This past weekend, Snovalley Pride was excited to once again walk in the Great Carnation 4th of July Parade alongside our friends, neighbors, and fellow community organizations. For many in the 2SLGBTQ+ community, this holiday can carry mixed emotions. It can be difficult to celebrate our country while members of our community continue to face policies and rhetoric that challenge our rights, our dignity, and our sense of belonging. Those realities are very real, and they deserve to be acknowledged.

That is exactly why we continue to show up.

We walk because visibility matters. We walk because kindness matters. We walk because family deserves to feel welcome, and every person deserves to be treated with dignity and respect. We walk because we all need to remember that our 2SLGBTQ+ community is also represented in the stars & stripes. Our US flag has been co opted by far-right extremist groups, and it is important to reclaim that flag because it is…supposed to…represent ALL of us.

To everyone who waved, cheered, smiled, or simply shared a moment of connection with us along the parade route…thank you! We are grateful to be part of a valley where so many people continue choosing love, inclusivity, and hope.

Together, we’ll continue to create spaces where everyone can be seen, celebrated, and belong.

Special thank you to the amazing photographers who shared their photos of the parade! Thank you to Travis from Last Lite Photography (his photos have a LL logo on the lower left side), and Dane Halfdane (his photos have a Half/Dane logo watermark) for taking such wonderful photos of an incredible day!