View source for Seattle Gay News

{{Short description|LGBTQ newspaper in Seattle, Washington, U.S.}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=February 2025}}
{{Infobox newspaper
| name         = Seattle Gay News (SGN)
| image        = Seattle_Gay_News.jpg
| image_size   = 200px
| type         = [[Weekly newspaper]]
| format       = [[Tabloid (newspaper format)|Tabloid]]
| founded      = 1974
| owners       = *JT&A (former)<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.loc.gov/item/sn88085573 | title=Seattle Gay News (Seattle, Wash.) 1976-Current | website=[[Library of Congress]] }}</ref>
*James Arnold (former)
*George Bakan (former)<ref name="Doughton 2020"/>
*Angela Cragin (2020-2023)
*Mike Schultz (2023-2024)
*Renee Raketty (2024-Present)
| headquarters = [[Seattle]], Washington, US
| editor       = *Jim Tully (1974-1984)
*George Bakan (1984-2020)<ref name="Doughton 2020"/>
*A.V. Eichenbaum (2021-2023)<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://muckrack.com/av-eichenbaum|title=A.V. Eichenbaum|website=muckrack.com}}</ref>
*Benny Loy (2023-present)<ref>{{cite web |author1=Seattle Gay News |title=Contact information |url=https://www.sgn.org/pages.php?screenID=20790 |website=Seattle Gay News |access-date=24 August 2023 |language=en-us}}</ref>
| publisher    = *James Arnold (former)
| ISSN         =
| website      = {{URL|sgn.org}}
| free         = {{URL|issuu.com/sgn.org}} 
}}

The '''''Seattle Gay News''''' is a weekly newspaper aimed at the [[Seattle]] and [[Puget Sound]] area [[LGBT]] community in the U.S. state of [[Washington (state)|Washington]]. As of 2023, the SGN is distributed to every library in the [[King County Library System]], [[Seattle Public Library]] System, and [[Pierce County Library System]], as well as roughly 115 other locations in Seattle, [[Tacoma]], Bellingham, Spokane and Ocean Shores.

[[File:George Bakan at DADT Repeal Party at Lobby Bar in 2011 by Nate Gowdy - SGN Cover.png|thumb|left|300px|Former editor [[George Bakan]] celebrated the adoption of the [[Don't Ask, Don't Tell Repeal Act of 2010]]]]

== History ==
The newspaper was founded in 1974 by Jim Tully and Jim Arnold.<ref name="Washington 2023">{{cite web |author1=Secretary of State of Washington |author1-link=Secretary of State of Washington |date=1 January 2023 |title=41 Years of SGN now online at Washington Digital Newspapers; historic content available free to the public |url=https://www.sos.wa.gov/about-office/news/2023/41-years-sgn-now-online-washington-digital-newspapers-historic-content-available-free-public |website=www.sos.wa.gov |publisher=Secretary of State of Washington}}</ref> Editor [[George Bakan]], an LGBTQ+ activist in Seattle, acted as head of the SGN from 1984 until his death from a sudden heart attack in 2020.<ref name="Doughton 2020">{{cite web |last1=Doughton |first1=Sandi |date=13 June 2020 |title='Grumpy Santa' and 'Governor of Capitol Hill': George Bakan, longtime editor of the Seattle Gay News, dies |url=https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/obituaries/grumpy-santa-and-governor-of-capitol-hill-george-bakan-longtime-editor-of-the-seattle-gay-news-dies/ |website=[[The Seattle Times]]}}</ref> His daughter Angela Cragin then took over his role at the paper.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Chamberlain Gomez |first=Caroline |last2=Murphy |first2=Patricia |date=2024-06-06 |title=At 50, Seattle Gay News starts a new chapter |url=https://www.kuow.org/stories/at-50-seattle-gay-news-starts-a-new-chapter |access-date=2024-08-16 |website=KUOW |language=en}}</ref>

In 2021, staff began restructuring the paper to improve its diversity and inclusivity.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Yamakazi Stewart |first1=Jade |date=26 June 2021 |title=Seattle Gay News charts a path into the future after death of longtime editor George Bakan |url=https://www.seattletimes.com/life/seattle-gay-news-charts-a-path-into-the-future-after-death-of-longtime-editor-george-bakan/ |access-date=May 18, 2022 |website=[[The Seattle Times]] |publisher=}}</ref> In the same year, SGN launched a [[podcast]] as part of the restructuring effort.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Van Streefkerk |first=Mark |date=June 22, 2021 |title=Seattle Gay News archives its past and looks to the future |url=https://www.capitolhillseattle.com/2021/06/seattle-gay-news-archives-its-past-and-looks-to-the-future/ |access-date=December 8, 2023 |website=Capital Hill Seattle Blog}}</ref>

In 2023, Cragin sold the publication to Stratus Group LLC, owned by Mike Schultz.<ref>{{Cite web |date=October 12, 2023 |title=Under new owner, Seattle Gay News now part of statewide queer media group |url=https://www.capitolhillseattle.com/2023/10/under-new-owner-seattle-gay-news-now-part-of-statewide-queer-media-group/ |access-date=December 8, 2023 |website=Capitol Hill Seattle Blog}}</ref> A year later he sold SGN to Prism Pride Press, owned by Renee Raketty.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Anjum |first=Dua |date=2024-06-19 |title=Seattle Gay News’ new owner Renee Raketty on community, influences |url=https://www.seattletimes.com/life/culture/as-seattle-gay-news-new-owner-renee-raketty-on-community/ |access-date=2024-08-16 |website=The Seattle Times |language=en-US}}</ref>

== Archive ==
SGN files are preserved in the [[Washington State History Museum]] in Tacoma. The SGN is archived at [[Yale University]] (Beinecke Rare Book & Manuscript Library), [[University of Washington Seattle|University of Washington]] (Suzzallo Library) in Seattle, the [[Seattle Public Library]] (Central Library) and the Stonewall National Museum, Archive and Library in Fort Lauderdale, FL. [[Microfiche]] copies of the archives can be found at UW and the Seattle Public Library.

The [[Washington State Library]] in partnership with the [[Suzzallo Library]] and the SGN digitized the SGN's archive from 1974 through 2020 (although only in black & white). Additionally, every issue of the SGN was scanned in full color and uploaded to [[Issuu]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=June 18, 2024 |title=Exhibit Celebrating 50 Years of Seattle Gay News Opens at the Central Library on June 24 |url=https://www.spl.org/about-us/news-releases/exhibit-celebrating-50-years-of-seattle-gay-news-opens-at-the-central-library-on-june-24 |access-date=2024-08-17 |website=The Seattle Public Library}}</ref>[[File:SGN 10-6-23 Front Page - top half.jpg|alt=SGN issue October 6, 2023|left|thumb|300x300px|In the [https://issuu.com/sgn.org/docs/-web_sgn_10-6-23 October 6, 2023, issue of the SGN] new owner and publisher Mike Schultz discusses his history with the SGN and his vision for its future.]]

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
* {{official website|http://www.sgn.org}}
* [https://issuu.com/sgn.org issuu archive]
* [https://washingtondigitalnewspapers.org/?a=cl&cl=CL1&sp=SGN Washington Digital Newspapers archives], hosted by the [[Secretary of State of Washington]]

{{American LGBT press}}
{{LGBTQ culture in Seattle}}

[[Category:LGBTQ culture in Seattle]]
[[Category:LGBTQ-related newspapers published in the United States]]
[[Category:Newspapers published in Seattle]]
[[Category:1974 establishments in Washington (state)]]
[[Category:Newspapers established in 1974]]