Jesus... Whatever.

So they're not perfect (in your eyes). That does not mean they should not be recignized by the gay community for all the pro-gay shit they do.

Let organized labor deny them recognition (because of they're labor practices) but don't besmirch GSBA for recognizing them for their support of the gay community.

It makes you sound petty and ridiculous.

Ah, the Space Needle, our homage to George Babbitt. Arguably the tackiest structure in Seattle, although the ferris wheel gives it competition.

Am I the only Seattleite that finds the Space Needle to be a tacky symbol of Jetson's era imagination?

ratcity dear, I'm afraid you don't understand Seattle. Without the Space Needle (or, perhaps more accurately, without the 1962 World's Fair) Seattle would just be a bigger Tacoma. And as an icon for the city, it's appropriate that the Space Needle be regressive in their labor practices. Seattle was founded by hucksters, raised by prostitutes, and has always been dead serious when it came to profit.

All that aside, I think the Space Needle is an elegant structure. I'm glad to see that the town is loosening up and starting to enjoy things like the Great Wheel, and lighting up the tops of the buildings downtown. Perhaps the Good Taste Police are finally starting to lose their grip on Our Fair City.

Duh. The GSBA is a gay business organization. It concerns itself with promoting LGBT-friendly businesses. While these days nearly every business in Seattle is LGBT-friendly, that wasn't the case 30 some years ago when the GSBA was founded. Back then, virtually all members were small gay-owned businesses. The GSBA can take partial credit in coaxing larger local corporations into becoming more LGBT-friendly over the years.

If you Google image rainbow flag and Seattle, you will see a bunch of pics of the huge rainbow flag flying off the Space Needle. Even though it has only flown that flag a few times for a couple days, that imagery has already become nearly synonymous with gay Seattle. And the Space Needle is totally okay with that. So, yeah, that makes them a pretty fucking LGBT-freindly business.

But GSBA is not a labor organization. They are by nature more of a business organization. They do not concern themselves in any way with labor disputes (unless it relates to LGBT issues). That isn't part of their mission. You would not see the GSBA giving an award to Chick-fil-A, even if they had the best paid restaurant employees in the city, because the owner of Chick-fil-A is a homophobic asshole.

So yeah, the occasional labor dispute between the Space Needle and its employees is irrelevant to the award the GSBA is giving them. The award is for their support of the LGBT community, not their labor relations.

So it's the Gay business administration? Article says "Greater". Kinda important distinction maybe worth fixing.

It's name is the Greater Seattle Business Association, and it was started by gay bar owners who were getting together to unite against corruption on the part of the Seattle Police Department and the Washington State Liquor Control Board. It's grown since then.

Interesting, thanks! (and just go right on ignoring me then as usual.)

The Space Needle is corporate run, not corporate owned. Space Needle LLC is composed of only one man, Howard S. Wright. It was formed in 1977 when Wright bought out the other four owners, and was formed out of the previous Pentagram Corporation.
The likely target of your ire is the company that runs the SkyCity restaurant at the top of the Needle. They're well known as "shrewd" businessmen in the area, and most of the employment decisions go through them.
But no, The Space Needle is not corporate owned. An LLC of one is not corporate ownership.

Er Seattle you do realize that all and all the Space Needle is stupid building right? I mean seriously it looks like a theme park structure with no practical use. A rather stupid signature building for a city that wants to be taken seriously.

Ah yes, the Space Phallus who refused to have the rainbow flag on it for gay pride or made you pay ransom to have it there. And I'm sure all those "gay" weddings were provided by the facility for free too!

A local LGBT chamber of commerce gave an award to a dues-paying member. One person posted a comment on Twitter. This is what passes for news on Slog now? You guys need to hire some reporters.

I just watched the finale of "Parks and Recreation" and I see what is going on here: In the future, Donna and her husband are Seattle developers building "haystacks" to hide the view of the Space Needle. You anti-needle types are all just tools of developers, with some sort of chip that makes you respond to TV shows.

Fighting for LGBTQ workers' rights at the Space Needle has a rich history in the LGBTQ economic justice movement. Here is a blog I wrote filling in some historical gaps not addressed in this article. http://allyship.org/class-divide-in-the-…

Debbie Carlsen, Executive Director, LGBTQ Allyship