Celebrating Gay Pride Month in Seattle

Every June, rainbow flags line the streets, communities come together, and cities across the globe light up with color, music, and connection. But Pride is much more than a parade or festival. It’s a powerful reminder of courage, history, and the ongoing fight for equality.

As The Handmade Showroom gets ready to celebrate Gay Pride Seattle, we invite you to join us in learning more about Pride’s roots, what the symbols mean, and how you can show your love and support, not just this month, but all year long.

What Does Gay Pride Mean?

So, what does Gay Pride really mean? At its heart, Pride is about visibility, self-affirmation, and resistance. The term “Pride” rejects shame and social stigma and instead celebrates LGBTQIA2S+ identities as natural, valid, and worthy of equality and love.

The very first Gay Pride festival was not a party in the modern sense—it was a protest. Pride traces its origins to the Stonewall riots, which began in the early hours of June 28, 1969, at the Stonewall Inn in New York City’s Greenwich Village. When police raided this popular gay bar, the patrons fought back, sparking nights of demonstrations and a renewed push for LGBTQ+ rights.

Two trans women (Marsha P. Johnson and Sylvia Rivera) are closely associated with leading the Stonewall riots. 

Marsha P. Johnson was a prominent figure in the uprising and later activism, co-founding the Street Transvestite Action Revolutionaries (STAR) with Rivera to support homeless transgender youth. Sylvia Rivera, also a key activist, was present with Johnson during the riots and went on to become a tireless advocate for trans and queer rights.

One year after the uprising, communities in New York City, Los Angeles, Chicago, and San Francisco held the first Pride marches. They were both protest and celebration: a statement that LGBTQ+ people would not be pushed into the shadows.

Today, Pride means honoring this history while continuing to demand equal rights, visibility, and community for everyone under the rainbow. It’s about waving the Gay Pride flag proudly and marching in unity for a future free of discrimination.

What Does LGBTQIA2S+ Stand For?

Pride is also about inclusivity. The acronym LGBTQIA2S+ may seem long, but every letter matters. Here’s what it stands for:

• L: Lesbian

• G: Gay

• B: Bisexual

• T: Transgender

• Q: Queer or Questioning

• I: Intersex

• A: Asexual or Ally

• 2S: Two-Spirit (a term used by some Indigenous North American communities to describe gender-diverse identities)

The “+” acknowledges the many other identities and expressions that exist beyond these letters. It’s a reminder that Pride is for everyone who experiences gender, sexuality, and love beyond the traditional binary, and for allies who stand beside them.

What Is the Official Gay Pride Day?

While Pride celebrations vary by city and country, June 28 holds special meaning. That date marks the anniversary of the Stonewall riots; the moment widely recognized as the start of the modern LGBTQ+ rights movement.

The first Gay Pride march was held on June 28, 1970, exactly one year later. Today, cities around the world hold Pride events throughout June, with parades, rallies, and festivals honoring this legacy of resistance and celebration.

Here in Seattle, Gay Pride festivities often include a huge parade, community gatherings, and family-friendly activities that highlight local artists, performers, and LGBTQ+-owned businesses. The Gay Pride festival here is a vibrant showcase of diversity, love, and visibility.

Who Decided That June Was the Official Pride Month?

The tradition of June as Pride Month grew from grassroots activism in the 1970s. Early LGBTQ+ activists referred to the week of the June anniversary as “Gay Pride Week” or “Gay Pride Month,” using the month to honor Stonewall’s anniversary and keep the fight for rights front and center.

In 1999, President Bill Clinton made it official by proclaiming June as Gay and Lesbian Pride Month in the United States. Presidents since have expanded the recognition to celebrate the entire LGBTQ+ community.

Today, Pride Month is an international observance—with parades, memorials, educational events, and cultural celebrations all rooted in the original spirit of protest and progress.

At The Handmade Showroom, we believe celebrating Pride means lifting up LGBTQIA2S+ voices, supporting queer makers, and wearing your pride (literally!) with thoughtful pieces that start conversations and spread love.

Join Us for Gay Pride Seattle

Pride is powerful because it’s visible, so we invite you to show up, speak up, and celebrate loudly and lovingly.

Wave your Gay Pride flag, join a Gay Pride festival, and march in the Gay Pride Seattle (or any city) parade if you can. If you can’t be there in person, support queer artists, buy from LGBTQIA2S+ makers, and wear your Pride with intention.

No matter how you celebrate, remember the courage of those who came before and the work that still lies ahead. Pride is protest, Pride is joy, Pride is community, and Pride is for everyone.

🧡 From all of us at The Handmade Showroom, Happy Pride!