Celebrating Pride this month and every month on Whidbey Island

Furry at the Anita Johnston Windermere Pride Booth in Oak Harbor supporting LGBTQ

Pride Month is an entire month dedicated to the uplifting of LGBTQ voices, celebration of LGBTQ culture and the support of LGBTQ rights. Throughout the month of June, nationwide, there have traditionally been parades, protests, drag performances, live theater and memorials and celebrations of life for members of the community who lost their lives to HIV/AIDS. It is part political activism, part celebration of all the LGBTQ community has achieved over the years.

Why Pride on Whidbey Island is important.

LGBTQ+ youth are watching and listening as anti-equality politicians continue their coordinated attacks on LGBTQ+ people — especially transgender and non-binary youth — in state legislatures across the country. These young people hear the hateful, discriminatory vitriol that spews from the mouths of politicians and everyday people alike as they testify in support of these bills – more than 100 in 35 states in 2021 alone. LGBTQ+ youth see that their rights are being taken away. And they are struggling, understandably, under the weight of it all.

Realtor Anita Johnston among friends on Whidbey Island, Oak Harbor supporting LGBTQ

Our Whidbey Island LGBTQIA community need to see the love and acceptance.  In 2019 I decided I needed to do a better job being an ally and in my advocacy.  Covid got in the way but in 2022 I was able to have another Pride booth in Oak Harbor at the Holland Happening Dutch Festival.  With my beautiful friends and PFLAG Whidbey Island I was able to give out 1500 rainbow flags over 2000 rainbow stickers. What a day!  It’s always a magical moment to see Oak Harbor shimmering in rainbow bliss.

Contact me to get more information on Pride events on Whidbey Island and how you can help!

https://www.hrc.org/magazine/2022-winter/youth-in-crisis