We wish there was a word to describe the feeling of being angry and sad, wanting to scream and cry at the same time. We wish there was a world where queer people didn’t have to live in communities where people try to destroy our Pride Festival banners and then tell us we’re indoctrinating their children. Unfortunately, this is the world that we live in and this is happening in Wenatchee.

We woke up this morning to find our Pride Festival banner vandalized for the second time in the last week. We don’t believe that it’s a coincidence that our banner was cut in half on the same day that community members are planning a coordinated attack on queer literature at the Wenatchee School Board Meeting. Or that both of these are existing in the same world where there are more anti-LGBTQIA2S+ bills and laws being passed than ever before, and increasing anti-queer demonstrations across the country.

Allies, we’re going to keep this simple: we need your help. Queer people are tired of having to face this fight alone. We need you to interrupt and confront hateful homophobic and transphobic rhetoric with your friends, family, neighbors, or coworkers. We need you to show up and advocate for LGBTQIA2S+ inclusion and safety. We need you to hang flags. We need you share our social media posts. We need you to volunteer or show up at Pride Fest and other events throughout the year. We need your financial support to ensure our work is sustainable. We need you to step up for us, our existence, and our liberation every single day, not just June 3.

To the queer community…. We see you. We love you. We got you.