Latest news with #SeattlePride
Yahoo
3 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Thousands gather for Seattle Pride in the Park 2025: ‘It's all about love'
The Brief Seattle Pride in the Park kicked off with thousands celebrating music, community, and resistance. This year's theme, "Louder," emphasizing both joyful celebration and active protest against LGBTQ+ rights threats. The event highlights the importance of visibility and community support amid current political challenges. SEATTLE - From the music to the artists and the food, thousands of people of all ages gathered at Volunteer Park on Saturday for this year's Seattle Pride in the Park. The event is the official kick-off event for Seattle Pride. "I'm just happy to be here and see everyone be so proud of themselves," Production Manager for the Diamond Squad for Cheer Seattle, Lili Loyer said. This year's theme was "Louder." "We're talking about louder in two ways, it's both about celebration and music and joy and it's about resistance and protests and not being quiet and not standing by while our rights are attacked," Seattle Pride Executive Director Patti Hearn said. She went on to explain that Pride in the Park is about love, joy and community and said this year's gathering is even more important given the current political climate. "I think a place where we can come together and have a sense of belonging is always really necessary, but particularly when queer and trans people are feeling their rights are being threatened, their safety is being threatened, it's absolutely important to have that sense of community like we have today," Hearn said. "Unfortunately, it feels like people are generally less safe outside of our community, so to be here where everyone has the same goals in mind of creating a safe atmosphere for people to exist and have a day in the sunshine is just great," Loyer said. Eric Olson has been coming to pride for decades and has seen the changes over the years. He even remembers when pink triangles symbolized pride before the rainbow flags. He told FOX 13, having events like Pride in the Park is important because visibility is key. "When we were fighting for gay marriage, for example, one of the things encouraged was, it may be uncomfortable but please come out because a lot of the narratives that were called out against gay people, they were untrue," Olson said. From the vendors to the performers, to those basking in the sun, pride in all forms filled Volunteer Park. "Come out and feel the love, it's all about love," Olson said. The Source Information in this story came from original FOX 13 Seattle reporting and interviews. WA Gov. Ferguson activates National Guard in search for Travis Decker Former Army squadmate shares insight into Travis Decker's military past Man shot, killed at his 21st birthday party in Kent, WA Miles Hudson found guilty on 2 counts of reckless driving in Seattle Seattle man charged with string of burglaries at the homes of NFL and MLB stars Rochester dog training facility owner accused of killing employee during video shoot To get the best local news, weather and sports in Seattle for free, sign up for the daily FOX Seattle Newsletter. Download the free FOX LOCAL app for mobile in the Apple App Store or Google Play Store for live Seattle news, top stories, weather updates and more local and national news.
Yahoo
a day ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Pride in the Park kicking off Seattle Pride month
Seattle Pride is kicking off its 51st year with Pride in the Park, an event open to everyone, on Saturday at Volunteer Park. The theme for this year's Pride: Louder. 'We think of louder in terms of celebration, cheer, party, but also louder in resistance and protest and fighting back,' said Patti Hearn, the executive director of Seattle Pride. Pride in the Park started at a picnic with hot dogs, mostly attended by those in the queer and trans community. More than a decade since it's first event, it's grown to include two stages with performances throughout the day, several food trucks, and vendors that predominantly feature queer and trans operators. Bands and Color Guard from Rainbow City Performing Arts, drag shows, drag story time, and dance parties fill the lawns from 12:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. 'This is my first pride I've been to,' said Ciel Hunting, 'This is my first time ever being loud in that sense, so I'm just excited to be here and have a ton of fun.' Hunting is one of the people operating the 'Teen Space' tent operated with Seattle Pride and Seattle's LGBTQ+ Center. It puts teens in charge of events they put on for their peers. Hunting is an organizing intern with Yan Wen Shu. Shu says it was an opportunity for him to be involved, create a safe space, and help advocate for his community. 'Right now we are lacking third spaces, especially for queer and trans teens and that's what we aim to provide.' Shu said, 'Being trans and queer at a time like this is in and of itself an act of resistance and this is what we really wanted to lean into. Shu and Hearn point to legislative attacks on queer, and especially trans people, across the country. While Seattle and Washington has increased protections for people in those communities, other states and the federal government have worked to roll them back. 'There's a lot happening that's challenging for the queer and trans communities,' Hearn said, 'I think Louder is a call to stand up, speak up, and fight back.' Jing Jing Wang is with the LGBTQ+ Center, providing as little assistance as possible so teens can create the event they want to see. Wang was struck by how the youngest members of the community are bringing the roots of pride back to the forefront. 'One thing that really came from our youth is—Pride is a riot. We are here for our rights, for our community to fight for our right to be queer.' Wang said.
Yahoo
26-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Seattle Pride faces budget shortfall as corporate sponsorships dwindle amid anti-DEI shift
Seattle Pride reportedly faces an uncertain future as corporations turn away from diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) policies. In recent years, Pride parades have been funded by major corporations, but the shift against DEI and identity-politics across American business and culture is reportedly beginning to take its toll. Seattle Pride, centered in one of the most famous left-leaning bastions on the West Coast, reportedly faces a shortfall of nearly $350,000, which, according to Seattle-based Komo news is "attributed to recent rollbacks in initiatives and political challenges facing the LGBTQIA2S+ community." Major Companies Still Engaging In Dei Policies Under New Names, Consumer Watchdog Claims Seattle Pride Executive Director Patti Hearn spoke to the news outlet about how the changing cultural and economic landscape may shift the onus of supporting Pride events from businesses to grassroots organizations and the community. San Francisco Pride Takes Financial Hit After Major Companies Pull Sponsorships Amid Dei Fallout Read On The Fox News App "We have seen shifts in corporate sponsorship as companies assess their budgets and priorities, and some sponsors have not yet renewed their commitments this year," Hearn said. "We are still in conversations with many of them — it's important to us that we partner with organizations that demonstrate genuine and sustained support for the LGBTQIA2S+ community year-round. This is especially imperative as our community faces ongoing political attacks." Hearn added further that "We know that relying on corporate sponsorships is not the future of Pride. The future is community. That's why we're leaning into grassroots partnerships and radical mutual aid." The organization reportedly said that this financial gap threatens the very core of Seattle Pride celebrations, including the annual Seattle Pride Parade itself. According to The Seattle Times, "Hearn said the retreat in financial commitments by major corporate sponsors is a sign big-name companies may be following the lead of the Trump administration, which has launched a sweeping campaign against diversity, equity and inclusion efforts and the LGBTQ+ community, particularly transgender people." "It's a really rough world for queer people," Hearn told The Seattle Times, "and this just feels like it's part of that package." Hearn declined to name which corporations have neglected to renew their donations to the annual event so far, claiming her team is "still in some conversation" with some of them. Death Of Dei Is A Massive Reminder There Are Better Ways To Run A Business "Typically, we'd have a lot more companies who'd sign on the dotted line much earlier than the deadline," Hearn told The Seattle Times. "What we're seeing is a bit of uncertainty." Harn told the news outlet that while the shortfall will not impact this year's festivities, the ones in 2026 could look very different unless the situation changes. She added further that the organization is soliciting individual donations and grants and will start regularly hosting events to raise funds. Fox News Digital reached out to Seattle Pride and did not receive an immediate article source: Seattle Pride faces budget shortfall as corporate sponsorships dwindle amid anti-DEI shift
Fox News
26-04-2025
- Business
- Fox News
Seattle Pride faces budget shortfall as corporate sponsorships dwindle amid anti-DEI shift
Seattle Pride reportedly faces an uncertain future as corporations turn away from diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) policies. In recent years, Pride parades have been funded by major corporations, but the shift against DEI and identity-politics across American business and culture is reportedly beginning to take its toll. Seattle Pride, centered in one of the most famous left-leaning bastions on the West Coast, reportedly faces a shortfall of nearly $350,000, which, according to Seattle-based KOMO news is "attributed to recent rollbacks in initiatives and political challenges facing the LGBTQIA2S+ community." Seattle Pride Executive Director Patti Hearn spoke to the news outlet about how the changing cultural and economic landscape may shift the onus of supporting Pride events from businesses to grassroots organizations and the community. "We have seen shifts in corporate sponsorship as companies assess their budgets and priorities, and some sponsors have not yet renewed their commitments this year," Hearn said. "We are still in conversations with many of them — it's important to us that we partner with organizations that demonstrate genuine and sustained support for the LGBTQIA2S+ community year-round. This is especially imperative as our community faces ongoing political attacks." Hearn added further that "We know that relying on corporate sponsorships is not the future of Pride. The future is community. That's why we're leaning into grassroots partnerships and radical mutual aid." The organization reportedly said that this financial gap threatens the very core of Seattle Pride celebrations, including the annual Seattle Pride Parade itself. According to The Seattle Times, "Hearn said the retreat in financial commitments by major corporate sponsors is a sign big-name companies may be following the lead of the Trump administration, which has launched a sweeping campaign against diversity, equity and inclusion efforts and the LGBTQ+ community, particularly transgender people." "It's a really rough world for queer people," Hearn told The Seattle Times, "and this just feels like it's part of that package." Hearn declined to name which corporations have neglected to renew their donations to the annual event so far, claiming her team is "still in some conversation" with some of them. "Typically, we'd have a lot more companies who'd sign on the dotted line much earlier than the deadline," Hearn told The Seattle Times. "What we're seeing is a bit of uncertainty." Harn told the news outlet that while the shortfall will not impact this year's festivities, the ones in 2026 could look very different unless the situation changes. She added further that the organization is soliciting individual donations and grants and will start regularly hosting events to raise funds. Fox News Digital reached out to Seattle Pride and did not receive an immediate reply.
