With targeted attacks against LGBTQIA+ people on the rise from coast to coast, Queer visibility — however large or minimal — speaks volumes to those of us who spent years hiding away: we are cherished, we are worthy of love and respect, and we belong in the communities we live in.
With these sentiments in mind, beginning late last month, Pride flags were hoisted outside of city halls and government properties across Western Washington.
For the 13th year in a row, Seattle raised the Pride flag outside of City Hall in a ceremony that included remarks by numerous Queer leaders. Lesbian Councilmember Joy Hollingsworth (District 3) presented three proclamations at the event: honoring June as 2SLGBTQIA+ Pride Month, recognizing May 25 as Pride ASIA Day, and respecting community advocates in Seattle.
“As we enter Pride Month, I want everybody to know that your queerness is exquisite, that your transness is a gift that deserves to be cherished and protected, that there is euphoria to be found in our existence,” Nakita Venus, executive director of Seattle’s LGBTQ+ Center, said.
Venus was joined by members of the Seattle LGBTQ Commission; Queer Councilmember Alexis Mercedes Rinck (D-8); Jaelynn Scott, executive director of the Lavender Rights Project; and Mayor Bruce Harrell.
“We raise [the Pride flag] for Trans kids being targeted in school rooms and sports fields across this country,” Ashley Ford, co-chair of the Seattle LGBTQ+ Commission, said. “For Queer elders who still live in fear. For those of us who don’t feel safe calling 911, walking home at night, or simply being ourselves in public. From Stonewall to Cal Anderson to Denny Blaine, our spaces and our bodies are a sign of resistance, of hope.”
Seattle’s flag-raising ceremony came just one week after police officers mobbed pro-Trans, Queers, and allies protesting an extremist fundamentalist group’s “Haircuts for Kids” event. The group, Mayday USA, promotes nuclear-family and anti-Trans values. Seattle police tackled and pepper-sprayed peaceful protesters and bystanders, including one man who was walking through Cal Anderson Park to get his haircut; he had to be transported to hospital for neck injuries.
“We are a welcoming city,” Mayor Harrell said. “We are, in Seattle, the second largest home to our LGBTQ+ brothers and sisters, and the attacks on our Transgender neighbors, those who we love, is an attack on all of us. Make no mistake about that.”
Eastside full of Pride
Cities on the Eastside are consistently raising Pride flags year after year, including the City of Kirkland, which has done so since 2014 and held its most recent event on June 2. Kirkland’s Pride flags display its commitment to serving and protecting LGBTQIA+ people who live, work, and visit the city without discrimination. Beginning in 2022, the Progress Pride flags have been lifted above City Hall, all Kirkland fire stations, the Kirkland Justice Center, city maintenance facilities, and community centers for the entire month of June.
June 2 was a popular Pride flag-raising day, with the City of Redmond also doing so above its city hall. Mayor Angela Birney was joined by councilmembers, state Sen. Manka Dhingra (D-45), community members, and city staff.
Kenmore’s Pride flag went up that day too, with community members invited to assist with the hoisting; this was accompanied by a reading of the city’s Pride Month proclamation. Bothell’s Pride flag is up at its city hall, with more sprouting up around town.
For Bellevue’s ceremony, Entre Hermanos and Eastside Pride joined in the June 4 festivities, and the Bellevue Police’s Honor Guard raised the flag.
“Visibility is power. When we show up, we take up space, and in doing so, we open the door for others to step into the light,” Edgar Longoria, executive director of Entre Hermanos, said (in Spanish, “La visibilidad es poder. Cuando aparecemos, ocupamos espacio, y al hacerlo, abrimos la puerta para que otres también puedan brillar.”)
Trouble up north
Lynnwood Pride directors Charlette LeFerve and Phillip Lipson — who are also the directors of Capitol Hill Pride — and Intersex representative Liv Morgan raised Lynnwood’s first public Pride flag on the first of June on the main flagpole at Wilcox Park.
“Lynnwood Pride considers this a [historic] first, given [that] Lynnwood Pride was denied Wilcox Park and a Pride flag raising last year, and the City of Lynnwood has never had a public Pride flag raising, unlike the many cities in King and Snohomish [Counties],” according to a Lynnwood Pride Facebook post.
The post stated how the City’s repeated denials to raise a Pride flag led Lynnwood Pride to file a complaint to the Parks and Recreation Department director, Joel Faber, about “his denial of raising a Pride flag and his threat to remove the Pride flag raised at Wilcox Park.”
After the June 1 raising this year, Parks and Rec removed the flag due to city policy, not prejudice.
On a better note, Shoreline raised the Pride flag on June 2. A City of Shoreline Facebook post said, “The Shoreline City Council, through Resolution No. 542, remains committed to ensuring our city is a welcoming, inclusive, and safe place for everyone, regardless of sexual orientation, gender identity, or gender expression.”
On June 3, the City of Woodinville created a Facebook post that said, “The Mayor, on behalf of the City Council, has issued an annual proclamation recognizing June as Pride Month. This tradition continues as we celebrate and stand in solidarity with our LGBTQIA2S+ community in 2025.”
Southern neighbors
For the fifth year in a row, Burien raised the Pride flag on the north side of City Hall on May 29.
Renton joined the action on June 2 with a Pride flag outside of City Hall. Winter Cashman, vice president of Renton Pride, said, “When we gather here to raise this flag, we are telling our community that we want you here. You belong here tonight.”
Also on June 2 was the Federal Way flag raising. Mayor Jim Ferrell read the City’s Pride Month Proclamation. State Sen. Claire Wilson (D- 30) provided remarks.
The City of Kent raised its Pride flag on June 3, with councilmembers in attendance. Adrianna Suluai, policy director at UTOPIA Washington, received a proclamation that marked June as Pride Month in the city.
Support the Seattle Gay News: Celebrate 51 Years with Us!
As the third-oldest LGBTQIA+ newspaper in the United States, the Seattle Gay News (SGN) has been a vital independent source of news and entertainment for Seattle and the Pacific Northwest since 1974.
As we celebrate our 51st year, we need your support to continue our mission.
A monthly contribution will ensure that SGN remains a beacon of truth and a virtual gathering place for community dialogue.
Help us keep printing and providing a platform for LGBTQIA+ voices.
How you can donate!
Using this link: givebutter.com/6lZnDB
Text “SGN” to 53-555
Or Scan the QR code below!
