George Bakan
{{Infobox person
| name = George Bakan
| image = File:George Bakan at DADT Repeal Party at Lobby Bar in 2011 by Nate Gowdy Photography.jpg
| birth_name = Rudolph George Bakan
| birth_date = {{Birth date|1941|10|3}}{{cite web |author1=Seattle Gay News |author1-link=Seattle Gay News |title=SGN Twitter|url=https://twitter.com/SeattleGayNews/status/1271137631019995137 |website=Twitter |language=en |date=June 11, 2020}}
| birth_place = Seattle, Washington
| death_date = {{Death date and age|2020|6|7|1941|10|7}}{{Cite web |last=Pittman |first=Astro |date=2020-06-10 |title=Owner of Seattle Gay News, George Bakan, dies at 78 - |url=https://seattlecollegian.com/owner-of-seattle-gay-news-george-bakan-dies-at-78/ |access-date=2022-06-29 |website=The Seattle Collegian |language=en-US}}
| death_place = Seattle, Washington
| occupation = Activist, Editor
| known_for = LGBT activism
| honours = George Bakan Day
}}
George Bakan was an American organizer for LGBT movements and the editor-in-chief of Seattle Gay News. He died in 2020 at age 78.
Early life
Rudolph George Bakan was born in Seattle, Washington.{{cite web |author1=Capitol Hill Seattle Blog |author1-link=Capitol Hill Seattle Blog |title=Remembering Seattle Gay News publisher George Bakan |url=https://www.capitolhillseattle.com/2020/06/remembering-seattle-gay-news-publisher-george-bakan/ |website=CHS Capitol Hill Seattle News |publisher=Capitol Hill Seattle Blog |date=10 June 2020}} He grew up in rural Bellevue, then moved with his family to Pasco, Washington around 1960.{{Citation |date=October 18, 1960 |title=Unknown student newspaper article |publisher=Columbia Basin College |work=Columbia Basin College Student Newspaper |url= |access-date=}} He attended Columbia Basin College in fall 1960 where he was president of the Columbia Basin Young Democrats.
''Seattle Gay News''
Bakan was the editor of Seattle Gay News from 1983 until his death in 2020.{{cite web |title=George Bakan Remembrance Announcement: Memorial to be held for late SGN Editor and activist |url=https://www.sgn.org/story.php?ch=obituary&sc=&id=310318 |website=Seattle Gay News |language=en-us}}
Activism
Speaking of Bakan's death, former Seattle City Council member Tom Rasmussen said that Bakan may have been Seattle's most influential advocate for LGBT rights.{{cite web |last1=Doughton |first1=Sandi |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 |date=13 June 2020}} noted Bakan's activities in favor of women’s rights, addressing Homelessness, and Prisoners' rights.
Bakan was an organizer of Seattle Pride, an HIV/AIDS activist, and an advocate for LGBT retirement home availability.{{cite web |last1=Pittman |first1=Astro |title=Owner of Seattle Gay News, George Bakan, dies at 78 |url=https://seattlecollegian.com/owner-of-seattle-gay-news-george-bakan-dies-at-78/ |website=The Seattle Collegian |date=10 June 2020}} He was a regional coordinator for the 1987 Second National March on Washington for Lesbian and Gay Rights and the 1993 March on Washington for Lesbian, Gay and Bi Equal Rights and Liberation.
With Marsha C. Botzer of the Ingersoll Gender Center, Bakan was an advocate for including bisexual and transgender people in LGBT activism, during the time when it was not certain that everyone would do activism together.
In 2013 Neighbors bar held a party in honor of Bakan's activism.{{cite web |title=Neighbours party to honor Seattle Gay News publisher Bakan |url=https://www.capitolhillseattle.com/2013/11/neighbours-party-to-honor-seattle-gay-news-publisher-bakan/ |website=CHS Capitol Hill Seattle News |date=11 November 2013}}
Death
Bakan died at his desk surrounded by Seattle Gay News issues.{{cite web |last1=Sipe |first1=Tyler |title=Honoring George Bakan: Seattle LGBTQ+ activist & mischief-maker |url=https://take21.seattlechannel.org/2021/05/11/honoring-george-bakan-seattle-lgbtq-activist-mischief-maker/ |website=take21.seattlechannel.org |publisher=Seattle Channel |date=11 May 2021}}
Bakan had arranged that his daughter Angela Cragin take over role as owner and publisher of Seattle Gay News, which she did.
At his memorial Seattle Mayor Jenny Durkan described him a legendary gay activist in Seattle.{{cite web |author1=Capitol Hill Seattle Blog |author1-link=Capitol Hill Seattle Blog |title=A George Bakan Day gathering on Capitol Hill |url=https://www.capitolhillseattle.com/2021/11/chs-pics-a-george-bakan-day-gathering-on-capitol-hill/ |website=CHS Capitol Hill Seattle News |publisher=Capitol Hill Seattle Blog |date=16 November 2021}} The city dedicated November 13, 2021 as "George Bakan Day".
References
{{reflist}}
Further consideration
- Legacy project video series
- {{cite web |last1=Bakan |first1=George |title=George Bakan: Being Young and Gay in Seattle |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_7sSrnpXhbM |publisher=Legacy Project |language=en |date=March 27, 2020 |format=video}}
- {{cite web |last1=Bakan |first1=George |title=George Bakan: Seattle History|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4Gu8QOdtOr0 |publisher=Legacy Project |language=en |date=March 27, 2020 |format=video}}
- {{cite web |last1=Raketty |first1=Renee |title=George Bakan: A giant who used the SGN to make Queer history |url=https://www.sgn.org/story.php?306366 |website=Seattle Gay News |language=en-us |date=June 25, 2021}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Bakan, George}}
Category:American LGBTQ journalists
Category:LGBTQ rights activists from Washington (state)