Two City Hall Events: Pride Flag Raising & LGBTQ Aging Forum

Photo: City of Seattle Mayor’s Office

If you enjoy hanging out at Seattle’s City Hall then we have TWO big events for you this week!

The first one is now a yearly tradition…it’s the annual raising of the Pride Flag over Seattle’s City Hall and it’s happening Thursday afternoon, June 1st with entertainment scheduled to start at 3:30 pm, followed by speakers and then the flag actually being raised at 4:30 pm.

Normally, the Seattle LGBTQ Commission is in charge of planning all of this but since the commission is woefully understaffed right now (we’ve heard they are down to 5 members from their normal full 16 member panel) the planning seems to all have fallen into the lap of Mayor Ed Murray’s office. They just released a Facebook invite late last week with very little information.

The majority of the Commission is either appointed by the Mayor’s Office or the City Council…maybe they need to get to work an appoint some new people?

Ya think?

Not particularly helpful poo from the FB invite:

I hope you will join me for the 5th Annual Pride Flag Raising event at Seattle City Hall. Each year we proudly raise and display the Pride flag outside City Hall to demonstrate Seattle’s commitment to inclusion and to honor our LGBTQ residents and visitors. This month-long display signals to all that they are welcome in our city and that they will be accepted for who they are.

3:30pm – 4:00pm – Entertainment
4:00pm – 4:30pm – Speakers
4:30pm – 5:00pm – Pride Flag Raising

UPDATED at 5:27 pm, May 31

NEW INFO: The program will include DJ Mixx America and guest speakers including:
Bruce Harrell, Seattle City Council President – Seattle City Council
Lisa Herbold, Councilmember
Patty Lally, Director, Seattle Office of Civil Rights
Tina Podlodowski, Chair – Washington State Democrats

The other event at City Hall is better planned. It’s “Aging the LGBTQ Way, a forum on equity, respect, and inclusion” happening this Saturday, June 3 from 10 am to 5:30 pm and it features Mayor Murray and community leaders discussing the growing need for LGBTQ inclusive spaces and housing for a rapidly growing elderqueer population. As LGBTQ Baby Boomers started turning 70 last year, they face hurdles never before encountered for large numbers of out gay people…will LGBTQ seniors be welcome and feel comfortable in the retirement homes and other housing meant for the elderly?

If you are interested in joining this discussion, click HERE to register for the event and here’s more info from the site:

Thank you for your interest in Aging the LGBTQ Way, a forum on equity, respect, and inclusion. The purpose of the forum is to give feedback for Mayor Ed Murray’s Seattle Action Plan; to build intergenerational relationships; and to get resources .

The program features Mayor Ed Murray, community leader Marsha Botzer, Dr. Karen Fredricksen-Goldsen (Aging with Pride: National Health, Aging, Sexuality and Gender Study), LaMont Green (City of Seattle Race and Social Justice Initiative), discussion of four issue areas (LGBTQ equity, respect, and social inclusion, economic and housing security, social and civic engagement, and aging, health, and community services), and late afternoon entertainment. See the event flyer at http://bit.ly/2qgOLt1. It’s a full day dedicated to aging well!

DATE: Saturday, June 3, 2017
TIME: 10 a.m.-5:30 p.m.
VENUE: Seattle City Hall
PLACE: Enter at 601 5th Avenue, Seattle
DIRECTIONS: goo.gl/maps/gJutpo4aAoA2
INFO: age-friendly@seattle.gov

This event is free and open to the public. Lunch and late afternoon hors d’oeuvres are included at no charge. RSVP using the survey below to ensure seating and food service.

Note: If you need an accommodation (or accessibility information), language interpretation, or childcare in order to attend, contact Terry Ann (206-386-1521 or agefriendly@seattle.gov) at your earliest opportunity.