Inland Oasis’ annual Palouse Pride 2022 is set to start this Thursday in Moscow with a number of events every day until Sunday. 

Inland Oasis President Kathy Sprague said the Pride event celebrates the LGBTQ+ community in the Palouse area. 

“Pride is open to everyone, regardless of orientation, ethnic background,” Sprague said. 

Palouse Pride 2022 will kick off with an LGBTQ+ film night, and doors will open at 6 p.m. at the Kenworthy Performing Arts Centre. The first film is called “Saving Face,” and the second film, “Stage Mother,” will be played at 8:15 p.m., according to the Inland Oasis website.

At 5:30 p.m., there will be a reception at Mikey’s Greek Gyros, Sprague said. 

Also in attendance will be Josie Cohen-Rodriguez,  the LGBTQ+ Student Life & Community coordinator for WSU at the LGBTQ+ Center, which is sponsoring some of the events. The center is tabling at the movie night, where attendees can stop by and learn about the center. The organization is also handing out free stickers. 

“We’re just trying to show folks that we’re here even though we’re in rural spaces. We’re still proud,” she said. 

The second Pride event will be the Drag & Bingo on Friday at the 1912 Center in Moscow. Sprague said there are 10 rounds, with drag performances mixed in, and some of the prizes include adult toys — for anyone ages 18 and up — and handmade figural items. 

On Saturday, the Pride March will start at Moscow City Hall. Sprague said participants will march around the perimeter of downtown so as to not disturb the farmers market.

“It’s very emotional for me every year to see all of these people come streaming into East City Park. Our first Pride festival here in Moscow we had 50 people attend so now we have twice as many vendors as we had just people at the first event,” she said. 

The event will continue on with Pride in the Park at East City Park with live music, vendors, drag performances and community speakers, according to the Inland Oasis website.

Rodriguez said the LGBTQ+ Center will also attend and sponsor Pride in the Park.

“We’re just representing and showing that there’s a really vibrant community in Pullman, even though the event is in Moscow. It’s really an event between both Moscow and the Palouse in our surrounding area,” she said. 

To conclude the day, the TabiKat Drag Show will begin at 9 p.m in the 1912 Center. 

Palouse Pride 2022 will end with brunch from 10 a.m. to noon  on Sunday at the Inland Oasis Center in Moscow, catered by Love Shack Kitchen, to say goodbye to all of the out-of-town friends, Sprague said. 

“Show up and have fun,” Sprague said. 

Even though Pride Month takes place during summer break, Cohen-Rodriguez said they like to wait until students come back in August to celebrate Pride. 

“It’s a great way to build community, especially since we are in a rural space. There’s not a lot of us, so we got to take care of each other,” she said. 

If WSU students want to find more resources and become more involved after Pride, Rodriguez said to contact her at [email protected].