HR celebrates Pride, and why it matters

HOOD RIVER — Love, music, and plenty of bubbles filled the air downtown Friday evening, as members of the LGBTQ+ community and its allies gathered downtown in celebration of Pride.

Also kicking off Visit Hood River’s 2026 First Friday Summer Series — free, family-friendly themed street festivals occurring monthly — the spirited event brought vendors, musicians, roller skaters, and kiosks to a temporarily closed-off Oak Street. In recognition of the historic month-long observance, Pride Month, June’s theme reflects the city’s commitment to creating a welcoming and supportive environment for all.

At 7 p.m., Hood River Mayor Paul Blackburn led a parade of exuberant, rainbow-flag-bearing participants, commencing the two-day extravaganza, which featured a queer comedy night and 21-plus drag bingo.

Columbia Gorge News spoke with several attendees to learn what Pride means to them and why celebrating queerness is as important as ever.

First Friday

For Friday’s attendees, Pride festivals represent an act of togetherness and expression — a safe space for queer Americans and marginalized communities across the globe to shine through darkness and push back against persecution.

Visit Hood River CEO Katie Kadlub, donning a blue wig and rainbow xylophone costume, said Pride represents the LGBTQ+ community taking care of each other.

“During this administration, people don’t feel safe,” Kadlub said. “I’m excited that I get to be a part of a community that wants everyone to feel welcomed.”

For Underwood resident Tiernan Ryden, accompanied by their rainbow-bandana-wearing pooch — a popular accessory among attending canines — Pride represents family, safety, warmth, and connection.

“I think about all the generations to come, how important it is moving forward as a species to be able to connect through love, seeing the world through the eyes of love,” Ryden said. “I think of little me, because I wanted and needed this.”

Gorge Roller Derby all-star Amanda Parrott, who rolled up and down Oak Street throughout the evening, stressed that prejudice towards queer people is born out of misunderstanding: “Not knowing or getting a chance to meet people face-to-face and making blind judgments,” they said.

With a Pride flag sticking out of her cap, Hood River resident Sandy Spellecy named togetherness as the meaning behind Pride. “Because it’s overlooked, neglected, and rejected by this administration,” Spellecy said.

Why it matters

In the United States, LGBTQ+ rights and public stigma around gay marriage have made tremendous strides in the 21st century. Support in Oregon and Washington has grown dramatically since 2000, reaching 73% and 82%, respectively, according to a 2022 poll.

Nationwide, however, favorability toward marriage equality has declined over the last four years, falling from a high of 71% in 2022 to 65% today, according to a recent Gallup poll. That drop-off is almost entirely confined to the right side of the aisle; only 37% of Republicans believe same-sex marriage should be valid, down 18%, while Democrat support (87% in favor) hasn’t budged.

This shift is reflected in President Donald Trump’s MAGA movement, which is closely aligned with segments of the Christian church and  whose leaders have opposed LGBTQ+ rights through both rhetoric and legislation.

Repercussions are visible nationwide. According to the Human Rights Campaign (HRC), which declared an ongoing National State of Emergency for queer Americans in 2023 for the first time in its 40-year history, states introduced 489 anti-LGBTQ+ bills in 2024.

In 2026, the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) is tracking 530 bills targeting access to gender-affirming health care, LGBTQ-inclusive curriculum, and the ability to obtain accurate identification, among other restrictions on expression, such as drag shows.

The state of Kansas, for example, invalidated all driver’s licenses with a gender marker inconsistent with sex as assigned at birth, simultaneously prohibiting trans people from updating their state ID cards to reflect their identity. Often referred to as a “bathroom bill,” the legislation also requires trans people to use restrooms and other sex-separated facilities in government buildings associated with their sex assigned at birth.

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For more information about the First Friday Summer Series, visit visithoodriver.com. To stay up to date on anti-LGBTQ+ legislation nationwide, consult ACLU’s interactive map at www.aclu.org.