On June 3, a grassroots group of community members is set to gather for Tualatin’s inaugural Pride celebration featuring a joyful walk through the city center.
The Pride Stride event will be a family-friendly celebration of and for members of our community who identify as LGTBQIA2S+ (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer and/or Questioning, Intersex, Asexual, Two-Spirit, and allies).
After a year that has seen a troubling increase in anti-gay and anti-trans legislation in our country, community members coordinating the event believed this was an important year to begin a new tradition in the city.
“Members of the LGBTQ+ community – who include our friends, family, neighbors, and city staff, all have a right to be seen, heard, valued, and celebrated. We are excited to do that together,” said Beth Dittman, a community member and one event coordinator of the event.
Attendees are invited to participate by gathering at a festive welcome and warm up and then walking the stride together – an approximately 1-mile walk that will follow sidewalks and
start and end at the Tualatin Commons. The Pride Stride will be accessible for wheelchair and stroller users. The event will begin at 10:00 a.m. on June 3 at the Tualatin Commons. This event is free and open to the public.
“I celebrate Pride in honor of my queer family members, friends, and all the queer folx around the world who bravely remind us that loving one another is a human right. It is important to me as an ally that I stand in support of promoting visibility, inclusion, equity, and diversity. Everyone deserves to love and be loved.” said Kelly Horsford, a lifelong Tualatin resident and one of the event coordinators.
Horsford added, “When a community gathers together in celebration, there is a natural space created for connections to be strengthened, joy to be experienced, understanding to be felt, and love to be shared.”
Pride Stride Event Details:
Date: Saturday, June 3, 2023
Location: Tualatin Commons
Time: 10 a.m. – 12 p.m.
