Tacoma City Councilman Ryan Mello says it's easy to understand how the true meaning of Pride sometimes gets lost in all the pizzazz of annual events like Tacoma's Out in the Park. Hell, Pride celebrations do mean good people watching; they do mean fun weekends. But Mello says individuals need to remember why these celebrations are held.
"Pride events are opportunities for people to be out, to educate, to be surrounded by a welcoming atmosphere," says Mello. "They are meant to build a safe, tolerant community where everybody is treated equally under the law."
And if a single day of Pride events can help a community grow more tolerant, just imagine what 10 days of events can do.
Kicking off with the raising of the Pride flag outside of Tacoma's City Hall on July 7, Tacoma will play host to 10 consecutive days of LGBT-oriented events.
To read Brett Cihon's full story on Pride Week, click here.
TACOMA PRIDE EVENTS
Pride Flag Raising
words from Ryan Mello and Marilyn Strickland
Thursday, July 7, 4 p.m.
Ledger Square, 7th and St. Helens
Boy Band Night Out
with the Monkees, the Backstreet Boys and New Kids on the Block
Friday, July 8, 7:30 p.m., tickets required
The Pantages Theater and the Tacoma Dome
Out in the Park
Vendors, Food, Music, Performers and More!
Saturday, July 9, 12 p.m.
Downtown at 9th and Broadway,
www.outintacoma.com
The Mix Tacoma Pride Block Party
Live music, food, vendors
Saturday, July 9, 4 p.m.
635 St. Helens Ave., Tacoma
Oasis Youth Center BBQ
Join Oasis Youth Center after Out in the Park for free BBQ
Saturday, July 9, 5 p.m.
Call 253.671.2838 for more info
Ecumenical Equality Message and LGBT Panel Discussion
Sunday, July 10, 10:30 a.m.
Urban Grace Church, 902 Market St, Tacoma
253.272.2184
LGBT Film Series
with film Patrik: Age 1.5
Monday, July 11, 6:30 p.m.
The Grand Cinema, 606 S. Fawcett Ave., Tacoma
253.593.4474
LGBT Film Series
with film The Topp Twins
Tuesday, July 12, 6:30 p.m.
The Grand Cinema, 606 S. Fawcett Ave., Tacoma
253.593.4474
LGBT Film Series
with film The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert
Wednesday, July 13, Family art at 5:30, film at 6:30 p.m.
The Grand Cinema, 606 S. Fawcett Ave., Tacoma
253.593.4474
A Queer Notion: Banning the LGBT Canon
Book discussion
Thursday, July 14, 7 p.m.
King's Books, 218 Saint Helens Ave., Tacoma
253.272.8801
RC 101: A Rainbow Center Open House
Friday, July 15, 5-8 p.m.
Tacoma Rainbow Center, 741 Saint Helens Ave., Tacoma
253.383.2318
Proud!
Oasis Youth Center Festival
Saturday, July 16, 7 p.m.,
Theater on the Square Park, 9th and Broadway, Tacoma
www.oasisyouthcenter.org
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