Title
Special Recognition - Proclamation Recognizing LGBTQIA2S+ Pride Month and Capital City Pride Weekend
Recommended Action
Committee Recommendation:
Not referred to a committee.
City Manager Recommendation:
Proclaim June 2025 as LGBTQIA2S+ Pride Month and June 27-29, 2025 as Capital City Pride Weekend
Report
Issue:
Whether to proclaim June 2025 as LGBTQIA2S+ Pride Month and June 27-29, 2025 as Capital City Pride Weekend.
Staff Contact:
Olivia Salazar de Breaux, Culture and Belonging Manager, Olympia Parks, Arts and Recreation Department, 360.753.8343
Presenter(s):
Natalie Coblentz, President, Capital City Pride
Capital City Pride representatives
Background and Analysis:
Every June, people across the country celebrate LGBTQIA2S+ Pride Month. Pride began after the Stonewall Riots in 1969, when LGBTQIA2S+ (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer / Questioning, Intersex, Asexual, and Two Spirits) people stood up against unfair treatment. Since then, Pride has become a time to celebrate love, identity, and community. It is also a time to remember that everyone deserves to live with respect, safety, and fairness. In Olympia, Pride is more than a celebration-it reflects our values as a welcoming and inclusive city.
The City of Olympia is proud to sponsor and support Capital City Pride, which first started as Olympia Pride. The festival has grown each year, and in 2025, it will expand into a three-day celebration from June 27 to June 29. Capital City Pride brings people together with joyful events that honor LGBTQIA2S+ voices and create space for connection, fun, and belonging. The festival continues to grow and stay true to its mission of being open, safe, and accessible to all.
This year’s Pride Month is also important because LGBTQIA2S+ people-especially those who are transgender or non-binary-are facing new challenges in other parts of the country. In Olympia, we are taking a strong stand for equality. In 2025, the City Council passed Resolution No. M-2591, making Olympia a Sanctuary City for LGBTQIA2S+ people. By officially declaring June as LGBTQIA2S+ Pride Month and celebrating Capital City Pride Weekend, Olympia is showing its support for love, safety, and equality for everyone.
Climate Analysis:
No impacts to any of the climate mitigation sectors.
Equity Analysis:
This recognition raises awareness about the contributions and experiences of generations of LGBTQIA2S+ communities here in the Pacific Northwest and across the nation. This recognition benefits Olympia residents as well as those in neighboring communities by increasing a sense of belonging and inclusion.
Attachments:
Proclamation
Capital City Pride Website