‘This is a beautiful thing’: Gee praises Seattle’s celebration of Denny Blaine Park’s LGBTQ history amid nude beach controversy

Seattle leaders and community members gathered Nov. 9 to celebrate Denny Blaine Park’s historic significance to the city’s LGBTQ community. The clothing-optional park was added to the Washington Heritage Register in September 2025, becoming the first site explicitly recognized for its connection to LGBTQ history, according to The Seattle Times.

On “The Gee and Ursula Show” on KIRO Newsradio, KIRO host Gee Scott welcomed the recognition and praised Mayor Katie Wilson and Councilmember Joy Hollingsworth for attending the ceremony.

“I love this so much,” Gee said. “Members of the LGBTQ community have just been fighting for years just to be accepted, just in general, just to be accepted, just to exist.”

Gee welcomes recognition of LGBTQ history

The celebration followed a City Council resolution recognizing the park as a site of historic and cultural importance. The resolution describes more than 50 years of LGBTQ community gatherings there and supports documenting and sharing that history.

Gee connected that recognition to the experiences of people who feel pressure to conceal their identities.

“A lot of times, folks got to hide who they are because they’re getting judged by somebody that’s telling you, ‘You should be this way, and I can’t believe you that way,’” Gee said. “Now to see that they would be recognized in this way, this is a beautiful thing,” he said.

Gee also discussed seeing coverage of the gathering.

“It was a beautiful sight to see the video and pictures,” Gee said.

Ceremony follows debate over the park’s future

KIRO host Ursula Reutin introduced the celebration by recalling the park’s history and the dispute over its use.

“For more than 50 years now, this has been a gathering place for nudists and the LGBTQ community,” Ursula said. “But as we have shared on this show, it has also been a park that is in the center of a bitter fight with wealthy neighbors.”

The recognition comes after years of debate over nudity at the park. A court ruling earlier this year allowed the park to remain open while requiring the city to address unlawful conduct.

Ursula discussed the distinction between clothing-optional use and illegal sexual activity.

“A judge ruled earlier this year that the beach could remain clothing optional, but also did find that illegal sexual activity had been creating a public nuisance that the city has to address,” Ursula said.

Gee’s response focused on the ceremony and the community’s recognition.

“Shout out to the mayor, Katie Wilson, and Joy Hollingsworth, as they were there for the ceremony,” Gee said.

Watch the full discussion in the video above.

Listen to Gee and Ursula on “The Gee and Ursula Show” weekday mornings from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. on KIRO Newsradio.