On Sunday, gray clouds over Seattle only served to make the rainbow colors stand out more as they poured down Fourth Avenue: rainbow and transgender flags, dyed hair, and fans in every shade. The annual Pride parade, expected to draw about 300,000 participants, took place under the banner of “Rally” — in a city packed with fans for the 2026 FIFA World Cup. But the festive atmosphere was overshadowed by national pressure on the LGBTQ+ community.
The country is being pressured by the presidential administration, which has banned transgender people from serving in the military, removed the Pride flag from the grounds of the Stonewall National Monument (the site of the historic uprising for LGBTQ rights), and limited access to gender-affirming care. Jamie Pedersen, the Senate majority leader in the state of Washington, stood at the guest lectern at the podium for remarks and pointed to the actions of the authorities and two “anti-trans initiatives” put to a vote in the state in November. “We’re living through a crazy time,” he said. “Pride is an opportunity to come together and show that we continue to welcome everyone.”
The political mood could be felt from the first minutes. Parade host DonnaTella Howe hinted at a botched pool repair in Washington, urging people to “bring it back to blue” (a symbol of the Democratic Party) and saying that “there’s still a lot to be done.” And right after the start of the procession, motorcyclists roared through: on their Ducati and Honda bikes, rainbow flags fluttered, while on their leather vests and motorcycles ran slogans with profanity condemning Nazis and federal immigration agents.
The parade’s chief marshals were queer activist DeAnt’e Damper and players from Seattle Torrent, the women’s hockey team — a local team that competes in the Women’s Hockey League (WHL). Their participation as chief marshals highlighted the growing visibility of LGBTQ+ athletes and inclusivity in sports, which is especially important for Seattle, a city with strong traditions of defending community rights. Bright floats followed: Alaska Airlines rolled out a plane mock-up, Starbucks brought oversized coffee cups, and the University of Washington unveiled a motorized helmet bearing the “Huskies” logo. Spectators wearing rainbow crowns with logos from supermarket chains QFC and Fred Meyer stood shoulder to shoulder along the sidewalks. Both companies, based in Oregon and Washington and part of Kroger, have long supported the LGBTQ+ community through Pride sponsorship, employee inclusion programs, and the display of rainbow logos in solidarity. Audrey Peitz, 28, who was seeing the Seattle Pride parade for the first time, admitted: “It’s wonderful to see how everyone celebrates who they are.”
Organizers added voting for the best float, the best performance, and the “rally” component; the results were posted on the Seattle Pride website. Executive director Patty Hearn explained that the theme “Rally” was chosen because it “speaks to the power of supporting each other, a place for every voice, and the joy and resilience that define us.” By around 3 p.m., when the parade ended, representatives of the Seattle joint information center reported no violations or arrests.
One special event was a float sent for the first time by an Asian country that has legalized same-sex marriage — Taiwan. A rainbow copy of the Taipei 101 skyscraper was mounted on the platform, meant to symbolize “the connection of freedom between Seattle and Taiwan.” Paris Wright, a 24-year-old worker who came to watch the parade straight after work, stood next to historical photos, including an image of the first gay rights march in 1977 — a symbol of the start of the city’s organized LGBTQ+ movement, when participants hid their faces for fear of persecution, which stands in stark contrast to today’s open celebration. “We’re not going anywhere,” she said. “This shows we won’t back down in the face of hate.”
Based on: Hundreds of thousands rally, party, protest at 2026 Seattle Pride Parade - The Seattle Times