Our Valley. Our Home.
What Kind of Valley Do We Want to be?
Snovalley Pride began during a difficult time in our community.
Our Valley experienced the devastating loss of several young people to suicide, including youth who were part of our queer community. At the same time, across the country, we were watching a growing wave of legislation and rhetoric targeting 2SLGBTQ+ people, particularly transgender and nonbinary youth.
For those of us who love this Valley and call it home, these moments weighed heavily on our hearts.
And they made us ask some important questions.
What kind of Valley do we want to live in?
What can we do to make life better for the queer people who already live here? How can we make sure 2SLGBTQ+ young people grow up seeing themselves celebrated in their own hometowns? How can we support families, create connection, increase visibility and help people know they are not alone?
And perhaps most importantly, how could we challenge the idea that queer people have to leave rural communities to find safety, belonging and Pride?
We knew the Snoqualmie Valley could be part of a different story.
So we decided to help write it.
Snovalley Pride was created to build a more visible, connected and welcoming community for 2SLGBTQ+ people right here at home. We began creating spaces where people could gather, celebrate, make art, share stories, find resources, build friendships and experience the simple but powerful feeling of being surrounded by people who are happy they are here.
Because making our Valley safer and more welcoming for queer people ultimately helps create a kinder, more connected community for all of us.
We don’t believe rural communities have to be places 2SLGBTQ+ people escape from.
We believe they can be places where we belong.
And that’s the story Snovalley Pride set out to change.
Gather Around the Fire
KINDNESS IS OUR CAMPFIRE
There’s something special about living in the Snoqualmie Valley.
We know our neighbors. We gather at local festivals. We run into each other at coffee shops and grocery stores. We watch our kids grow up together. We’re surrounded by rivers, forests and mountains that remind us every day how lucky we are to call this place home. But living in a rural community can also feel isolating when you’re queer, trans, nonbinary or questioning.
For a long time, many LGBTQ+ people living here looked toward Seattle and other larger cities to find queer community.
We wanted to change that.
We believe you should be able to find Pride right here at home.
You should see rainbow flags flying in your town. You should hear queer musicians performing in your local park. 2SLGBTQ+ teens should be able to meet other kids who understand them. Parents should have people they can turn to. Queer artists should have places to share their work. Families should be able to attend a Pride event together. And everyone should be reminded that they are a valued part of this community.
That’s the Valley we’re working to create.
How It Started
We Started With Joy.
From the beginning, we knew we wanted Snovalley Pride to feel different. Yes, advocacy matters. Education matters. Resources matter. Standing up for our community matters.
But so does joy. So does dancing. So does making art. So does sitting around a campfire. So does watching a kid meet a unicorn. So does hearing a queer musician perform beside the Snoqualmie River. So does walking into an event in your hometown, looking around and realizing: These are my people.
Joy can be powerful. Visibility can be powerful. Simply creating a place where someone feels safe enough to be completely themselves can be powerful.
That’s why celebration has always been at the heart of Snovalley Pride.
THE STORY CONTINUES
What We’re Building Together
Today, Snovalley Pride is the first 2SLGBTQ+ nonprofit rooted in the Snoqualmie Valley. What began as a small group of neighbors gathering around an idea has grown into a year-round community organization creating events, arts and cultural programs, youth and family spaces, educational resources, and opportunities for connection throughout the Valley.
We are proud of how far we have come, but our story is still being written.
Every person who attends an event, volunteers with our Love Crew, shares their art, supports our work, or simply helps another person feel welcome becomes part of that story.
Together, we are creating a Snoqualmie Valley where 2SLGBTQ+ people of every age can feel safe, celebrated, connected, and proud to call this place home.
