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Home Capitol Hill News, Gay News, In Memoriam, Las Vegas Gay Scene, News, Obituary, Queer News, Seattle Lesbian Scene, Seattle News, Seattle Politics, Seattle Transgender SceneFormer Community Leader Shaun Knittel Dies, Aged 39

Former Community Leader Shaun Knittel Dies, Aged 39

January 1, 2020• byMichael Strangeways
Shaun Knittel (1980-2019)
Photo via Facebook

The Seattle LGBTQ community woke up to shocking news on the first day of 2020 as the news began to spread that former resident, journalist and advocate SHAUN KNITTEL had died in his hometown of Las Vegas, Nevada on Monday, December 30, 2019 at the age of 39.

Knittel lived in Seattle from 2009 to 2017 after serving nearly a decade in the U.S. Navy as a public affairs specialist. He continued his career as a writer and editor in Seattle working for several years at Seattle Gay News as well as contributing to other outlets such as Edge Media and OutMilitary.com.

But, Shaun was probably best known locally for his advocacy work which included creating the group Social Outreach Seattle aka SoSea which worked on a variety of LGBTQ issues and events including marriage equality in the years it was active from 2012 to 2017. He was also associated with Seattle Out & Proud, producers of Seattle’s gay pride parade and Pride Asia. Shaun was also active in the campaign to elect Ed Murray as the first out gay mayor of Seattle in 2013.

He also had close ties to Neighbours Nightclub and helped them with events and public relations and played an even larger role when he allegedly helped discover and put out an arson set fire at the club on December 31/January 1st, 2014. Musab Mohamed Masmari was eventually arrested and convicted of the crime and sentenced to 10 years in prison.

Knittel and his husband, Yee-Shin Huang abruptly moved from Seattle in 2017 and relocated back to Las Vegas where he worked for an area LGBTQ media outlet.

No cause of death has been released. Here is a link to his memorial page at Palm Eastern Mortuary in Las Vegas. UPDATED: Seattle Gay News has reported on their social media that a local memorial is being planned. Stay tuned for details.

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About the Author: Michael Strangeways

As the Editorial Director/Co-Owner, Michael Strangeways writes, edits and does about a million other jobs for Seattle Gay Scene, Puget Sound's most visited LGBTQ news, arts and entertainment website now celebrating its 14th year as a media outlet. A semi-proud Midwesterner by birth, he's lived in Seattle since 2000. He's also a film producer who would like you to check out the Jinkx Monsoon documentary, "Drag Becomes Him" now available on Amazon.com. In his spare time, he gets slightly obsessive about his love for old movies, challenging theater, "otters", vodka, chocolate, "I,Claudius", Lizzie Borden, real books made out of paper, disaster films, show tunes, Weimar era Germany, flea markets, pop surrealistic art, the sex lives of Hollywood actors both living and dead, kitties, chicken fried steak, haute couture and David Bowie. But, not necessarily in that order.

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One Reply to “Former Community Leader Shaun Knittel Dies, Aged 39”

  1. No thank you says:
    January 9, 2020 at 10:39 pm

    Really Seattle gay scene ? “Ed Murray Seattle’s first out gay major“ ?? You mean a child Molestor who preyed on men of color . Trying to claim him and hide that under the rainbow is disgusting

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