What's up, South End?!
Summertime is just around the corner. We head into June this weekend, which means this is the official kickoff of Pride.
If you're looking for a way to celebrate or a rundown of all the events to look forward to, Emerald editor Mark Van Streefkerk has you covered. His 2025 South End Pride Guide is full of fun for everyone — families (my daughter had a blast on Alki at West Seattle Pride last summer), people who need to mask, and people who love live music, good food, or just being outdoors enjoying the company of others. Whatever you're into, Mark will have a little something you can check out.
If you're looking for a Pride event this weekend, Burien is taking the first swing at Pride Month festivities with Burien Pride — a three-day event starting Friday, May 30, with a dance party. Saturday is kids and family day (with a beer garden for adults), and Sunday features a drag brunch.
The Pride events in June are a great way to get out and explore the vibrant neighborhoods in the South End. There are events in Columbia City, White Center, Beacon Hill, Georgetown, Tacoma, and more.
Also — shoutout to our friends in the Central District: Mask Bloc Seattle, a Pride festival where all attendees are asked to wear filtration masks, will be at Judkins Park on June 8, and the Langston Hughes Performing Arts Institute is hosting a Kiki Ball on June 13.
For the full list of South End Pride events, check out Mark's article.
Emerald columnist Tobias Coughlin-Bogue has been on fire lately. I'm starting to really believe that everything in the South End is political.
This week, Tobias gives y'all the tea on everything that went down at Cal Anderson Park when the right-wing group Mayday USA held a rally. About 500 people showed up (there may have been just as many counter-protesters as protesters) and it went just the way anyone who has lived in Seattle for the past decade would expect: People went to jail. Or, I should say, people were arrested — 23 people to be precise.
But Tobias has the full breakdown in a segment he named "Big Trouble in Little Gayborhood."
I also have an update for Tobias' column. At the time he published, the reality show that City Council had devolved into (aka Real Politicians of Seattle) was still in full force with the ethics bill. Or, I should say, the bill that would repeal ethics and let the council's landlords have a free run at voting on legislation regarding renters rights and protections.
However, on Friday, May 30, Councilmember Cathy Moore (District 5) withdrew the bill, thus negating the upcoming vote.
The latest from Emerald reporter Maya Tizon is a must-read. She starts with the story of Maximo Londonio, a 42-year-old from the Philippines who has been in the U.S. since he was 12. Londonio, who has a green card, was returning from his annual trip to the Philippines when he was detained at the Seattle-Tacoma International Airport by U.S. Customs and Border Protection and later transferred to an ICE processing center in Tacoma.
According to Maya's reporting, experts at the Northwest Immigrant Rights Project (NWIRP) have seen an uptick in detainments of green-card holders at the Sea-Tac airport since President Donald Trump retook office in January.
Londonio's advocates say he was detained due to a prior conviction on his record. His family says that conviction was over 20 years old and for a nonviolent offense.
Bottom line: NWIRP Deputy Director Vanessa Gutierrez said that "any green-card holder with a record of misdemeanors or aggravated felonies can face a risk of deportation."
If you or a loved one with a green card plan on traveling through airports, beware that people doing so could be detained if they have any prior convictions on their record.
No strong opinion here. Just a shoutout! Northwest Tap Connection, helmed by the fabulous Ms. Melba, has been holding it down in the South End forever! They offer classes, host performances, and use dance to build community and inspire youth.
In this photo essay, (also fabulous) Emerald photographer Susan Fried was on-site at the Rainier Beach Jazz Jam, which featured a performance by Northwest Tap Connection celebrating National Tap Dance Day.
Mike Davis is the newsletter editor and Voices editor at the South Seattle Emerald. Born and raised in Seattle's South End, Mike is a longtime journalist who's covered everything from arts and culture to sports to politics.
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