Our Impact

When the pandemic struck, our Pride organization, like so many others, was dismantled. Virtual events kept our spirit alive, but without the ability to gather, our community lost an essential space for visibility, connection, and celebration. Then, as the world reopened, we had to start anew. We were gifted the queer baton and told to run with it—tasked with reigniting the flame of Pride in Olympia under new management.

With a modest budget of $1,000, we rented a space, hired a DJ, and about 60 community members came together in a deeply meaningful celebration. That moment, though small, was the spark that would reignite something much greater.

Fast forward to 2024, and with the steadfast support of our city, community members, and leaders like you, Capital City Pride has evolved into a three-day festival held during the last weekend of June. We are proud to be one of the only family-friendly, dry, zero-waste, and philanthropic Pride festivals in the region—an intentional space where all ages can safely and openly celebrate their identities.

With the help of our Partners, Sponsors, Donations and Volunteers - this past year for our festival we:

• Created seven performance stages showcasing local and national queer talent.

• Paid 104 stipends to on-stage artists, ensuring fair compensation for their invaluable contributions.

• Hired five ASL interpreters, increasing accessibility for our deaf and hard-of-hearing attendees.

• Provided employment for 10 stage crew staff members, many of whom gained technical and leadership skills through our peer-to-peer training programs.

• Supported over 110 vendor booths, food trucks, and resource tables, amplifying LGBTQIA2S+ businesses and service providers.

• Revived our beloved Pride Parade, which had been on hiatus for years, restoring a cherished tradition that unites over thousands in celebration and solidarity.

• Assisted in sponsoring three other events by fellow nonprofits, further strengthening our community partnerships.

• Sponsored three individual artists in their professional growth within the field of the arts, fostering creativity and opportunity.

But our impact extends far beyond June. Over the past two years, our dedicated volunteers have expanded their expertise, enabling us to create 10 signature events that provide essential safe spaces year-round. These events address critical moments for our community, particularly during times of heightened vulnerability.

One such event is Queersgiving, held during the holiday season when feelings of isolation and depression spike within the LGBTQIA2S+ community. By offering a warm, welcoming gathering space we provide food and queer films, where we combat loneliness and build resilience.

Another powerful initiative is our Queer Prom for Adults, an event designed for those who never had the opportunity to experience a prom as their authentic selves. One attendee shared,

“Thank you for producing Queer Prom. This event erased away all the trauma endured during my high school prom.” These words speak to the transformative nature of the spaces we create—spaces that heal, empower, and affirm identities.

With those signature events combined we were able to:

• Provide 68 stipends to on-stage LGBTQIA2S+ artists

• Hire 9 stage crew members in our continued peer-to-peer professional growth program

• Collaborate with other nonprofits to ensure and produce archival needs of LGBTQIA2S+ history in our beloved District 22

• Create STEM programming for our event’s Kids Zone with our signature Rainbow Rockets activity