance of Bakan’s life. The longtime Seattle Gay News publisher passed away at the age of 78 in 2020.

You can watch Saturday’s full memorial here on the Seattle Gay News Facebook page.

“We all have our own George story,” photographer Nate Gowdy said. “Privately, I’ve always mused to friends who don’t know him that’s he’s grumpy gay Santa. It was in your best interest not to cross him or to get him going too much — which was impossible. But at the same time, there was always that knowing twinkle in his eyes. Always.”

Bakan’s paper, meanwhile, continues on without its enthusiastic leader. CHS reported here on SGN’s efforts to archive its important history of queer Capitol Hill and Seattle while moving forward in Seattle’s evolving media landscape.

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