Tag Archives: lgbtq

After skirmishes ‘on the frontlines at Denny Blaine, Cal Anderson, and recent events at City Hall,’ the Pride flag flies above Seattle

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(Image: City of Seattle)

City officials and community leaders gathered at Seattle City Hall this weekend to again raise the colors of the Pride flag above the city.

This June’s Pride celebrations come amid a rush of recent challenges to the city’s queer communities.

Jaelynn Scott of Capitol Hill’s Lavender Rights Project acknowledged “the leadership of the young people who were on the frontlines at Denny Blaine, Cal Anderson, and recent events at City Hall” in celebrating the flag raising event. “We are so proud of you,” Scott said to the assembled crowd. “Our liberation will be led by this movement of youth right now.”

Saturday’s ceremony follows political attacks on Seattle and Mayor Bruce Harrell over the city’s handling of Christian fundamentalist and anti-trans rallies that have provoked counter-protests and demonstrations on Capitol Hill and at City Hall. Continue reading →

A *way* better use for Capitol Hill Parks — Pride starts next week with Cal Anderson clean-up, Volunteer Park celebration

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A better use for Capitol Hill’s parks will be here next week as Pride celebrations begin across Seattle. Saturday brings the start of the 2025 festivities with the annual Pride in the Park party in Volunteer Park:

Seattle Pride in the Park is back and louder than ever on Saturday, June 7, from noon to 7 p.m. at Volunteer Park!

This free, family-friendly LGBTQIA2S+ event brings together community, culture, and celebration with: Continue reading →

Seattle Police says will pause ‘directed patrols’ at Denny Blaine, OPA investigating — UPDATE

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(Image: Seattle Parks)

The Seattle Police Department tells CHS it is pausing “directed patrols” at Denny Blaine Park in the wake of outcry of its enforcements efforts around nudity at the popular nude beach.

A spokesperson for the department responded Wednesday as city officials including Mayor Bruce Harrell weighed in on the concerns raised by the weekend police and the park’s longtime use as a nude beach the community.

SPD tells CHS the incident has also been referred to the Office of Police Accountability following a public complaint about the department and officer actions.

CHS reported here on SPD’s clearance of sunbathers from the park Sunday and reported threats of trespass to one park goer who initially refused.

City officials made it clear this week they were not going to stand behind the department on the issue. Continue reading →

Seattle Police clear sunbathers at Denny Blaine Park — UPDATE: Mayor, Hollingsworth respond

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Police were at Denny Blaine Sunday(Image: @mom_calls_me_myrtle)

A police officer “on a premise” assignment at Denny Blaine Park caused a stir Sunday at the nude beach east on the shores of Lake Washington.

The Seattle Police Department is apparently cracking down on the popular Capitol Hill sunny day getaway.

Reports describe multiple police officers called to the scene Sunday telling afternoon park goers to cover up and trespassing one sunbather who refused, according to Colleen Kimseylove of the Friends of Denny Blaine Park community group that has been trying to find solutions that protect the park’s history and place in Seattle queer culture while also placating increasing hostile neighbors in the wealthy neighborhood that surrounds the nude-friendly beach and park that has been affectionately known as Dykiki for decades.

“When Kimseylove arrived, they spoke to SPD Officer Ella Brooks who told Kimseylove that no Seattle law protects nudity, and if someone called and complained, SPD officers had to respond,” independent Seattle news site The Burner reports. “The cops also told Kimseylove that someone had directed SPD to routinely check in on the park. They told Kimseylove that people needed to put their clothes on or be trespassed or potentially arrested.”

SPD reportedly told one sunbather who argued with officers Sunday they were banned from the park for the week. Continue reading →

Keep Denny Blaine Nude? Neighbors sue city over ‘public masturbation, public sex and other types of indecent exposure, drug use, unlawful public nudity, environmental damage to the shoreline, and scofflaw parking’

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(Image: Denny Blaine Park for All)

Homeowners in the wealthy neighborhood surrounding Denny Blaine Park and nude beach are suing the city over its management of the lakefront public space.

“It is now a regional venue for criminal and uncivil behavior that includes public masturbation, public sex and other types of indecent exposure, drug use, unlawful public nudity, environmental damage to the shoreline, and scofflaw parking that prevents fire trucks and ambulances from reaching neighborhood homes,” the complaint from lawyers representing the Denny Blaine Park for All “association of concerned neighbors” reads.

The lawsuit was sent to Seattle media and television stations this week but is not yet available from the King County Superior Court.

The Seattle Times posted a copy of the complaint Wednesday.

The lawsuit from Seattle’s Foster Garvey PC firm is a major wrinkle in any efforts hoped to bridge the gaps between area homeowners, Seattle Parks, and the nudist and queer communities working to “Keep Denny Blaine Nude” while also addressing concerns about access, cleanliness, and safety around the park. Continue reading →

Fundraiser: Organizer of PrideFest Capitol Hill and Seattle Center celebrations says some sponsors are pulling out

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A PrideFest 2025 scene on Broadway

The producer of the events that fill Cal Anderson, Broadway and the Seattle Center with Pride celebrations every June is trying to close a $75,000 gap amid what it says is a nationwide downturn in support for LGBTQ organizations and queer causes and “sponsorship challenges across the country for organizations like ours.”

“Already, we are seeing a loss of about 1/3 of our sponsorship funding (around $225,000 total, or $75,000 down as of April 1),” the call for support reads. “At PrideFest, we are committed to throwing big, beautiful events that are free for all, but it takes hundreds of thousands of dollars to produce such a large event well, to pay artists, and to make it safe for everyone.”

You can give here.

PrideFest and director Egan Orion organize the annual Pride weekend events that include the party around the Seattle Center fountain that follows the city’s annual Pride parade and the street festival that precedes it and fills Broadway and Cal Anderson with vendors, performances, and fun. Here is a look at the 2024 PrideFest festivities on Capitol Hill. Continue reading →

Suspects in water pellet drive-by and harassment outside Capitol Hill’s Pony gay bar charged with hate crime

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The three people identified by police as the suspects in a water pellet drive-by and harassment incident outside Capitol Hill’s Pony gay bar have been charged with a hate crime.

The King County Prosecutor’s office says 19-year-old Justin Mayor, 24-year-old Jessica Clark, and a 17-year-old who police say the two adults admitted also joined Mayor in shouting slurs and firing off the water pellets have been charged under the state’s hate crime statute. Continue reading →

Capitol Hill wine shop La Cha-Bliss: ‘A touch of fabulous in every pour’ — but nothing French thanks to ‘Liberation Day’ tariffs

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(Image: Ladie Chablis)

(Image: La Cha-Bliss)

Seattle drag queen Ladie Chablis is getting into the wine business and the show is ready to begin.

Capitol Hill’s new La Cha-Bliss wine shop is ready to open any day now.

Known as Howard Russell off the stage, the first-time retail entrepreneur told CHS that the support of the LGBTQIA+ community helped the vinous dreams come to fruition.

“The location is ready—it’s ready to go. I’m just waiting on the liquor license to come through, and that’s where we’re at right now. My goal is to have this store open on the first week of April,” Russell told CHS last month.

Russell was on holiday with friends in December and took note of cute and quaint wine shops, commenting on how lovely it would be to have one. After returning to Seattle, a friend alerted Russell of the available retail space at 1412 12th Ave formerly home to a flower design shop.

“I went ahead, talked to the realtor and the broker… and they gave me a good offer on the place itself,” Russell said. “When all was said and done, they chose me [over seven applicants] to have my wine store there.” Continue reading →

‘The backbone of a neighborhood’ — Capitol Hill leather bar The Cuff has new owner

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CHS reported on 30 years at The Cuff here in 2023

Through 32 years of changes in the neighborhood and changes in ownership, people have been getting lost in the dark corners and good times at The Cuff.

The quintessential Capitol Hill leather bar is now stepping out again on its own.

Scott Walent, a first-time nightlife owner, is stepping up and taking over the sprawling 13th Ave venue and center of Seattle queer culture as part of a rare downsizing of the Queer/Bar family of Capitol Hill businesses.

“We understand the weight of this responsibility and are committed to honoring the legacy of the previous owners, who so wonderfully navigated The Cuff Complex through the past five years,” Walent said in a statement to the Seattle Gay News who was first to report the changes. “We plan to maintain many of the values and traditions that have made The Cuff such a vital part of our community while infusing new vibes and programming into the calendar.” Continue reading →

Trans Day of Visibility: Gender Justice League challenging Trump orders, planning Trans Pride Seattle 2025 — UPDATE: Capitol Hill’s Seattle LGBTQ+ Center applauds new ‘Welcoming City’ law

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(Image: City of Seattle)

UPDATE: Seattle Mayor Bruce Harrell was on Capitol Hill Monday to sign new “Welcoming City” legislation hoped to strengthen protections “from harmful federal actions, specifically for people seeking reproductive health care and gender-affirming treatment.”

CHS reported on the City Council’s approval of the new ordinance here earlier this month seeking to affirm the city as “a welcoming and supportive place for LGBTQ+ community members” while extending Washington State’s Shield Law’ “into city law,” and protecting “people seeking or providing reproductive or gender-affirming care in Seattle from arrest or prosecution.” The Shield Law prohibits Washington courts from enforcing out-of-state subpoenas seeking information related to protected health care services that are lawful in Washington, according to the State Attorney General’s office. Continue reading →