Seattle Space Needle Says “NO” To Flying Rainbow Flag At Gay Pride Celebration

SEATTLE — Even though they’ve done it for years, the owners of Seattle’s Space Needle say they will not be flying a giant rainbow flag at the gay pride celebration this year.

“As we don’t raise any flag but the American flag on a regular basis, there are no plans to raise the Rainbow Flag again this year,” the Space Needle said this week in a statement. “We will continue to support equal rights and actively foster these causes as we have in the past.”

The timing is suspect at best because it corresponds with Washington’s vote on same-sex marriage later this year. A Space Needle spokeswoman said politics were not the reason for its decision.

But that hasen’t stopped Seattle’s gay and lesbian community from feeling betrayed.

“I got really frustrated about it,” said Howard Russell, who plans on attending pride festivities this weekend. “It’s a rainbow. We see the rainbow in the sky every day. … Why would you not want to see it hanging from something as beautiful as the Space Needle?”