Under a clear blue sky and vibrant banners, Clark County’s LGBTQ+ community held its fifth annual Rainbow Walk on Sunday, June 1.
The walk began south of East Fork Lewis River and ended at Holley Park. Unlike last year’s rainy confrontation, this year’s event unfolded under bright sun and with a more distant opposition presence.
Last year, anti-LGBTQ+ protesters briefly stopped the walk near La Center Elementary School, causing volunteers to form physical barriers with umbrellas. This year, the counter-protesters, numbering about half a dozen, were kept on the opposite side of East Fourth Street.
The walk drew a crowd of around 200 people, an unsurprisingly high turnout according to the event’s organizers. In the minds of many attendees was the La Center School District’s legal battle with the Washington Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI) over its gender identity policy.
OSPI determined in February that the district’s directive, requiring staff to inform parents if a student uses different pronouns at school, violates civil rights protections and exposes students to harm. Shortly after, the school district filed an appeal. In April, the Trump administration announced it would open a federal investigation into OSPI, claiming the state’s position may infringe on federal law.
Warren Westerberg, a La Center Middle School history teacher, said he attended the Rainbow Walk to show solidarity with the community following the district’s decision to continue the legal fight.
“I am … very frustrated with our school board and our superintendent’s decision to fight that because I just think it’s wrongheaded and it sends a terrible message to everybody,” he said.
His daughter, Violet, came out after graduating from the La Center School District. He said the lack of LGBTQ+ acceptance while she was a student made her time in the district difficult.
“She struggled with school, you know, had good friends and kinda had good social connections that way,” he said. “But she was just never fully comfortable until she became Violet.”
Violet said it was her first year attending the Rainbow Walk and that coming out had brought her peace.
“Yeah, I don’t know, I just feel like a big weight is off my back and just, I don’t know, I just feel like I’m doing it right,” she said.
The walk ended with a lively fair at Holley Park, featuring music, food and community booths. Simone Auger and her mother, Valerie Alexander, a tribal elder of the Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde, delivered an opening land acknowledgement and spoke on the broader struggle for acceptance. She addressed the ongoing controversy over the school district’s refusal to repeal its controversial policy.
“Around here ... the lack of inclusivity and the lack of acceptance, I just feel for everybody,” Auger said. “I really appreciate the fact that this organization and all the supporters and allies have been engaged in.”
She also urged the community to stay focused when battling certain policies.
“We are in a very divisive political environment,” Auger said. “I encourage you to stay policy-focused. Do not get involved in the politics side of things.”
The fair drew support from across the area, from small businesses to students from La Center High School’s Gay-Straight Alliance. For people like Violet, seeing the size and spirit of the turnout was deeply meaningful.
“Pride means not being afraid to be yourself and not care who sees it,” she said.
