LGBTQ+ Washingtonians raise Pride flag over Capitol — with brief disruption by State Patrol
AI-generated summary reviewed by our newsroom.
- Washington raised Pride flag to affirm support for LGBTQ+ amid federal pushback.
- Gov. Bob Ferguson emphasized state commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion values.
- DNR Commissioner Upthegrove spotlighted need for visible advocacy.
LGBTQ+ Washingtonians joined state officials Wednesday in raising the Pride flag outside the state Capitol building in Olympia.
Their message: Washington will continue to welcome — and fight to protect — the LGBTQ+ community.
Gov. Bob Ferguson said that the national climate makes events like this June 4 Pride flag raising all the more important.
“As a state, we need to lean into our values and to make sure that we’re standing up for all Washingtonians, despite what we see from the federal government and even open hostility from the Trump administration,” he told McClatchy before the event. “So that’s why I’m proud to be here today.”
June marks Pride Month across the U.S., and celebrations are kicking off throughout the Evergreen State to honor LGBTQ+ Washingtonians.
It comes at a time when some states are banning gender-affirming care for transgender youth. President Donald Trump has issued executive orders restricting access to such care and barring trans athletes from competing in women’s and girls’ sports; he’s also launched attacks against diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) efforts.
Ferguson said he wants LGBTQ+ Washingtonians to know that he’s working alongside state agencies and the Office of Attorney General to stand up for them every day.
The Democrat told the crowd gathered on the north steps of the Legislative Building Wednesday that it’s important for government to be engaged in the fight — during both good times and difficult times.
“It’s not time to back away from that struggle,” he said. “It’s exactly the opposite. It’s a time to lean into diversity, equity, inclusion: Those are our values as a state.”
He then encouraged attendees to line up at the hand-crank, joining in a shared effort to hoist the Pride flag up the pole.
Wednesday’s event was sponsored by the LGBTQ Commission, a state agency with 15 commissioners who are 2SLGBTQIA+. That acronym stands for two-spirit, lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, intersex and asexual, while the plus represents the myriad other ways people self-identify.
The state’s LGBTQ Commission is the first of its kind in the nation, said Vice Chair Amasai Jeke. She told attendees that the commission ensures the communities’ voices are heard and centered in the work of state government.
“Pride is not just a celebration of what we’ve won,” Jeke said. “It is a protest against everything we’re still fighting for.”
Department of Natural Resources Commissioner Dave Upthegrove was among Wednesday’s speakers. He cited a statistic showing 41% of LGBTQ youth in Washington have seriously considered suicide in the past year. The number for trans and non-binary youth was even higher, he said: 49%.
It’s important for LGBTQ+ youth to see people standing up and speaking out with pride, Upthegrove said. He recalled his own experience as a young person in the closet, and how hard that was.
“I think Pride, whether it’s a flag raising or Pride parades, visibility is important because it shows people you can live full, meaningful lives,” Upthegrove told McClatchy. “It creates a sense of connection that makes you feel a part of something larger than yourself.”
At one point during the event, two lines of cadets with the Washington State Patrol approached the north steps and marched into the Legislative Building. Their sudden appearance caused an event speaker to pause, and it drew jeers from the crowd.
Attendees were soon told, however, that the cadets were on their way to their graduation ceremony inside the Capitol.
Washington State Patrol later issued an apology for the disturbance in a Facebook post.
“The team leading our cadets to their graduation ceremony did not adequately communicate about the alternate route planned around the crowd,” the post read. “It was never our intention to disrupt an important community event. Our motto is ‘Service with Humility,’ and our mission is to protect, defend and respect the rights of all. We apologize for our misstep on what should be a great day for us all as we celebrate Pride.”
This story was originally published June 5, 2025 at 5:00 AM.
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