On Saturday, July 22, Arlington held its second annual Pride festival, "Camp Pride," to the dismay of several citizens. The event, which took place at Legion Memorial Park in downtown Arlington, was designed to help the Queer youth of the city express themselves in ways they are not normally able to, but they were still met by approximately 60 protestors.
Camp Pride was the target of misinformation for a few months, but it really ramped up when in early July flyers were seen around the Gleneagle neighborhood indicating that drag queens groom children. This, of course, led to outrage among conservative Christians on social media.
"I am disheartened to learn that members of our LGBTQ+ communities feel they have been the victims of hateful speech, harassment, and intimidation," said Arlington Mayor Barabara Tolbert in response to the flyers. "These types of disgraceful actions do not belong in Arlington. I like to think that Arlington's residents are accepting, open-minded, and respectful.
"As a community, we have a challenge to come together with kindness and compassion for each other. I call on every individual on both sides of this issue to demonstrate tolerance in our community. As mayor of Arlington, I am dedicated to maintaining Arlington as an inclusive city where we can acknowledge our differences, and allow everyone to feel safe and respected."
Security concerns
"I grew up in Arlington from the time that I was three years old, and I am Queer," said Kenzie Killebrew during a June 5 Arlington City Council meeting, speaking in support of having security at Pride. "I will say that I did not feel safe or like a part of the community when I was growing up here, but seeing Pride happen here makes a really positive impact on me, and it makes me want to be more involved with the community.
"It was detrimental — to say it as mildly as possible — to grow up around some of the ideologies that were held in Arlington 20-plus years ago, but I see a really positive change happening that I'm really proud of this city ... being a part of.
"Please consider the difference that it can make to folks in the Gay community, especially young people, to have recognition, celebration, and safety."
While the city ultimately agreed to offer free security because it was considered a "First Amendment event," it refused to enforce RCW 9.41.300(2a) until three days before the event, which prohibits people from openly carrying a weapon less than 250 feet from a permitted demonstration.
On July 14, Arlington WA Pride posted a call to action on all its social media accounts urging attendees to write to city officials and businesses about the possible danger that comes from allowing people to openly carry weapons.
On July 17, Everett, a neighboring city, went as far as to pass a resolution in support of Arlington's LGBTQIA+ community, urging the city create a 250 feet weapon-free buffer zone around the venue.
Fun at Camp Pride
The controversy, however, did not stop attendees of Camp Pride from having fun. Between the drag performances that the protestors dreaded, there was also a bubble show, face painting, music, interactive booths, and speakers.
"Look out, straight, white, Christian males," said comedian Kaylin Bosley to the protestors surrounding the venue and a crowd of laughing Queer people. "I'll steal your girl; I'll turn your kids Gay. I'll even Trans her a little dog while I'm in town. I mean, these bozos are treating me like I'm the boogeyman. I might as well have some fun with that. Hope they didn't spend all day on those signs...
"These guys are convinced that if they relax for five whole minutes, the Queers are going to rise with a rainbow fist and smash them down and spread such disgusting and un-American values as equality, tolerance, and respect for religions and viewpoints other than your own religion. Oh, God, that must be terrifying. We can't have that. Let's make sure we get our supporters all riled up with a campaign of lies, mistruths, and bovine excrement."
Activities and resources
"When we started Arlington Pride, it was the youth that came forward to us first," said Caera Gramore, the acting president of Arlington WA Pride during the June 5 city council meeting.
"At our first fundraising event, about 20 to 30 school-age youth showed up ... and told us how excited they were that it could finally feel seen and supported and how important that was to them. And for myself as a mental health practitioner, that was important to me too, because I understand how that can impact a developing nervous system."
With that in mind, Gramore and other board members made sure the event had plenty of kid-friendly activities and resources.
One of the standout booths of the day was Red Curtain Foundation for the Arts, an organization dedicated to creating accessibility to the visual arts for students in Snohomish County. Every summer, it puts on a theatre program for teens aged 14-19 during which they stage an entire musical. This year, they are performing The Prom, about two girls who want to go to prom together, but the PTA is against it. In anticipation for the upcoming shows on August 4 and 5, the teens performed a song during Pride.
"It's so important to show that, especially for our kids that we have here today, that they are accepted, they are loved, they are going to be included in our programs, in programs all around the county, all around the city, especially somewhere like Marysville or Arlington, where that doesn't always show up," said Red Curtain instructor Courtney Calkins.
Another participating organization was Sherwood Community Services, which "exists to create an inclusive society [for] children and adults with disabilities" in Snohomish, Skagit, Island, and San Juan Counties.
"Since Sherwood has spent over 60 years fighting for people with disabilities and supporting inclusion, we know well that you can't wait for the inclusion of one group without fighting for it," said Sherwood's development and partnership associate, Jessica Sherritt.
"As we gather here today to commemorate the progress made towards equality and acceptance, it is crucial that we extend our wider to embrace all members of our diverse community. First and foremost, inclusion is the very essence of the great movement. It is a celebration of our differences, a recognition that each individual, regardless of their background, deserves love, respect, and a sense of belonging. Just as we fight for the rights of the LGBTQ community, we must not forget those with disabilities who also have been marginalized and left behind."
While Pride events in large cities often make the largest waves, it's important to recognize that there are Queer communities in smaller towns as well. Their fight may be harder, but they still have just as much fun.