A sea of colors flooded Cougar Plaza Saturday morning as members of the community rallied for LGBTQ+ rights.
“When I say justice, you say for all,” said John Cassleman, K-12 outreach coordinator at Schweitzer Engineering Laboratories, who guided around 100 participants to march to Reaney Park at 11:30 a.m.
Participants were invited for sign painting at 9 a.m. at Pups & Cups, Neill Public Library and Neill’s Coffee and Ice Cream, where an array of supplies were provided in preparation for the rally and parade to Reaney Park.
Jemmy Paparazzo, co-chair of the Palouse Democratic Socialists of America, and Olivia Pavik, member of the WSU Young Democratic Socialists of America collected signatures at the rally and voiced their support for the queer community.
“We’re here to support the queer liberation movement as it entangles deeply with the socialist liberation movement,” Paparazzo said. “The attack on queer lives from the Trump Administration is just a reflection of a deeper oppression with its roots in white supremacy and capitalism.”
Parade members were met with event volunteers who passed out dyed flowers and a schedule of events upon reaching Reaney Park.
DJ Goldfinger and the Director of WSU’s LGBTQ+ Center, Josie Cohen Rodriquez, welcomed the community at noon before a dance party tribute to ballroom culture was held on the gazebo.
Paul Whitney, husband to the founder of the Intersectional Advocacy Coalition of Whitman County, Diana Whitney, was among the members supporting the event.
“The idea of the IAC is to bring different groups together around different issues, and LGBTQ rights is one,” said Whitney. “The IAC has been great with refugee resettlement work locally, they had a reproductive justice forum that brought people from all over the stat. “They were sort of the lead organization that put Pullman pride together but there was a whole bunch of people inside and outside of IAC.”
The Community Congregational United Church of Christ provided baked goods alongside Javier Paredes, who grilled hamburgers, chicken burgers and hot dogs for free from 12-3 p.m.
While munching on food, individuals were invited to participate in face painting, button making, book exchanges, trivia and other activities from community allies that tabled for the whole event.
“We are for everybody’s rights,” said Darryl Singleton, WSU music professor and drummer for the band Raza Northwest, which performed at the event. “Music for everyone, music for all.”
His band played an array of covers such as “Ain’t No Sunshine When She’s Gone” by Bill Withers and “Achy Breaky Heart” by Billy Ray Cyrus, which prompted event goers to come together and line dance on the grass.
The event concluded at 6 p.m. with a final dance party hosted by DJ Goldfinger following a poetry open mic and speakers who shared queer history.
There are multiple Pride celebrations in Pullman this month. A Pride celebration is scheduled at Rico’s Pub with PFLAG Moscow on Saturday from 1-8 p.m. and a second “Pullman Pride Fest” is scheduled for Sunday at Reaney Park from 1-5 p.m.
