Seattle Out and Proud's $100,026.33 debt

I have received a couple emails from readers who are outraged with Seattle Out and Proud (SOAP)because they have not paid their $100,026.33 bill for last year's Seattle Pride event. One reader said: "Its like going to a restaurant, ordering a bunch of food and drinks and walking out without paying the bill. A person doing so would certainly be charged with a crime. Whether legal or not, Seattle Pride has committed a crime a against the [Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender] community."

The Seattle Gay News had been sitting on this news for several weeks while we developed our story. We held out hope that SOAP would step forward and pay their bill or, at the very least, negotiate a payment plan by February 15, the deadline the Seattle Center had established. However, that deadline has come and gone.

According to the Seattle Center, planning Seattle Pride 2007, which is a little more than four months away, would have had to have started by that date. Also, the Seattle Center executive staff concluded last November that last years debt must be addressed before a new event can be staged. For these reasons alone, the SGN felt compelled to move forward with the story this week.

As Seattle City Councilmember Tom Rasmussen has said, "The Gay Pride Parade is a lot bigger than this organization." The decisions of SOAP not only effect the few people on its board or among its membership, but the entire region's GLBT population and its allies. According to SOAP's sponsorship materials, nearly 200,000 people lined up to watch the parade and another 50,000 joined in the festivities at the Seattle Center.

SOAP had signed a three year contract with the Seattle Center last year. Under the terms of the contract, which were later approved by the Seattle City Council, the Seattle Center would provide the buildings and the grounds at "no cost" if SOAP reimbursed the city for its operational costs. "You always hope that when you sign a contract with somebody that they understand their obligations and that they will make good on it," Seattle City Councilmember Sally Clark told the SGN this week.

Writing this weeks article about SOAP's 2006 debt was a difficult process, not only due to all the components of the article, but because I knew the potential consequences of such an article. SOAP has been hurriedly asking for sponsorships from major corporations, especially in these last few weeks. I believe few corporations will want to sponsor an event, when the money they donate could conceivable be applied to last years debt. There is no assurance SOAP will have the financial capability to mount a 2007 event.

However, the only people who can be blamed for SOAP's current situation is SOAP itself, more specifically, its leadership. At no point did SOAP approach the community or its sponsors to explain the situation. They had six and half months to solicit donations and support. SOAP President Albert-Gauthier also confirmed that the organization owes money to other creditors from last year's event, in addition to the Seattle Center. Clearly, SOAP knew it did not have sufficient funds to pay its debts.

Time has run out for SOAP. They have not paid off its debts or sincerely attempted to dialogue with the Seattle Center about a payment plan. The region's GLBT community cannot wait another month, if SOAP cannot quickly lay out a workable plan for addressing its past obligations while organizing for Seattle Pride 2007. As Clark concluded, "This is one organization that is clearly in financial trouble, but that should not cast a shadow on the whole community."

The Police reunion tour coming to Seattle in June

Seattle Gay News has learned that the much-anticipated reunion tour by The Police will land at Key Arena on June 6, in one of a dozen (or so) just-announced dates for the trio's comeback road outing.

The threesome, Sting, Stewart Copeland and Andy Summers, will kick the tour off in Vancouver, BC on May 28.

More news, including on sale ticket date and prices, will be in this week's issue of the Seattle Gay News.

Grammy Watch: Best wishes to SGN's nominated friends

Several artists nominated for Grammy Awards this year have either interviewed with Seattle Gay News, invited us to VIP performances or welcomed us backstage for in-person hellos. On behalf of our staff, I'd like to wish our musical friends the very best at Sunday's pre and main Grammy ceremonies. We heart you! (Pictured: Wolfmother, image courtesy of Interscope Records).

Beck

Brendan Benson, of The Raconteurs

Chris Thile

Death Cab for Cutie

Dierks Bentley

James Blunt

Karrin Allyson

Keane

Sarah McLachlan

Snow Patrol

Wolfmother

Grammy Watch: Blunt and T.I. to perform, Best Pop Vocal Collaboration

As expected, James Blunt was officially added to the list of performers for Sunday night's Grammy Awards telecast, as was nominated rapper T.I. and country trio Rascal Flatts, who kick off a big tour tonight in West Virginia. I was on the phone this morning with Jason Aldean, who is opening tonight's show for Rascal Flatts and for most of their tour, and he said the Rascals are dashing to LA over the weekend, then rejoining the tour after the Grammys.

Tomorrow's issue of the Seattle Gay News has predictions and picks for 10 key categories, including Album, Record and Song of the Year, and Best New Artist.

Here are the nominees for Best Pop Vocal Collaboration.

For Once in My Life - Tony Bennett & Stevie Wonder

One - Mary J. Blige & U2

Always on Your Side - Sheryl Crow & Sting

Promiscuous - Nelly Furtado & Timbaland

Hips Don't Lie - Shakira & Wyclef Jean

Will win: One

You take this year's most nominated artist, Ms. Blige, and a multi-winning Grammy act, U2, and you have an irresistable combo that voters will gladly checkmark on their ballots.

Should win: Hips Don't Lie

The only collaboration that doesn't seem forced in this lineup, with the possible exception of Furtado and Timbaland's groovy duet, is the Latin-tinged sizzler offered by Colombian diva Shakira and ex Fugee Wyclef Jean. I could easily snore through anything Bennett does, the Crow-Sting pairing is interesting at best, and U2 and Blige over-work a great rock classic.

Grammy Watch: more performers added, Best Electronic/Dance Album

Someone wrote into the Seattle Gay News today asking if Christina Aguilera and James Blunt were indeed performing on Sunday night's telecast. Aguilera is confirmed, but Blunt is not. But I do believe he's unofficially on the program. He's nominated five times, and that usually earns you a performing slot on the awards show.

Added to the lineup, though, are Shakira and Wyclef Jean dueting on "Hips Don't Lie", Lionel Richie and Best New Artist nominee Chris Brown. Grammy predictions and picks for 10 key categories are featured in this Friday's issue of the Seattle Gay News. In the next few days, we'll send out "best wishes" to various nominees via management, including Dierks Bentley, Snow Patrol, Goldfrapp, Arctic Monkeys, and The Raconteurs. A viewing party for Seattle-area members of The Recording Academy will be at The Triple Door.

Here are the nominees for Best Electronic/Dance Album.

Supernature - Goldfrapp

Confessions on a Dance Floor - Madonna

A Lively Mind - Oakenfold

Fundamental - Pet Shop Boys

The Garden - Zero 7

Will win: Confessions on a Dance Floor

The Material Girl was out-diva'd at the Grammys years ago by Kylie Minogue for Best Dance Recording - awarded to a single/track. She faces another catfight, this time with blonde bombshell Alison Goldfrapp. But, Madonna hasn't won a Grammy since her Ray of Light album and The Recording Academy simply can't ignore a superstar in a category she pretty much defines. Plus, she opened last year's awards show - and paybacks are in order.

Should win: Confessions on a Dance Floor

Goldfrapp impressed, Pet Shop Boys surprised - but Madonna re-introduced disco balls and roller skates to dance clubs with her hugely successful pop-tronica album, and it'd be a sin to deny her a much-deserved glittery moment.

Draft Taylor for bishop

The Very Rev. Robert Taylor is a humble person, a devout man of God, and cherished local treasure. We cannot afford to lose him to another diocese, which I feel is bound to happen, probably at a far distant point (once the Episcopal Church, as a whole, decides to look at the qualifications of bishop candidates and not their sexual orientation).

Since 1999, Taylor has served as the Dean of the 75-year-old Saint Mark’s Cathedral in Seattle’s Capitol Hill neighborhood. Originally from South Africa, he came to the U.S. in 1980 after suffering harassment and threats of violence for his anti-apartheid activities.

In addition to his duties as dean, he is a member of the board of trustees for the Desmond Tutu Peace Foundation and the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center. He also serves on an advisory board for the Seattle Art Museum and was the original Chair of the Committee to End Homelessness in King County.

Last year, the Episcopal Church voted to place a moratorium on candidates for bishop whose “manner of life” would further strain its relationship with the Anglican Communion of which it is a member.

If Taylor wasn’t Gay, I wouldn’t be surprised to see him on the list of bishop candidates of a half dozen diocese around the country. Fortunately, the Diocese of California had the fortitude last May to include him among their top list of seven finalists for bishop.

Currently, the Diocese of Olympia, which includes an area of Western Washington from Vancouver, Washington, to Blaine, has nominated their finalists. Two Washingtonians, a Texan, an Ohioan, and a Marylander have been nominated as finalists.

I do not wish to question the qualifications of the candidates, nor compare their backgrounds. Nor do I believe I am at all qualified – being a Lutheran – to suggest Taylor be added to that list of finalists. However, this is an opportunity for the Episcopalians of our state to – at least – nominate a man who has walked his talk, loved with his whole heart and has a record of proven leadership that spans the globe.

At its convention last fall, the Diocese of Olympia adopted a resolution saying that no persons should be denied consideration for ecclesiastical office due to his or her sexual orientation. None of the candidates are openly Gay or Lesbian, so the addition of Taylor would be a good opportunity to show their sincerity.

Additional candidates can be nominated by petition until February 26th.

Grammy Watch: Best Female R & B Vocal

Look for a nice Grammy spread in this Friday's issue, on February 9. At this time, I want to wish Seattle-based Death Cab for Cutie, who interviewed with Seattle Gay News back in December 2005, the very best at next weekend's Grammy Awards. They are nominated twice this year.

Here are the nominees for Best Female R & B Vocal Performance.

Ring the Alarm - Beyonce

Be Without You - Mary J. Blige

Don't Forget About Us - Mariah Carey

Day Dreaming - Natalie Cole

I Am Not My Hair - India.Arie

Will win: Be Without You

The only competition Blige has in this category is from Beyonce, and even that isn't anything to write about.

Should win: Be Without You

Blige has a string of great singles, but none has ever sounded this good.

Photo of Mary J. Blige, courtesy of the artist's official website.