Capitol Hill Turns Out For Unveiling of Barbara Bailey Way

Seattle and Capitol Hill in particular turned out to honor activist and business owner BARBARA BAILEY on Tuesday, August 6th with Mayor Jenny Durkan and other community leaders on hand to unveil the new signage proclaiming the renaming of a one block stretch of Denny Way as “Barbara Bailey Way”. 

Bailey, who died last year, was an active and out community leader who owned the independent Bailey Coy Bookstore for many years while being a fierce advocate for LGBTQ equality, women’s rights  and small businesses on Capitol Hill. 

Barbara’s friend and Greater Seattle Business Association leader Louise Chernin had this to say:

Barbara Bailey was an icon in this city. She was a proud lesbian, owner of the small and independent Bailey Coy Books, and a political activist. She was fiercely opinionated, passionate about LGBTQ rights and social justice, and loved her community, as well as a good time. Last Tuesday, I had the honor to join Barbara’s family, Mayor Jenny Durkan, and fellow community leaders to witness as Barbara Bailey Way was unveiled near Capitol Hill Station.

 

Our newly unveiled Barbara Bailey Way is a remarkable intersection where past meets future. How wonderful will it be to step off the Light Rail and amble down the AIDS Memorial Pathway, rich with history and inspiration? Then, to stop at the Capitol Hill Farmer’s Market to pick up lunch and sit at Cal Anderson Park, named for our first LGBTQ State Legislator? I know for me, every time I glance up at the Barbara Bailey Way street sign, I will smile and wonder, “What would Barbara think?”

 

For equality,

Louise