Originally published April 23, 2007 at 12:00 AM | Page modified April 23, 2007 at 9:01 PM
Seattle Pride Parade, Fest may be canceled
After 32 years, Seattle Pride Parade and Festival organizers may scrap the entire event. "We don't know" whether there will be a parade...
Seattle Times staff reporters
After 32 years, Seattle Pride Parade and Festival organizers may scrap the entire event.
"We don't know" whether there will be a parade this year, said Weston Sprigg, vice president of Seattle Out and Proud. The group's dozen or so volunteers are tired, he said. The group owes $102,000 to the city after moving the parade and festival from its longtime home in Capitol Hill to Seattle Center in 2006.
More than 200,000 people attended the celebration for the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community, but the organizers didn't make enough money from sponsorships and donations to cover the cost of holding the event at Seattle Center, which was far more expensive than the previous site, Volunteer Park.
The group's board plans to meet on Tuesday to make a final decision on the event, which was planned for the weekend of June 24.
A separate group led by the Lesbian Gay Bisexual Transgender Community Center is discussing planning other gay-pride events to fill the vacuum.
In February, the group said it would partner with event organizer IES Production, which would produce the festival and pay $50,000 of the debt to the city.
The status of that is now uncertain, Sprigg said, and John Merner, deputy director at Seattle Center, says he is sending the bill to the city's legal department to collect.
The decision to move to Seattle Center was criticized by many on Capitol Hill, considered the heart of Seattle's gay community.
"An event of this scale requires considerable sponsorship, and I think with all the controversy swirling around Pride these past couple of years made it hard to secure that sponsorship," Merner said.
Sharon Pian Chan: 206-464-2204 or schan@seattletimes.com. Lornet Turnbull: 206-464-2420 or lturnbull@seattletimes.com.
Copyright © 2007 The Seattle Times Company
Chase won't pay for Seattle's Lake Union fireworks next year
Group hopes to build 75-megawatt solar park near Cle Elum
Stalled Bellevue tower site won't be eyesore
The end of the line, for now: Tukwila is the jewel in the crown of Link
Regional vendors vying for veterinarians' attention at convention

Gen. David Petraeus: Iraq and Afghanistan Wars
Watch highlights of General David Petraeus discussing the Iraq and Afghanistan War at the Global Leadership Series sponsored by the World Affairs Council.
Entertainment | Top Video | World | Offbeat Video | Sci-Tech
shopping

events for Friday, Jul. 10th
- IKEA Summer Sale
- Karan Dannenberg Clothier Progressive...
- Alhambra July Sale
- Julep Nail Parlor "Sandal-Ready and S...
editors' picks
More shopping guides- Seattle-area homebuilder losing projects to foreclosure
- Health-plan costs soar for individuals
- Trees vs. houses: Narrow, leafy street is last chance for two Madrona homes waiting to be moved
- World's largest solar plant may be built in Cle Elum
- Driver killed, deputy and prisoner injured in head-on crash near Monroe
- House Democrats likely to alter intel bill
- Drunken man shocks Spain with his generosity
- Movie review | "Brüno" struts his stuff to hilariously expose intolerance
- Chase will no longer sponsor Lake Union fireworks
- 4 Ill. cemetery workers accused in grisly plot
- Mass. files lawsuit against federal marriage law
913 - Health-plan costs soar for individuals
523 - Texas Rangers at Seattle Mariners: 07/09 game thread
243 - Seattle Mariners GM Jack Zduriencik again declines to quell Yuniesky Betancourt trade rumors
145 - World's largest solar plant may be built in Cle Elum
126 - Trees vs. houses: Narrow, leafy street is last chance for two Madrona homes waiting to be moved
91 - Wednesday night notes
86 - Pay parking in West Seattle?
76 - Franklin Gutierrez bails Mariners out in a 3-1 win
75 - House Dems want to expand secret briefings
63
- Seattle-area homebuilder losing projects to foreclosure
- Health-plan costs soar for individuals
- World's largest solar plant may be built in Cle Elum
- Trees vs. houses: Narrow, leafy street is last chance for two Madrona homes waiting to be moved
- Grab the kids and hop on Amtrak for a stress-free getaway to Portland
- During financial crisis, the business of college sports is complicated by Title IX
- Local Smith & Hawken garden stores to close
- Green River Valley plans ahead for possible flooding
- Pay parking in West Seattle?
- Jerry Large | Issues of aging affect all
