Goldendale Pride is back, and it’s a party
Goldendale Pride event to include live music, family friendly activities, more on July 22
More than 200 people attended the 2022 Goldendale Pride event. Photo credit Daniel Lefever
By Brit Allen
Goldendale, WA, July 19, 2023—Pride returns to Goldendale this weekend and this time it’s a block party at the 100 block of West Allyn Street.
This will be Goldendale’s third Pride event, and the nonprofit Goldendale Pride Alliance is hoping it will be the biggest and best one yet. This Saturday, July 22, festivities kick off at 5 p.m. with the pride walk starting at the Courthouse. Then at 6 p.m. there will be activities, food and fun for all ages. From 9-11 p.m. the space will be open for 21+ attendees only.
Andrew Halm (pictured right) and friends hand out free Pride flags every Thursday starting in June. Photo courtesy of Goldendale Pride Alliance
“This is a family event and during the all ages part of the event we are really gearing it towards the younger people in our community,” said representatives of the Goldendale Pride Alliance
The event will include tacos, games, a silent art auction, a pride walk, bouncy houses, door prizes and giveaways, face painting, and the Goldendale Public Library bookmobile will also be present. The beer garden opens later for those who are able to partake.
“Goldendale’s first Pride event was put together in roughly five weeks back in 2021,” alliance members explained. “More than 300 people showed up to celebrate and not everything went to plan but it was still a great event. In 2022 we had around 200 people show up and we had more time to plan the event. Things went much smoother. In 2022 we created the Goldendale Pride Alliance and we are now a 501(c)3 non profit organization. This year's Pride is at a bigger location and it’s taken lots of work to put together. The key this year is to grow the event and we are hoping that we have.”
For weeks leading up to the Pride event, Alliance co-founder Andrew Halm hands out pride flags to community members, and he said the Alliance has received “lots of support and positive feedback” in the past.
“This year there seems to be a little more pushback but nothing too extreme,” he said. “With all the anti-LGBTQ+ laws being passed around the country, it’s put some fear into the LGBTQ community. So we feel like it’s really important to continue these events and show support to those who may not be able to stand up for themselves. We have to be seen to show that we are here and we are part of our community in a positive way.”
That said, as a life-long Goldendale resident, 12-year member of the city council and out gay man himself, Halm explained that “having a Gay Pride event in a small rural town like Goldendale is incredibly important for several reasons.”
These reasons include visibility and representation, building supportive communities, education and awareness, celebrating diversity, creating safe spaces and promoting equality and human rights.
“While planning Goldendale’s first pride in 2021 it was amazing how much support we had from all sorts of people in our community,” alliance representatives said. “Being in a very conservative town, you wouldn’t think this event would go over too well but it does. Last year and this year we continue to have lots of support for this event and that’s why we will continue to make this a yearly event.”
Some may wonder why the Goldendale event is held in July. The Alliance explained that this timing was to allow for more “inclusivity.”
“(We were) considering conflicts with graduation and Father's Day in June,” they said. “The more comfortable weather in July also enhances the outdoor experience, fostering a joyful atmosphere for all.”
This year’s event has been partly funded by money from the hotel-motel tax and also by SEIU Healthcare Union. The logo and posters for the event were designed by Visual Verve Design and Print, owned and operated by Centerville’s own Kacie Bane.
Admission to the event is free of charge, and merchandise can be purchased online at zazzle.com/store/gd_pride_alliance.
“This event brings a sense of inclusion to people of the LGBTQ community here in Goldendale that may not ever be able to go to other events in the area or state,” Halm said. “We are striving to make this event family friendly and an event for everyone in the Goldendale community. We know that this event is not for everyone and it’s going to ruffle some feathers of the naysayers. The reality is the LGBTQ community here in Goldendale is here and we always have been here. We have just decided to not be hidden in Goldendale anymore.”
For more information on the event, visit tinyurl.com/ysmxx4xz.
