Cal Anderson Park

Cal Anderson Park is a public park of about 7 acres on 11th Avenue in Seattle's Capitol Hill, the city's main gay neighbourhood. In 2003 it was renamed for Cal Anderson (1948-1995), the first openly gay member of the Washington State Legislature. He entered the state House in 1987, worked on early HIV/AIDS legislation, and died of AIDS-related complications in 1995 while serving in the state Senate. Today it is an ordinary, busy neighbourhood park with a reflecting pool and fountain, lawns, playing fields and a playground, and it often serves as a gathering point for Pride and protest marches. The bars of Broadway and Pike/Pine are a few minutes' walk away. A plaque in the park records Anderson's story.