By Elizabeth Turnbull

By 2019, Trans Pride Seattle had grown into a surprisingly massive event with huge crowds rallying on Capitol Hill for a celebration of civil rights, love, and good times. 2020 brought the pandemic and a move to online-only events to mark traditions like Pride. 2021 came and went without an in-person Trans Pride celebration.

Now this year, it is time to rally together again but Trans Pride 2022 will be an event in transition, indeed. Seattle’s Gender Justice League has recovered in time to pull together a September version of the annual event that will bring a different take on the celebration. Moved to Volunteer Park, Trans Pride in 2022 will focus on being together, for this year at least, moving on from its past marching through the streets of the Hill. The police are a pain to work with, organizers say. Instead, Friday night, the crowds will come together to hear speakers and entertainers to enjoy a summer evening in Volunteer Park.

The event is designed to create a safe and celebratory space to bolster a sense of togetherness and freedom.

“Trans Pride in itself is just a beacon for the general trans community,“ Ganesha Gold Buffalo, a SafeHouse advocate with the Gender Justice League told CHS. ”And it allows us to gather in a space where we’re in a time of being disconnected from the community on a lot of different levels.”

With food trucks, live performances from artists such as Seaside Tryst and The Royal House of Noire, and surrounded by the lawns of Volunteer Park, newcomers and Trans Pride veterans will be able to celebrate as usual, even though this year’s event will be a bit smaller than years before.

“The performance isn’t as large as it was in the past,” Gold Buffalo said. “But the quality of these performers and what they have to bring will surely be very engaging.”

Due to the ongoing effects of the pandemic and unfolding economic stressors, organizers worked to overcome funding difficulties and this year’s event was pushed from its usual date in June to the 2nd of September.

Earlier in August, the league announced that funding for the event was at just 25% of total funding required, but thanks to the hard work of organizers and the generosity of community funders, the show will go on.

“The fact that we’ve managed to climb as far as we have has been miraculous,” Gold Buffalo said.

While Trans Pride Seattle normally includes a march, the Gender Justice League experienced close to a full turnover since its last in-person event three years ago. In addition, organizational changes as well as a reluctance to coordinate with the Seattle Police Department means Trans Pride 2022 won’t take to the streets as in past years.

There are still costs to cover and attendees and community members are encouraged to donate to the Gender Justice League as well as to other local organizations who are working to support the LGBTQ+ community during a difficult time.

Trans Pride 2022 will take place Friday from 5:30 PM to 9:30 PM at the Volunteer Park Amphitheater. The venue’s new pathways should help make the event accessible to all. You can find ways to support and learn more at transprideseattle.org.

Trans Pride Seattle
Friday, September 2nd, 2022
@ Volunteer Park
5:30 – 9:30 PM
Trans Pride Seattle is back in-person! After a difficult few years without in-person community spaces, we are so excited to see your (masked) faces again. This year will be a scaled-down, but mighty Trans Pride celebration! The goal of Trans Pride Seattle is to increase the strength of the trans and gender diverse community and our allies—both within and beyond Seattle—through increased visibility, connection, love, and the celebration of our lives.

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