May 26, 2022
Kau’ilani Robinson
(206) 251-8920 | [email protected]
SEATTLE – Seattle has long been a top destination among LGBTQIA+ travelers. With a perfect 100 on the Human Rights Campaign Municipality Index and 10% of residents identifying as LGBTQ+, the city welcomes everybody. While Seattle hosts community events year-round, June is a time for extra celebrations in the Emerald City. For a full list of events (and Pride-themed Zoom backgrounds!) check out Visit Seattle’s Pride 2022 webpage.
Seattle Pride and Seattle PrideFest are resuming in-person Pride Month celebrations for the first time since 2019. Seattle Pride has several events this year, with an overarching theme of “Family Reunion.”
On June 4 at Volunteer Park, there’s Seattle Pride in the Park. The free-to-attend event will include local LGBTQIA+ performances co-curated with Taking B(l)ack Pride, activities, food trucks and more, headlined by Seattle-based duo Fly Moon Royalty.
The Seattle Pride Parade will return to downtown Seattle on June 26, beginning its route from Fourth Avenue down to PrideFest at Seattle Center. The first Seattle Pride Parade in 1974 was a march of less than 200 people, and was not yet officially recognized by the city (that would happen in 1977). Today, the Seattle Pride Parade attracts an estimated 500,000 people according to organizers, and is the fourth largest in the country.
Seattle PrideFest will be on June 25-26 in Capitol Hill and Seattle Center with the theme, “We’re Still Here.” This year’s festival celebrates the resiliency of the LGBTQIA+ community as well as its fight for a more equitable and inclusive world. Headliners for PrideFest at Seattle Center include TikTok artist Jake Wesley Rogers, drag queen Monét X Change and DJ Brynn Taylor.
The festivities don’t stop there.
Trans Pride Seattle’s celebration takes place June 24. Trans Pride Seattle is an annual event organized by Gender Justice League in association with local organizations supporting the Seattle-area trans and gender diverse community. The march and festival take place in Seattle’s Capitol Hill neighborhood.
Queer/Pride Festival runs June 24-26 in Capitol Hill, with a star-studded lineup including Iggy Azalea, Kim Petras and Princess Nokia. Also on the lineup are personalities from RuPaul’s Drag Race, including Bosco, Crystal Methyd, Adore Delano, Heidi N’ Closet and more. Rounding out the performances are appearances by local artists such as Sassy Black and Chong the Nomad.
The Capitol Hill Pride festival takes place from 10 a.m.-8 p.m. at Cal Anderson Park. The celebration includes a march, a doggie drag costume contest and barbecue all day.
Visit Seattle asked some of our hotel and restaurant partners to share their excitement for Pride Month.
Joey Chapman, Membership Manager, GSBA (Washington State’s LGBTQ+ and allied chamber of commerce)
“Two years ago, so many of Seattle’s hospitality and tourism businesses – especially LGBTQ+ venues – were devastated without in-person Pride celebrations which made up for significant portions of their annual revenue. As a reminder, these LGBTQ+ businesses welcome patrons of all backgrounds all year round – not just during Pride. GSBA has seen businesses use these two years to come together in community, build resiliency, and support safety and inclusion like never before. As LGBTQ+ and allied communities celebrate the joys of Pride this June, GSBA invites those looking to explore Seattle’s neighborhoods to feel safe and seen and bring their full selves to our city. We encourage folks to continue this support and celebration as Seattle continues to reawaken from the pandemic.”
Steve Sasso, General Manager, Motif Seattle, Destination by Hyatt Hotel
“We’re proud to continue our support of our LGBTQ+ colleagues and guests and our commitment to care for our entire community during Pride month and always. Welcoming everyone to our rooftop restaurant Frolik Kitchen + Cocktails for our annual Pride brunches is always fun and exciting. This year brings even more excitement with the return of Seattle’s annual Pride Parade down 4th Avenue where Frolik revelers can enjoy rooftop views, great food and effervescent cocktails.”
Nat Stratton-Clarke, Owner, Café Flora, Floret, and the Flora Bakehouse
“Seattle boasts such an incredible queer business scene, where we have helped each other however we could over the past two years. There are so many delicious ways to support local LGBTQ businesses this Pride season – from cocktails to cupcakes, croissants, and tamales. After two pandemic Prides, we’re all excited to celebrate together again. Folks can help us give back all June long at Flora Bakehouse, where we’ll have rainbow cake, rainbow unicorn horns and rainbow cake cups, with a portion of proceeds going to the Trans Justice Funding Project.”
Business of Pride: Outstanding Voices and LGBTQ Businesses
Puget Sound Business Journal, in partnership with GSBA, hosts the 2022 Outstanding Voices and Largest LGBTQ-owned businesses on June 16 from 5:30 p.m. -8 p.m. at Showbox SoDo.
First Thursday: Pride Family Fun at MOHAI
The Museum of History and Industry offers a special welcome to LGBTQ families on Thursday, June 2 for its First Thursday event (where general admission to its permanent exhibits is free) from 5 p.m. -8 p.m. Families can enjoy queer films from Three Dollar Bill Cinema and make their own memorabilia with flag-making and a photo booth.
Mimosas Cabaret
Each Sunday, Unicorn Seattle hosts Mimosas Cabaret. With mini musical productions that re-imagine Broadway hits into 30-minute drag-stravaganzas, enjoy brunch and entertainment. June features a performance of “30 Minute Little Shop of Horrors.”
Pride Pop-Up & Luncheon
From 10:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Thursday, June 9, head to the GSBA’s Pride Pop-Up & Luncheon where guests will meet LGBTQ+ business owners and shop, then listen to a luncheon program featuring Denise Diskin of QLaw Foundation and Dominique Stephens of Ingersoll Gender Center. With anti-LGBTQ+ legislation targeting trans youth, as well as Roe v. Wade being threatened nationwide, the two will talk about what the current moment means for the LGBTQ+ movement.
Seattle Men’s Chorus with the Seattle Symphony Orchestra: Pride Pops!
On June 24 and 25, enjoy this special Pride weekend concert event at Benaroya Hall. NYC’s drag performance artist Thorgy Thor hosts. Pride outfits are encouraged.
Pride Brunches at Frolik
Frolik, inside downtown hotel Motif Seattle, is hosting Pride Brunches all throughout June. Each brunch features a different theme, from Y2K-Fabulous on June 5 to Space Cowgirl on June 12. Tickets include access to a brunch buffet, music from DJ Wes Wunder, drag performances and a welcome cocktail. Drag performers are Kylie Mooncakes, Kara Sutra, Dion Dior Black and Issa Man. The series culminates on June 26 with the Seattle PRIDEfest brunch. Frolik’s location offers prime viewing of the parade on 4th Avenue.
The Prom at The 5th Avenue Theatre
Watch this hit Broadway musical from May 31-June 19. In the satirical musical, four narcissistic Broadway performers travel to Indiana to help a lesbian high school student who was banned from bringing her girlfriend to prom.
W Seattle – Loud & Proud Pride Package
This downtown Seattle hotel is offering a Loud and Proud Pride Package to let guests’ pride shine bright in the Emerald City where everyone is welcome. The package includes a room, two complimentary cocktails in the W Living Room Bar, a rainbow intimacy kit and more. Revelers can book using the code YX1 for dates June 1-30, 2022. W Seattle is hosting several events throughout Pride Weekend, including Yasss Queen Yoga with resident yoga instructor Morgan Zion on June 25, a Pride-lesque pre-funk with local burlesque dancers on June 25 culminating with a Loud & Proud Pride Brunch with Anita Spritzer on June 26. Tickets available via Eventbrite.
For a list of local Seattle businesses and restaurants, owned and operated by LGBTQIA+ community members, see below:
Check out The Internationalist for more ideas.
Want to learn more about the LGBTQIA+ experience in Seattle? Check out the resources below- and don’t forget to follow @weSEAlove, Visit Seattle’s Instagram account celebrating love in all forms year-round.
About Visit Seattle:
Visit Seattle has served as the official destination marketing organization (DMO) for Seattle and King County for more than 50 years. A 501(c)(6) organization, Visit Seattle enhances the economic prosperity of the region through global destination branding along with competitive programs and campaigns in leisure travel marketing, convention sales and overseas tourism development. Visit visitseattle.org.
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