Pride Guide | Celebrating the LGBTQ+ in Spokane

Celebrate Pride with us this June! Here at Cinder, we love and support our LGBTQ+ customers. As a matter of fact, some of us on the team are part of the community! So, keep reading for all of the ways you can celebrate, support, and even receive support this June.

Celebrate

Spokane Pride Parade and Festival

When: Saturday, June 10th, 2023 from 12pm-6pm

Where: Riverfront Park

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This year marks Spokane Pride’s 31st annual pride parade and festival. Their theme this year is “Never Going Back” as a response to the record number of proposed anti-LGBTQ+ legislature right now, especially aimed at transgender youth. These proposals aim for everything from regulating pronouns in schools to blocking access to healthcare to banning drag performances and more. So, show your support for the LGBTQ+ and celebrate queerness at this year’s Spokane Pride parade. If you’d like to volunteer and help Spokane Pride at this year’s parade and festival, follow this link for more information!

Pride Bar Crawl

Check-In Time: Saturday, June 17th, 2023 from 4pm-6pm

Where: The Globe Bar & Kitchen

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This Pride, The Globe is celebrating with a Pub Crawl! Not only will you be celebrating, but you’ll also be supporting as a portion of the proceeds will be donated to Spokane Pride! At this event, you’ll receive all kinds of goodies like a complimentary drink, free cover to their drag show, exclusive drink specials, and more! Get more details and tickets by clicking this link.

Support

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While some of you readers may not be a part of the LGBTQ+ community yourself, we are sure many allies are reading! As an ally, here are some steps you can take to support your friends in the LGBTQ+ community.

Stay Informed

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Keeping yourself informed on issues people in the LGBTQ+ face is one of the most essential things you can do as an ally. Unfortunately, the sad reality is that our country is actively taking action to suppress the rights of transgender individuals. One useful resource to stay informed on this issue is translegistlation.com. On this webpage, you’ll see that a whopping 549 bills have been proposed across the U.S. with 73 having passed and 63 of those having been officially signed into law. This website also goes into detail as to what these bills say, what they affect (healthcare, education, etc.), where they are proposed, and much more. For more information on what the LGBTQ+ is and how to be an ally, click here.

Call Out Misinformation

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Many harmful myths and disinformation campaigns are on the rise, so it’s important to know what the truth is. The Human Rights Campaign has put together a document debunking myths about the LGBTQ+. These myths are popular talking points of those actively trying to take away the rights of transgender people. Even if you do not need this document to know the truth, this resource is great to reference when countering harmful anti-LGBTQ+ rhetoric you may encounter others espousing. 

Listen to Your LGBTQ+ Friends & Family

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Since I alone do not speak for all LGBTQ+ individuals, it’s important to listen to your queer friends. Listen to their perspective and feelings and ask how you can support them. Many queer people feel isolated and forced into silence, especially nowadays. So, being a supportive friend is a little gesture that can go a long way.

Resources for LGBTQ+ People

Are you part of the LGBTQ+ community and need support? Here are some great resources in and around Spokane for people in the LGBTQ+ community.

Spectrum Center

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Spectrum’s mission is to create a safe, intersectional, intergenerational, 2SLGBTQIA+ community gathering space that celebrates a resilient, healthy community through social connectedness and support, arts and culture, access to resources, and leadership development. The long-term vision is for Spectrum to be the primary change agent for the 2SLGBTQIA+ community by advocating for social progress in Eastern Washington. They support a thriving and diverse population through education, social events, services, social activism, visibility, and by uplifting and collaborating with other organizations.

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The Spectrum Center offers great resources like their healthcare database. This database is composed of individuals who Spectrum has handpicked through suerveys as qualified practitioners for affirming healthcare. The Spectrum Center is also home to the GAPP (Gender Affirming Products Program). This program helps transgender, non-binary, two-spirit, genderqueer, genderfluid, and gender nonconforming individuals in the greater Eastern Washington and North Idaho region to acquire gender-affirming products, services, gear, and more.

For more resources, click this link to go to the Washington State LGBTQ Commission’s comprehensive list of LGBTQ+ resources available in and around Spokane.

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