As we near June, we can expect lots of Pride events celebrating LGBTQ+ members of our community. Whatcom Youth Pride Coalition has aimed to create an event to celebrate the LGBTQ+ youth in Whatcom County.
On Saturday, May 31, queer youth and allies can gather for a one-of-a-kind parade and festival event hosted by the Whatcom Youth Pride Coalition, a group of volunteers and established board members whose main goal is to celebrate queer youth within our community. Youth in attendance can expect to see music and performances, and familiarize themselves with queer resources from places like the Bellingham Public Library and Northwest Youth Services, said EJ Colen, board member of Whatcom Youth Pride Coalition.
"Our idea was to create an event that centers on and celebrates and supports queer youth," Colen said. "[It] just provides a space that at least for one day a year, they have that focus and that community celebration."
While the event is being held in downtown Bellingham, youth from all over Whatcom County are welcome. Colen notes that since starting at Whatcom Youth Pride Coalition in 2021, they have seen upwards of 2000 people in attendance, visiting from places such as Ferndale, Lynden, Skagit County and even Seattle.
"It's really important for kids who might not have that support at home or even if they do have the support at home, just to know that whatever they're going through, there is that support," Colen said.
Ayanna Phillips, program manager of LGBTQ+ Western, said that it can be isolating for many kids to grow up queer. Spaces like Whatcom Youth Pride can help young kids "investigate that queerness." She said it also demonstrates to youth that there are people there to see and support them with their queer journey.
"Students feel more confident being authentic in who they are when they see other people being authentic in who they are," Phillips said.
Phillips said Pride events are not only for queer individuals and that allies are encouraged to attend and participate in such events.
"It gives people the opportunity to see that queerness is a part of every day, in the space that they take up," Phillips said.
Amy Oblander is the co-president of Western Washington University’s Out-In-Business, a club that provides a safe space for queer students soon to enter a professional environment. She began attending gender conferences in middle school after her twin brother came out as transgender. From these events, she could understand more about her identity.
"I was able to interact with a lot of other queer kids, and at the time, I wasn't sure about who I was, and being with these other kids and people who were accepting of themselves, it made me kind of realize [and] come into who I am as a person," Oblander said.
She also said queer events such as Whatcom Youth Pride are a huge reason why kids are coming out earlier. It is because of these spaces and celebrations that they can tap into and understand this new identity knowing they have the support and acceptance from other queer individuals around them.
"Younger kids are able to start realizing that they're accepted," Oblander said. "There's somebody somewhere that does accept them, and there is a safe space for them."
Whatcom Youth Pride 2025 is free for anyone to attend. The event starts at 11 a.m. with a youth-only Pride parade at Halleck Street and Cornwall Avenue and then follows up with a Pride festival at Bellingham High School at 11:30 a.m.
Those interested can check out Whatcom Youth Pride Coalition Parade and Festival Info for more information.
Julieta Larios (she/her) is a city life reporter for The Front this quarter. She is a second-year journalism major on the public relations track. When she is not working on a story, she likes to hangout with her friends and loved ones, take walks around Bellingham, and listen to her favorite podcasts. You can reach her at julietalarios.thefront@gmail.com.
