Another Open Letter to the Space Needle: This is Now Officially Bogus
Dear Space Needle:
We accepted it when you tried to ply us with some probably-untrue justification for why you didn't want to fly the pride flag, during pride month, over the pride parade.
We were alright with the fact that you didn't want your flags to "get repetitive," despite the fact that we were fairly positive that again, as you have for many, many years, you'd raise the flags of other private interests, like the Seahawks and SeaFair. We assumed you would just only fly flags for things with the word 'Sea' in them, and not things that stood for tolerance and inclusion.
We were even alright with the fact that what you were going to do instead, to appease the LGBTA community, was to march alongside them, with the pride flag, essentially hiding in plain sight and not making a statement at all. It is, as Bobby Brown said, your prerogative.
What we are not, however, alright with is this new back-pedaling/extortion which you are attempting to pull off as a kind of "support."
Yes, Space Needle, your newest action plan--which is a challenge to the community that you'll fly the pride flag for one single day if the peons, collectively, can raise $50,000 for LGBT charities--is truly (pardon us) bullshit. Do the Seahawks have to donate money to get the 12th Man flag on the Needle? Does SeaFair have to give generously to fly their huge, yellow flag? No? Then you are being the opposite of inclusive. You are being exclusive. And it is sending the entirely wrong message.
By asking the LGBTA community to donate money to get the flag on the Needle, you are setting a precedent. And you are making it very clear how you feel about making a gesture that would otherwise be positive and good-natured. If the pockets of those on Facebook are deep enough, you will be an ally to homosexuals, trans people, and others who identify as queer. And if you catch heat for it from conservative groups, you can blame those fundraising gay people. And if they can't raise the money in time? Then everyone loses. Except you, Space Needle. You remain blameless. You tried to help.
How much credit do you get, Space Needle, if you drum up $50,000 for LGBT charities, so that you can do something you should have done before? Instead of taking money from people who probably can't afford to ride in your space-age elevator, perhaps you should do both, and dig into your own coffers to raise the money? Lord knows you have it.
Space Needle, this is insulting.
Oh, and if this attempt isn't even from you? If this is a hoax that is taking money from well-meaning people? Then you need to step up immediately and say so. You are too tall to put your head in the sand.
And to everyone who has already donated, we're sorry. Even if your fundraising efforts work, and the pride flag is raised over Seattle for one solitary day for the price of $50,000, it's not going to feel right. Because, despite your best intentions, and even though the money has gone to charities, you have now sent the message that you, as LGBT members and allies, must buy you way onto the Space Needle.
And Space Needle, that is some ad space that we just don't need to be in.
Love,
Concerned Citizens of Seattle
