In celebration of Pride Month, the City of Bellevue waves the Pride flag at City Hall in June and held a community party June 1. The event featured a keynote speech, performances from local LGBTQ+ artists, music and food.
Jodi O’Brien, a sociology professor at Seattle University, delivered a keynote address celebrating strides made by the LGBTQ+ community to advance inclusion and representation, as well as the significant challenges nationally for the movement. The speech was followed by a performance by a local drag queen.
The program concluded with music by a live DJ and light refreshments. Resource tables with information on supporting the LGBTQ+ community were on hand.
Event collaborators included the city's Rainbow Alliance for Diversity employee group, with support from local partners Meta, Symetra, Pride Across the Bridge, Eastside Pride and others.
In partnership with the Bellevue Downtown Association, the city is also sponsoring Pride banners that hang downtown in June, as well as the first-ever Paws and Pride Dog Jog and Walk on June 4 at Ashwood Park.
The City Council recognized Pride Month with a city proclamation at its June 5 meeting.