Capital City Pride hosted a music and art fest at Port Plaza and Percival Landing on Saturday, June 28.
The event, which had more than 150 artists, booths and food trucks, drew hundreds of people to the area that bustled with activity throughout the day.
In addition to artists, several of the booths set up were groups providing resources for the LGBTQIA + community, who each had unique reasons for attending Pride.
Amanda Harris has been volunteering for three years with the group, “Free Mom Hugs,” which provides a safe space for the LGBTQIA+ community. The group aims to show support for individuals who have been rejected by their families.
“We have had people come up and cry as we embrace them and talk to them,” Harris said. “We let them know that they are worthy, they are loved, and that we’re glad they’re here.”
To Harris, Pride means joy, acceptance, love, support and connection.
“Everybody is here for the same reason, to embrace who they are, to celebrate,” Harris said.
Another LGBTQIA+ supporting group in attendance was Kiwifruit Coaching. Hazel Bloom said she started the organization to create a therapy environment that “treats people like they’re people.”
Bloom added that there has been a failure in gender affirming support in the clinical side of therapy, but her coaching helps people live authentically.
She said that last year at Pride, she did not see a lot of trans-feminine representation, so she decided that this year, she was going to be the representation.
“Pride is what set me free,” Bloom said. “It’s all about authenticity and visibility, and everybody learning to love themselves.”
Other attendees echoed those sentiments.
Quinn Snow is a member of The New BoyZ Club, a support group for trans-masculine and non-binary people. The group hosts bi-weekly meetings and social events, such as bowling and movie nights.
“Pride for me is a time to celebrate, a time for us to come together and just remind the world that we’re resilient and we’ll get through this.” Snow said.
For Chase Charaba, owner of El Manor Ave, a men's clothing brand, Pride had a special meaning this year.
“In December, I came out as gay publicly, so this is my first year being able to celebrate Pride,” Charaba said. “It’s important to me to show up to these events and represent through our business.”
Sound Mosaic, the Queer Choir of Olympia, had a booth to spread the word of their new choir.
Natalie Sawyer, one of the co-founders of the group, said the choir is a “community of queer people just making music together.”
Sawyer and her wife met in a queer choir in Minnesota. After moving to Olympia, they were “surprised that there was no queer choir,” and decided to start one.
The group currently has 40 people signed up, has been having meetings since December 2024, and will be starting officially in October.
“The hallmark of what makes our community so beautiful is living authentically and being able to be yourself,” Sawyer said.
Capital City Pride, which started with a block party on Friday, June 27, concluded its three-day run with a parade on Sunday, June 29.
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Southsoundguy
Enabling mental illness does a disservice to these people.
Monday, June 30 Report this
CobraCommander
SouthSoundguy needs a therapist
Monday, June 30 Report this
JustSaying
Can we please remove all of the flags now?
Monday, June 30 Report this
Chappellg
I hate to have to bring Southsoundguy into the mid 20th century, but the American Psychiatric Association dropped homosexuality from the list of mental illnesses in the DSM 2 in either the late 1960’s or early 1970’s. Were you a psychiatrist in the mid 1960’s, you could’ve diagnosed many of the people in the Gay Pride Parade as mentally ill, but you probably would’ve lost your license if you insisted on doing it in the 2000’s!! And if you’re preaching religious intolerance, you’re also out of step with the majority of Christian and Jewish congregations. However, if this is just your personal opinion without any data, I pity you your resentment and bitterness.
Tuesday, July 1 Report this
Wesley
So glad it's over.
Tuesday, July 1 Report this
Boatyarddog
I don't PITY the ignorant, SouthSound Guy is just a D***. A Whiny Putz
Wednesday, July 2 Report this