Volunteer Park and its new amphitheater proved a worthy host for the return of the annual Trans Pride celebration in Seattle. September also held up its end of the bargain.
Friday night on a gorgeous late summer Seattle night, hundreds gathered in the park for a return of the important LGBTQ celebration that organizers decided to move back to September to provide an easier logistical and financial restart after years of pandemic postponements.
CHS reported here on the effort to bring back Trans Pride Seattle and its move to Volunteer Park, a Capitol HIll setting with a long history providing a space and center for queer events and rallies including its part in Seattle’s first Pride celebrations in 1974.
While Trans Pride Seattle has traditionally included a march, organizers at the Gender Justice League experienced close to a full turnover since its last in-person event three years ago. Organizational changes as well as a reluctance to coordinate with the Seattle Police Department meant Trans Pride 2022 didn’t take to the streets as in past years.
Instead, speakers and performers including Seaside Trust and The Royal House of Noir entertained and inspired the crowds, while booths provided information and contacts to community groups and services. There were free vaccination clinics and giveaways, food trucks, and t-shirt stands.
With Volunteer Park’s setting and new stage making for a successful setting for the relatively well attended restart of the annual event, Seattle’s future Trans Prides might look a little more like Friday night’s beautiful summer evening — but, hopefully with more time to plan and raise funds, Trans Pride can return to take its rightful place as part of the city’s June festivities.
To learn more and support the Gender Justice League, visit transprideseattle.org.
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Welcome back Trans Pride, I missed it this year but looking forward to next year!