SGN: Seattle Gay News

12/25/2025

A message from SGN Publisher Renee Raketty:

12/24/2025

2025 was upside down, but—here at the SGN— we are gearing up for coffee and confrontation!

Our January issue hits the streets tomorrow. Inside, you'll meet the people, initiative efforts, and entities seeking to do us harm. And, you'll see lots of Q***r joy as well (to remind you what we are fighting for).

I'm proud to say that the SGN is back at it; using our editorial voice to inform, fight, and foster "Pride Over Fear Since 1974."

Our January cover was spearheaded by MAD Magazine's own Marc Palm, a Seattle-based illustrator, cartoonist, and comic book artist. Because, there is nothing better than some parody and political satire to show the emperor has no clothes. They win only when we give up.

Our paper has documented over 52 years of our 🏳️‍🌈 resiliency and we know better than anyone... Our best years are ahead, if we work hard enough to make it a reality.

We stand on the shoulders of giants, like former SGN Publisher George Bakan. And, we don't need magical powers to move political mountains. We've done it before. The power is within all of us, when we stand united as one community.

***rResistance

12/19/2025

Thank you for your continued leadership! Healthcare is between a doctor and patient or their guardian(s).

12/18/2025

🚨🏳️‍⚧️

US attorney general Pam Bondi has instructed the FBI to place bounties on trans activists promoting “radical gender ideology,” a leaked memo suggests.

The Trump administration’s chief legal advisor instructed the US security service to create a “cash reward system” incentivising members of the public to share information on what the attorney’s office described as “domestic terrorist groups.”

These groups, according to Bondi, include groups or individuals promoting so-called “radical gender ideology” and “hostility towards traditional values on family, religion, and morality.”

The leaked memo, issued on 5 December, argues the strategy would lead to the “successful identification and arrest” of relevant individuals and groups.

📷 Getty
📷 Wikimedia Commons

12/17/2025

When you step into Doghouse Leathers on Capitol Hill, it’s clear this isn’t your average store. The air is rich with the unmistakable scent of leather, but what truly sets this place apart is the immediate sense of belonging — a warm welcome, a feeling of safety, and a vibrant network of people that wraps around you like an old friend.

At the heart of it all is Dan Daniels. With a genuine smile and an easygoing charm, he’s the kind of person who makes you feel seen and valued the moment you meet him. His dedication to creating a space where everyone feels at home has turned Doghouse Leathers into a cornerstone of Seattle’s leather and fe**sh community.

The business was established with the mission to provide high-quality leather gear in a safe and welcoming environment. Founders Daniels and Jeff Henness envisioned a space where all customers, from seasoned leather enthusiasts to newcomers, could feel comfortable expressing themselves without fear of judgment.

Although Henness has sadly passed away, his vision remains a guiding force. His influence is deeply rooted in Doghouse’s core values, including its commitment to the community, and this spirit continues to drive its mission today.

Read the full article below:

https://www.sgn.org/story/161270/Features/Doghouse%20Leathers%3A%20The%20beating%20heart%20of%20Capitol%20Hill%E2%80%99s%20leather%20and%20fe**sh%20community

12/16/2025

On December 11, the Seattle Office of Police Accountability (OPA) held its first “Building the Bridge” event at City Hall. Attendees came from several sectors, including Seattle Police Department (SPD) Assistant Chief Tyrone Davis, college professors, community organizations, various city and county officials, and multiple members of both Seattle’s LGBTQ and Women’s Commissions, among many others.

The event was centered around a Q&A panel of four — OPA Director Bonnie Glenn, Seattle Community Police Commission (CPC) Executive Director Eci Ameh, and two community leaders, Teri Rogers Kemp of Community Advocate and Dominique Davis of Community Pathways.

The SGN asked the panel the first question of the evening, regarding the recent OPA investigation that did not sustain any allegations of excessive force by officers who arrested 23 counterprotesters at the Mayday USA event in Cal Anderson Park on May 24.

Read the full article about the event using the link down below:

https://www.sgn.org/story/161313/News/Seattle/Seattle%20Office%20of%20Police%20Accountability%20attempts%20its%20first%20%E2%80%9CBuilding%20the%20Bridge%E2%80%9D%20event

12/16/2025

🌧️💖 FLOOD SUPPORT & COMMUNITY RESOURCES — WE’VE GOT YOU 💖🌧️

If you need help, please know you are not alone. If you’re safe and able, consider sharing this to help it reach someone who needs it. 🏳️‍🌈🤝

🚨 Evacuation & Rescue

Call 911 if your home or vehicle is threatened by rising water.

🛟 Emergency Shelter Locations

American Red Cross Shelters

Red Cross: “Anyone impacted by flooding is welcome at our evacuation centers to connect with others, get a warm meal, and find support.”

Find shelters at redcross.org, the Red Cross Emergency App, or call 1-800-733-2767.

Evergreen State Fairgrounds (Monroe) – 4-H Building, 14405 179th Ave SE, Monroe, WA 98272

St. John’s Lutheran Church (Chehalis) – 2190 Jackson Hwy, Chehalis, WA 98532

King County New Community Church (Maple Valley) – 21401 244th Ave SE, Maple Valley, WA 98038 (open 24 hrs)

Lewis County Packwood Community Hall (Randle) – 12935 WA-12, Randle, WA 98377 (open 24 hrs)

Snohomish County (Cold-Weather / Flood Activation)

Maple Park Church – 17620 60th Ave W, Lynnwood, WA (opened Dec 8; coordinate via Snohomish County Human Services)

Monroe Emergency Animal & Human Shelter

Evergreen State Fairgrounds is open for people and animals during livestock evacuations.

Longview Severe Weather Shelter (Cowlitz/Clark)

McClelland Arts Center – 951 Delaware St, Longview, WA
Opened 6 PM Dec 9 under Love Overwhelming.
Info: (360) 442-5200

🏠 Pierce County

Day centers are open now across the county for anyone needing shelter from flooding.

Emergency shelters & warming centers activated under the county’s emergency proclamation.

💸 Emergency Cash & Financial Help

AREN (housing/utilities): up to $750/year

Diversion Cash Assistance: up to $2,000 once/year

Disaster Cash Assistance (DCAP): active during governor-declared emergencies

Pierce County Disaster Recovery: federal support info + property damage reporting; Disaster Survivors Advocacy Team (DSAT) to help navigate aid

United Way GRIT (Growing Resilience Tacoma): current cycle closed

Catholic Community Services / St. Vincent de Paul (Tacoma): emergency cash, housing help, clothing, food

Pierce County Community Action: emergency aid (rent, utilities, repairs), energy assistance, weatherization, employment support

12/09/2025

The SGN: Seattle Gay News is featured for its leadership.

https://blog.presspassq.gay/?fbclid=IwdGRjcAOlgQJjbGNrA6WAw2V4dG4DYWVtAjExAHNydGMGYXBwX2lkDDM1MDY4NTUzMTcyOAABHic_jyA_Ntre-ZdflnXCbx1EjCZAmQB933By6DlqkvC6ESb0y-bE-7dBWpWp_aem_3fNiM9kNGyCGULoIo_ZMyg

12/09/2025

Like the 1996 film The Birdcage, in which a Gay couple running a Q***r club must hide their q***rness to appease their conservative in-laws, the former employees of Jake’s on 4th in Olympia reportedly found themselves in a similar predicament with the bar’s ownership.

When it reopened in July 2025 after being closed for multiple years, not much was known about the new owners who decided to take over the beloved, historically Q***r establishment. But after a Halloween night drag show gone awry — one in a long line of grievances from staff — new information has been revealed.

Multiple Q***r employees have since quit, due to alleged mismanagement and exploitation. Charles Burk, Arthur Gottlieb, Nicole Swigert, and Chad Swaney have all since come out publicly to share their side of the story on social media, which has been creating LGBTQIA+ community pressure on the establishment.

On November 10, a post by the owners of the Jake’s on 4th Instagram account responded to the mounting criticism.

“We will not tolerate negativity inside of Jake’s nor on our social media platforms,” the post stated. Dismissing the claims made by its former employees, the bar also wrote, “We’ve been under attack recently, threats, organized negative campaigning, lies, twisted stories.”

Taking it a step further, the owners also stated that “we are pursuing the perpetrators to the full extent of the law.”

On November 29, Gottlieb told the SGN that a Le***an bar patron was assaulted and called homophobic slurs while trying to enter the establishment. He also said this patron has since filed a police report, further heightening concerns that the bar that was once known as a safe space for LGBTQIA+ people no longer is.

It had remained publicly unknown who these new owners of Jake’s on 4th were — until now. Here is the story of how Matt Acker, Paul Gallagher, and Adam Lukomski came to run a local Gay bar — and decided to push their drag and Q***r staff out, according to testimony of former employees.

Read the full article on our website below:

Like the 1996 film The Birdcage, in which a Gay couple running a Q***r club must hide their q***rness to appease their conservative in-laws, the former employees of Jake’s on 4th in Olympia reportedly found themselves in a similar predicament with the bar’s ownership. When it reopened in July 20...

12/08/2025

On November 9, multiple patrons at the Magnolia branch of the Seattle Public Library (SPL) noticed that both the Progress Pride and African-American flags had been removed from the rafters, where they had hung since 2022. No statement or explanation was reportedly given by SPL regarding the flags’ disappearance, according to an anonymous source, who also told the SGN that some librarians were too worried about retaliation to speak out.

As of December 8, the flags have still not been reinstated.

Find the full article and statement from the Seattle Public Library below:

https://www.sgn.org/story/161017/News/Seattle/Pride%20and%20African-American%20flags%20removed%20from%20Seattle%20Public%20Library%20in%20Magnolia%3B%20SPL%20issues%20statement%20in%20response

12/06/2025

In case you've missed it, the SGN: Best Of Seattle ‘25 results are finally in!

Every year, the SGN Readers’ Choice awards gives us all an opportunity to pause and reflect upon the people, places, products and businesses that have made our lives here all the more worthwhile.

Seattle is not always the easiest place to live and make it in, whether it be the high cost of living, the “Seattle Freeze,” or simply just not wanting to go outside in the winter! It can be hard to stay connected with each other with so much on all our plates.

And this year in particular, there’s certainly been no shortage of problems to face. To say 2025 has been an eventful year for Seattle (and the country) would be a vast understatement. But despite this, q***r people and groups in our city have shown incredible resiliency in the face of these adversities.

So whether you’re Seattle born and raised, or just got here from out of state, welcome all the same as we celebrate our Emerald City as it stands now in 2025.
Thank you so very much to all who participated in this year’s competition, and no matter the results, know that we at the SGN will always support you, our community and readership, into the next year and beyond 🏳️‍🌈🏳️‍⚧️

Find the full list of winners online at https://www.sgn.org/special_issues or in-print at locations around Seattle and across the Puget Sound region.

12/02/2025