Timeline of Triumph, Struggle and Resilience
From an informal gathering in the late 1990s, Yakima's history of LGBTQ+ community celebrations has continued to grow. Focusing on expansion and sustainability through community & non-profit organization support.
Let us be the first to tell you; Yakima has a rich history of LGBTQ+ celebratory events and with the help of various LGBTQ+ leaders in our community, we have been working hard to paint a complete picture of Yakima's LGBTQ+ history and celebrations of diversity.
We will call this the: Timeline of Triumph
In 2018, the Yakima Police Department estimated that around 500+ people attended the Yakima Pride Festival & Parade.
In 2019 that number has doubled to more than 1100+ attendees.
In 2020, all Yakima Pride events had to be canceled, including the Yakima Pride Festival & Parade, amid coronavirus concerns. Our board of directors have worked very hard to secure funding to build a foundation for the LGBTQ+ community in Yakima County.
In 2021, Yakima Pride enters the new year with significant accomplishments, partnerships, and a recipient of various grant awards. We have postponed our annual Rainbow Prom and Yakima Pride Festival & Parade for later in the year amid coronavirus concerns.
Together, we’re building a community that supports the wellness of LGBTQ+ people in Yakima. A community that consistently and constantly celebrates the diversity of sexual orientations and gender identities in Yakima County
2022
2021-2022
Pride Foundation, Community Grant Recipient
Saturday, TBD - Pride Day At The Fair
Hosted by Yakima Pride
Central Washington State Fair, 1301 South Fair Ave., Yakima, WA 98908
Saturday, June 18th - Yakima Pride Festival & Parade
Hosted by Yakima Pride
Between E Yakima Ave and E Martin Luther King Jr Blvd. MAP
Saturday, May 28th - Rainbow Prom
Hosted by Yakima Pride
Centennial Ballroom at the Yakima Valley Museum, 2105 Tieton Drive., Yakima, WA 98902
2021
2021-2022
Pride Foundation, Community Grant Recipient
Saturday, October 30th - Rainbow Prom, Yakima Valley Museum
Canceled: Officially canceled amid coronavirus (COVID-19) concerns.
Saturday, October 2nd - Pride Day At The Fair, Central Washington State Fair
Canceled: Officially canceled amid coronavirus (COVID-19) concerns.
Saturday, September 18th - Yakima Pride Festival & Parade, Naches Parkway
Hosted by Yakima Pride
Between E Yakima Ave and E Martin Luther King Jr Blvd. MAP
Saturday, August 21st - Yakima Pride Festival & Parade, Naches Parkway
Postponed: Reschedule amid extreme smoke (wild fire) concerns.
Tuesday, June 22nd - ArtsFund, in partnership with the Washington State Department of Commerce, Nonprofit Community Recovery (NCR) grant
Yakima Pride, Grant Recipient
Saturday, June 19th - Yakima Pride Festival & Parade, Naches Parkway
Postponed: Reschedule amid coronavirus (COVID-19) concerns.
Saturday, May 29th - Rainbow Prom
Postponed: Reschedule amid coronavirus (COVID-19) concerns.
2020
Saturday, September 17th - Pride Day At The Fair
Canceled: Central Washington State Fair officially canceled amid coronavirus (COVID-19) concerns.
Hosted by Yakima Pride
Central Washington State Fair, 1301 South Fair Ave., Yakima, WA 98908
Saturday, June 20th - Yakima Pride Festival & Parade
Canceled: Officially canceled amid corona virus concerns.
Between E Yakima Ave and E Martin Luther King Jr Blvd. MAP
Saturday, May 30th - Rainbow Prom
Canceled: Officially canceled amid coronavirus (COVID-19) concerns.
Centennial Ballroom at the Yakima Valley Museum, 2105 Tieton Drive., Yakima, WA 98902
Tuesday, April 21st, 2020 - Official Yakima Pride office established
15 N Naches Ave Ste 21., Yakima, WA 98901 MAP
2019
2019
Humanities Washington and The Center for Washington State Cultural Traditions Grant Recipient
2019
Pride Foundation, Community Grant Recipient
2019
ACLU, The American Civil Liberties Union of Washington State Grant Recipient
Saturday, December 14th, 2019 - Pride of the Folk: A Conversation on LGBTQ+ Tradition in the Yakima Valley
presented by Humanities Washington and The Center for Washington State Cultural Traditions
West Valley Community Library, 223 S 72nd Ave., Yakima, Washington 98908
Saturday, June 8th, 2019 - Yakima Pride Festival & Parade, Naches Parkway
Hosted by Yakima Pride
Fiscal sponsor, Between the Ridges
Performance Park, 100 Pendleton Way, Yakima, WA 98901
Friday, June 7th - Yakima Pride is an official a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organization.
Received IRS Determination Letter. Effective date of exemption: May 17, 2019
Friday, May 17th - Yakima Pride applied for tax-exempt status.
Submitted IRS 501(c)(3) application.
Thursday, May, 16th, 2019 - Rainbow Prom
Hosted by Yakima Pride
Centennial Ballroom at the Yakima Valley Museum, 2105 Tieton Drive., Yakima, WA 98902
Below are Events and Celebrations of PRIDE in the Yakima Valley from various individuals, groups, and organizations.
The information below was gathered from various online sources and community contributions. This also includes the individuals, groups, and organizations that hosted the events and celebration listed in the Timeline Of Triumph.
If you have information on previous LGBTQ+ Pride celebrations in the Yakima Valley, we would love to hear about it, and if you have any promotional materials, photos, posters, etc., you are welcome to donate them to the Timeline Of Triumph for all to see!
The accuracy of the information is subject to change as more accurate data is discovered.
Please Email hello@yakimapride.org to tell your story or make a historic donation.
2018
Saturday, June 2nd - Yakima Pride Fest & March
Hosted by Act Yakima
Performance Park, 100 Pendleton Way, Yakima, WA 98901
2017
Saturday, June 17th - Yakima Pride Fest & March
Hosted by Act Yakima
Performance Park, 100 Pendleton Way, Yakima, WA 98901
2016
2015
Saturday, July 25th - Yakima Pride Fest: Pride in the Park
Hosted by
Chesterly Park 600-1599 River Road., Yakima, Washington 98902
2014
2013
Saturday, July 27th - Yakima Pride Fest: Pride in the Park
Hosted by 1st Fridays, GayYakima.com
Franklin Park, 2101 Tieton Dr, Yakima, WA 98902
2012
2011
Saturday, July 30th - Yakima Pride Fest: Pride in the Park
Hosted by 1st Fridays, Gayakima.com
Franklin Park, 2101 Tieton Dr, Yakima, WA 98902
Pride Dance
Howard Johnson Hotel, 9 N 9th St. Yakima, WA
You Make the Difference Awards
Howard Johnson Hotel, 9 N 9th St. Yakima, WA
2010
2009
Sunday, June 14th - Central Washington Diversity Coalition Pride Family Barbecue and Shindig
Hosted by
Club 54, 2014 S. First St., Yakima, WA.
Worship Service
Rainbow Cathedral Metropolitan Community Church, 225 N. 2nd St. (in the Unitarian Universalist Church)
Saturday, June 13th - Yakima Pride Fest
Hosted by Rainbow Cathedral Metropolitan Community Church
Franklin Park, 2101 Tieton Dr, Yakima, WA 98902
Rainbow Pride Dance
Rainbow Cathedral Metropolitan Community Church, 225 N. 2nd St. (in the Unitarian Universalist Church)
2008
Saturday, June 14th - Yakima Pride Fest: Pride in the Park
Hosted by 1st Fridays, Gayakima.com
Fulbright Park, 4508 Main St., Union Gap, WA.
Pride Dance
Howard Johnson Plaza, 9 N. 9th St., Yakima, WA
2007
Saturday, June 9th - Yakima Pride Fest: Pride in the Park
Hosted by 1st Fridays, Gayakima.com
Fulbright Park, 4508 Main St., Union Gap, WA.
2006
Saturday, June 10th - Yakima Pride Fest: Pride in the Park
Hosted by 1st Fridays, Gayakima.com
Fulbright Park, 4508 Main St., Union Gap, WA.
Pride Dance
8 West Washington in Yakima, WA
You Make the Difference Awards
8 West Washington., Yakima, WA
2005
Sunday, June 12th - Pride Worship and Continental breakfast
Hosted by 1st Fridays, Gayakima.com
223 North 1st Street, Yakima. Proceeds go to the new LGBT youth support group, Y.O.U.
Saturday, June 11th - Yakima Pride Fest: Pride in the Park
Hosted by 1st Fridays, Gayakima.com
Fulbright Park, 4508 Main St., Union Gap, WA.
Seattle Gay News, First Fridays, Club 54, Holiday Inn Express, and the American Lung Association-WA
Pride Dance
Club 54, 2014 South 1st St., Yakima, WA.
You Make The Difference Awards (awards given to organizations and individuals who have made a difference to the Gay community of Yakima and south central Washington).
Club 54, 2014 South 1st St., Yakima, WA.
Friday, June 10th - Show & Dance
Hosted by Club 54
Club 54, 2014 South 1st St., Yakima, WA.