So how did it come to be? Louise Chernin, Executive Director of the Greater Seattle Business Association (GSBA) explained. The plan was hatched at a Pride tourism luncheon last week sponsored by GSBA, the largest LGBT Chamber in the United States. GSBA has just launched an LGBT Tourism portal on their website: Travel Gay Seattle, Where Out is In, for LGBT Tourists to Get Here, Stay Here and Play Here. The goal is to increase tourism revenue in our region. Among the luncheon guests was the president of the Space Needle who decided in short order to show the LGBT community how valued we are in this city.
Seattle Gay News has posted an interview with Space Needle president and CEO, Ron Sevart.
"It's a big deal for some of our team members," Sevart said. "Such a big deal that when we told some of them, it was very emotional."
"We're as diverse inside the Space Needle as what is outside the Space Needle," he added. "The Pride event takes place on the Seattle Center campus,"
Sevart said. "I think that being able to look up at the Space Needle and see that flag up there - I think it's going to be a very proud moment for a lot of people."
Today, the best known icon of Seattle, makes a significant statement for LGBT equality by raising the Rainbow Flag on top of Seattle's Space Needle. Seattle is home of the third largest LGBT population in the country and the raising of the flag is a recognition of the integral role the LGBT community has in Seattle being a world class city. Looking up and seeing a rainbow flag on top of the Space Needle sends a warm and welcoming message to all LGBT tourists visiting this weekend to celebrate Pride and me too!
Thanks to the various news reports and blogs for the information and pictures!
That's pretty intense Chris!
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