Celebration of Life Planned for The Wildrose Co-Owner Shelley Brothers

Seattle’s Capitol Hill neighborhood went to sleep somberly on Monday night with news that one of the LGBTQ+ community’s fiercest protectors had died. Shelley Brothers, co-owner of Seattle’s lesbian bar The Wildrose, had succumbed to cancer at the age of 67.

“It is with profound sadness that the Wildrose family shares the passing of our beloved Shelley, long-term family, friend, and co-owner of the Rose,” the official statement read. “She gave her life to this bar, ensuring that it remained a safe, welcoming space for generations of queer people to gather, celebrate, and find communion.”

The statement continued, “Shelley was always there, always available, always ready with a warm smile. She was a community presence in the truest sense- fiercely dedicated, endlessly generous, and deeply loved.”

The Wildrose was founded in 1984 and is currently one of the oldest lesbian bars in the country. As of 2025, there are reportedly only 32 lesbian bars left in the U.S. Brothers began co-owning the bar in 2002 and her business partner, Martha Manning, joined in co-ownership three years later. The establishment celebrated 40 years of operation on December 30, 2024.

“Shelley was iconic. She was generous and kind to so many people. The outpouring of love for her is enormous,” Manning told The Seattle Lesbian Tuesday. “We’re devastated, but overwhelmed by the love so very many people are expressing. She was such a huge presence.”

“Shelley was/is a queer icon in Seattle,” Seattle PrideFest posted. “She was dogged in her commitment to the Rose, community-minded at every step, and loved tending bar to her ever-expanding community.”

A Celebration of Life will be held for Brothers at the Rose on February 16, 2025, from 2-9pm.

Organizers are asking “if you have photos that you would like to be included in the celebration, please email them to [email protected].❤️”

Sarah Toce

Screenwriter & Journalist | Sarah Brusig (Toce) is an appointed member of the King County Women's Advisory Board and an elected precinct committee officer (PCO) in Burien, WA. As a healthcare worker, Sarah is represented by SEIU 1199NW. In 2010, Sarah created the online news source The Seattle Lesbian, LLC, which still receives upward of 100,000 readers per month. A recipient of McCormick's New Media Women Entrepreneur Award in 2012, Sarah was invited to the White House by President Barack Obama in 2015. That same year, GO Mag recognized Sarah as one of their Red-Hot Entrepreneurs in media.​ In 2016, the National Diversity Council honored Sarah with their LGBT Leadership Award. Congresswoman Pramila Jayapal (D-WA) recognized Sarah's advocacy work with the Community Builder Award in 2017, the same year Curve Magazine named Sarah one of their Top Women in Media & Publishing. Sarah served a two-year term as president of the Society of Professional Journalists - Western Washington Chapter beginning in 2018 and was elected Communications Vice Chair of the King County Democrats in 2021.

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