The City of Edmonds is celebrating Pride Month Friday, June 30 with music, storytelling and an address by Mayor Mike Nelson on the steps of the Edmonds Historical Museum, 118 5th Ave. N.
“Now more than ever it is important to recognize the many contributions our LGBTQ+ neighbors make to our community — not just during Pride month but all throughout the year,” Nelson said. “Saying we are a welcoming city for all is not enough, we must show it. We are very excited to be hosting this Pride event alongside PFLAG, Pride of Edmonds and Under the Rainbow.”
Nelson will address attendees at the start of the celebration at 5 p.m. Following him will be storytellers from Under the Rainbow.
Pride flags will be hung throughout downtown during the week leading up to June 30 and then on the day of the event, Pride flags will be placed along both sides of the street in front of City Hall. Additionally, 5th Avenue North in front of City Hall and the Historical Museum will be closed to motor vehicles during the celebration. The closure will extend from the alley next to the museum to Bell Street, beginning at 4 p.m. until 7 p.m.
Music will be played before the start time of 5 p.m. and once the event concludes, attendees are invited to create chalk art on the street and visit with each other and representatives at information tables.
Following the event, a Pride crawl is planned in downtown organized by the Edmonds Downtown Alliance. Participating locations include Vinbero, Vinbero, Kelnero, Church Key Pub, Salt & Iron, MARKET Edmonds, Fire & The Feast, Maize & Barley, and Brigid’s Bottleshop. Each business will be featuring Pride specials and a portion of funds will be donated to the Human Rights Campaign. You can find details on the Pride crawl and to see a list of downtown businesses celebrating Pride here.
Let’s have Christian month. Let’s have all restaurants and such give discounts etc and have a real Human Rights celebration. Which would be many Edmonds community. There we can celebrate Catholics, Christians, Mormons…etc. in short…let’s celebrate a Godly function.
I’m confused – “Christian month” would be a horrible deviation from the principle of separation of church and state. Moreover, we already have Christmas, which is now Christmas season and lasts from Thanksgiving on, and Easter. And Thanksgiving is generally regarded as inclusive of everyone.
While in contrast, the New York Times reports “More Than 350 Anti-L.G.B.T.Q. Incidents Over 11 Months. The incidents included online harassment, gatherings of armed protesters outside drag shows, and bomb threats against hospitals that provide gender transition care.” At the same time, the Huan Rights Campaign reports that “Over 520 anti-LGBTQ+ bills have been introduced in state legislatures, a record;” and that “A record 70 anti-LGBTQ laws have been enacted so far this year.”
I am a Christian. I am guaranteed freedom of religion, as are the groups you mention, and as are Muslims, Sikhs, Buddhists – all religions. But the LGBT community is under attack, and we need these Pride celebrations both to demonstrate encouragement and support, but also to make a statement that we as a community stand behind the freedom and human dignity of all our neighbors.
Beautifully said, thank you.
How you worship is a choice. And, you live in a country that allows you to make those choices without regulating how you do it. Who you are as an authentic human is not a choice. LGTBQIA2s+ folks are being harassed, killed, targeted, having laws passed banning their care and/or existence, and being seen as “less than”. This is a dangerous world for queer folk (especially trans women of color). Pride month is still as important as it always has been. Let us have a time during the year when we get to celebrate ourselves, our journey, and our authenticity, as well as make ourselves visible. Let us show the next generation that we value them. You can celebrate your faith on every major Christian holiday throughout the year, including the entire month between Thanksgiving and Christmas. And I value YOU and your right to do just that. I urge you to get to know some of us. We’re good people.
Never said you weren’t good people. I believe no one should be above the law. No American should be attacked in the USA. All groups seem to be. Not just the LGBT etc. That’s the issue. There are what .06% of trans people? Most Gays that I grew up around wouldn’t have included Trans people in their group. There are what 65-75% Christian people in USA? That being said..many in the recent Trans movement have gone against the Gays? The very movement they started with. My complaint is your group is very small compared to our population. Yet…you get a month of what? I personally believe the USA needs to all band together and stop this insane division. If anyone attacks anyone jail time. That is not happening for anyone.
I take issue with your use of “the Gays” and “your group”. It comes off as segregational / divisional language. I would like to hope that isn’t your intention, but it reads that way. I almost expected to see a “you people” reference towards the end of your comments, but “your group” came pretty close.
“The gays”? Wow, sounds like a wonderful way to lump people together in a very divisive way. Joy, do better.
Pride started with transgender and gender-nonconforming people fighting back against oppressive laws and policing. In fact, the first Pride was a riot.
All of us on the LGBTQIA+ rainbow spectrum owe thanks to the original heroes fighting for our rights to love and express ourselves. Now that we see not just physical attacks but new laws being proposed and passed that limit those rights, we all need to fight together. It doesn’t matter how small a % of the overall population is being targeted. We all suffer when our family, friends, and neighbors feel unsafe, unwelcome, and unwanted.
It’s also worth noting that the gender binary is a newer concept, spread throughout the world by colonization. Indigenous people throughout the world recognize and revere many ways of expressing gender.
That said, a much larger % of adults (and particularly young adults) in the U.S. identify as transgender or non-binary. Pride is for them and for all of us! https://www.pewresearch.org/short-reads/2023/06/23/5-key-findings-about-lgbtq-americans/
I totally agree with you Shileah Corey. I totally support the LGBTQIA2+. I always have. I know from exposure and experience and friends beyond Edmonds what good people you are and always have been. I would love to get to know you and all and I will always support you. And I support you now in wanting your time to celebrate yourselves. Every word you say is true. I would say that Pride Month is as important as it always has been and now with all of the violence and unjustified hate I would love to see everyone here and everywhere realize the importance of laws and protection and love for all. Have fun. Love to you. Deb.
Thank you so much Deborah Arthur. I am a woman who finally was able to know that being a lesbian was just the way I am. And I have told every potential boss is a University Nursing program that I am a lesbian, and none, over the 45 years os so of my career as a faculty member, or dean of nursing programs, has ever had a problem.
Any of you out there who have a problem with us———get over it. We are here and we are Queer and women and daughers, etc——-you get the idea. hahaha
Joy – depending upon the particular church you are in, there are several christian days that are celebrated. Pretty sure there’s weeks and months worth of christian holidays if you add them all up. I don’t think christians have been denied any celebrations.
Some feedback – Discounts at restaurants is an excellent idea. You’re going to have to define Godly function a bit before I’m on board.
A “real human rights celebration”? Ouch. No coming back from that sentence.
Your problem, not ours
Wonderful! I’m so glad the City of Edmonds is embracing love for everyone!
Joy, I finds your remarks are divisive, segregationist, and ridiculous frankly. Isn’t every day white Christian day in this country? This country is changing, for the good, let’s celebrate those who have been marginalized, people of all faiths and the faithless. Christians aren’t the only game in town.
Alicia, whatever…you would think that. I don’t have trans friends…I have lots of Gay friends.. I’m against division. All division.
“Alicia, whatever…you would think that” might easily be seem as dismissive, divisive, and disrespectful.
Exactly what I thought, Nathaniel.
We live in a highly polarized society where everyone seems to be afraid of everyone else and every idea or life style that is somehow the least bit different than their own. On top of that our basic law says we all have the right to own and carry firearms with no real obligation in terms of the heavy responsibility involved in doing so. What could possibly go wrong under these circumstances?
I’m not gay and I’d rather watch haircuts than a gay pride parade or a drag show but I will always be in favor of anyone wanting to participate in such to be welcome and empowered to do so. I respect everyone’s right to believe whatever they want in terms of religious views including not believing in religion at all. I don’t believe in the concept of race. I think it’s all made up to promote ignorance and control. Fear and the violence resulting from fear never achieves anything but promoting more fear and violence. A little more “live and let live” would go a long way in solving all this social chaos and pain.
Amen
I’m disturbed by Joy’s comments and appreciate those pushing back. We have Pride because of trans activists like Marsha P. Johnson. And yes, there’s a whole month for it now and that’s a good thing! Heritage months like Pride in June and Black History in February allow for deliberate celebration and learning outside of what’s already backed into our heavily Christian influenced calendar of holidays. It’s great to see our city continuing to be involved in Pride!
I too am disturbed by Joy’s comments and her rationalizing. Kind of said the quiet part out loud but it’s good to have that mind set revealed here cuz she’s probably not alone but I believe that thinking is a minority within our community of Edmonds. I applaud our city and citizens who are bringing this event to us. I’ll be there wearing my celebration beads (aka Mardi Gras beads) & hoping this is only the first of a yearly celebration of Pride and the diverse community that Edmonds is. Maybe Joy will attend and spread some of the joy for which she is named. Come on down Joy and bring all your gay friends to. Be an ally.
Did you all read the newspaper? Did you hear what happened at the Seattle pride parade after men go full-frontal in front of children…
I Do have problems with this.
1) Public nudity is legal in Seattle, as long as you don’t exhibit lewd behavior. Nakedness by itself is not lewd. Popping out of the bushes and exposing yourself is against the law. Riding nude in a Pride event/standing in a fountain is NOT. The paraders were making a positive commentary about body shaming. Good on them. 2) Allowing children to see nakedness in a healthy and non-sexual way is completely fine. There are nude beaches all over the world and no one seems to care about those. Kids see parents showering or changing – no big deal. Children should not be made to feel shame over nakedness. They should, however, have their own bodily autonomy from a young age. 3) It’s PRIDE. Don’t bring children to Pride events if you’re worried about them seeing naked bodies, people expressing their individuality through drag, clothing, bodypaint, tattoos, piercings, etc. Seriously, don’t go. These folks weren’t “exposing themselves to children” – they were simply unclothed. When my kids went to events and saw naked people, we said “oh, yes, they are comfortable without clothing and are celebrating that. I hope they’re using sunscreen!” That’s all the explanation needed.
But what about the people who are not comfortable with seeing this type of nudity? People who were just visiting area. Or walking by? Who cares about them???
What about the Fremont Solstice Parade Joy? Famous for naked bicyclists. The Seattle Times has published pictures of them. Surely you have discussed this topic with your gay friends, right?