Proudly, for the 6th year, our WEA contingent from all over our state will be standing up for our LGBTQ+ students, public schools and our union! The Seattle Pride Parade is the 4th largest parade in the nation with 500,000 of our neighbors! 

Especially given the surge in anti-LGBTQ and anti-BIPOC legislation, particularly against our transgender and gender expansive youth, it is even more meaningful and important that we're visible! Pride was started by BIPOC Trans teenagers like Marsha P. Johnson and Sylvia Rivera. In addition to Pride, we have work to do year-round to make sure all schools are safe, welcoming and affirming for all students, families and educators!

We celebrate how far we've come, and we march because we still have a ways to go. We'll be visible public education and civil rights advocates for 500,000+ of our neighbors to see!  WEA members, and their friends and families from across the state join our contingent for this big day. Our contingent is 100% volunteers....and it is SO FUN! 

Who can join our contingent? WEA members, students, family members, WEA staff,  pro-union, pro-public education friends from across the state!

Where do we meet? We will receive staging area info probably a week before the June 25th parade. We will also email it. 

What time? Same as above- we’ll know about a week before. Once we're at the staging area, introduce yourself to everyone, make new friends from across the state, help anyone who needs a hand passing out signs etc., and we'll all be patient together until it's go time :)

Name of our contingent? Washington Education Association

Planning your day:  The Parade starts at 11am. Given 500,000 people come to the parade, you could definitely consider coming downtown early, eating breakfast and finding a spot to watch the parade which starts at 11am, then walk to our staging area to meet us. We will update this once we have our staging info!

Where and how long do we march?  Marching in the parade will last about 2 hours, walking down 4th ending at Second Avenue and Denny Way near Seattle Center, aka the Space Needle (route map below). At the end, we'll quickly gather the signs, and take our amazing group photo! Then on their own, folks able to either walk back a couple blocks and watch the rest of the parade, head into the Pride Fest (booths, concerts, vendors, food, beer gardens etc.), or whatever else!

All abilities and Our WEA Tent: We include everyone, and we have a tent on the parade route for participants who prefer to sit in the tent instead of walking the parade route. It will be near the end of the parade route, closer to Seattle Center at approx: 2504 4th Ave Seattle, WA  98121 (In front of Uptown Espresso, at Wall St and 4th.) It’s a red tent, and we like the location for the shade and proximity to coffee, food and a bathroom. We will have the shirts at the tent for all who indicated on this form that they'd like a shirt and plan on being in our Tent Contingent. Please bring a chair if you need more than the curb to sit on. There is a fair amount of street parking, but only if you come early (by 10:30am is smart!). It’s fairly straightforward to take the lightrail then rideshare or bus a few blocks to the tent.  Thank you to the amazing Amber Birge for being our Tent Captain!

Transit Options for Marchers: There are multiple Light Rail stations very close. We will update once we have our staging info. 

Parking options: There are several lots nearby, but it's such a busy day so plan to come early if you're driving. You may get lucky and find street parking, which is free since it's Sunday. Please keep in mind that 4th Ave is blocked off for the parade. Another pro tip is to park closer to the end of the parade route in the morning, near Seattle Center, and then walk or rideshare to our meeting spot. You can always come early,  do breakfast, watch some of the parade, then come to the staging area.

Covid protocols: we’ll update this when we learn any further details from the Seattle Pride organizers! 

When you arrive: We have a sign with each local's name on it and we'd love if you brought any other signs too! We delegate small tasks like sharing stickers and sunscreen, and all take care of each other. It's very fun to meet our fellow WEA fam, and other non-profit groups around us.

T-shirts:  We will be designing shirts, and provide them free to all contingent members. We are so grateful for the support of our WEA Communications team to make our shirts happen! (Please know you don't have to wear it if you prefer to wear something cuter, but it's fantastic we have a contingent shirt!)  Since you'll get your shirt on site, you may want to wear a something light to put your new shirt on top of, or a backpack for the shirt you arrived in. Please realize there is no contingent car or place to store your items, and we'll give out the sizes first come first served. Tutus, socks, fun outfits all welcome :)

Day of: We recommend bringing a credit card and some cash in case you want to partake in the Pride Festival in Seattle Center after that has many booths with food and other items. This is why fanny-packs make sense :)

Summary of Pro Tips:
- come early to find parking, possibly park closer to the Seattle center, watch some of the parade and walk/bus/rideshare back to our staging spot
- comfy shoes will.save.you!
- bring water
- SUNSCREEN!
- It’s going to be HOT! Please hydrate
- it’s important to meet each other!
- bring a snack if you get hangry
- being a portable cell phone charger and cord
- a bit of cash and credit card for the food vendors, parking etc. can go a long way
- if you see a porta-potty along the route with no line, consider it!
- we welcome you to bring signs, stickers, bubbles, pencils, leis, giveaways, high fives etc! We make it into a fun march, and we will have signs for our contingent to carry too.

- Local leadership: you’re welcome to bring your local’s banner etc.!

Check out seattlepride.org for other info!

Seattle Trans Pride: will be Friday, June 23 from 5:30pm-9:30pm in Volunteer Park. We will keep an eye out for these details too! We’ve had a table there in the past and it’s an amazing and important event :) 

If you are interested in helping lead a Pride effort somewhere else in the state, please contact us! We can help with resources!

Solidarity,

Shannon McCann, teacher and Federal Way EA President,  past co-President of the WEA LGBTQ+ caucus, WEA Contingent coordinator 
smccann@washingtonea.org

Joe Bento and Anna Blankinship, Educators and WEA LGBTQ Caucus Co-Presidents
joe@wea-lgbtq.org and anna@wea-lgbtq.org
Follow us on Facebook: WEA LGBTQ Caucus