The sixth annual Rainbow Walk is set for Sunday, June 7, in La Center, as organizers say this year has brought new anxieties surrounding LGBTQ+ visibility and support in north Clark County.
The walk will start at 11 a.m. at the La Center Road bridge over the East Fork Lewis River, continue through downtown, and finish at Holley Park at 1000 East Fourth Street. The Pride Festival at Holley Park begins after the walk concludes and runs until 4 p.m.
Clark County Pride, which organizes the annual event, was established in 2021 in response to community concerns about LGBTQ+ students facing discrimination in the La Center School District.
“Some folks in the La Center School District let us know that queer kids were being bullied and discriminated against by fellow students and administrators, so we decided that we wanted to have space for all those folks… to come together and feel like family and feel a sense of belonging,” Clark County Pride organizer and board member Malerie Paynter said.
Clark County Pride has since expanded beyond La Center and now works throughout rural Clark County, supporting LGBTQ+ residents and advocating on school and policy issues, Paynter said.
This year’s Rainbow Walk takes place amid growing concerns about LGBTQ+ visibility in north Clark County.
In Battle Ground, controversy surrounding LGBTQ+ recognition has continued over the last two years following disputes concerning Pride Month proclamations at the city council. In June 2024, then-Councilors Eric Overholser, Victoria Ferrer and Tricia Davis voted to remove a Pride Month proclamation from the city council agenda, with some calling it controversial. Though they were in the minority, city rules at the time allowed three council members to pull a proclamation from consideration. The decision sparked backlash from residents and LGBTQ+ advocates.
In 2025, then-mayor Troy McCoy read a Pride Month proclamation after a majority of council members amended the city code to prevent the removal of a minority-rule proclamation. However, after being appointed mayor last January, Overholser has since declined requests for both a Transgender Day of Visibility proclamation and a 2026 Pride Month proclamation, according to local activists.
“I very much worry for the safety of folks in that area, as the environment is (worsening),” Paynter said. “The temperature had been going in a good direction for equity and inclusivity and visibility of queer folks in rural Clark County to some degree, at least in Battle Ground’s city council, and it’s now going the wrong direction.”
Meanwhile, the La Center School District continues to appeal a ruling by the Washington Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI), which, in 2025, found that its gender-identity policy violated state nondiscrimination law. Under the district’s policy, staff can reach out to parents to inform them that their child is questioning their gender identity or using different pronouns, without students’ consent.
According to a September 2025 report by The Center Square, the district has continued to appeal the ruling, arguing that the policies protect parental rights, as OSPI has threatened to withhold funding. Rosenkranz has argued that the district should not ask students for their preferred pronouns or withhold information from parents. The district’s policy has raised concerns among some local advocates about student privacy and safety. OSPI’s model policy states that notifying parents without student consent could put students at risk if their parents are not supportive.
Paynter mentioned that Clark County Pride remains active, participating in school board meetings and voicing their concerns.
“He sees it (as) fighting the good fight… but what it really amounts to is taking agency away from students who know best (and) whether they’re safe at home,” she said.
Paynter said this year’s event also comes amid rising tensions over LGBTQ+ rights at the national level.
“I think that’s another reason that queer visibility and queer joy is so important in this time, because this bolsters against defeat and complacency,” she said.
Paynter said organizers believe visibility remains especially important in rural communities such as La Center.
“I want any queer kid in town to be able to see that you can grow up to be a healthy, happy, queer adult,” she said.
Attendance at the annual walk has increased since its first year, when about 100 people participated despite extreme heat and limited notice. Last year’s walk drew about 200 participants.
The walk covers nearly one mile and welcomes participants of all ages. Organizers highlight accessibility and accommodation in the annual walk.
“There’s always young families, there’s people with strollers and people carrying babies, there are people in walkers sometimes, there’s just every kind of person that you might think of attends this walk,” Paynter said. “It is such a joy to see the colors and the noise and the joy going through town.”
Security and de-escalation volunteers will also be present at this year’s event. A small group of anti-LGBTQ+ protestors has demonstrated across the road from the annual walk in previous years.
“We have a really cohesive security team this year, and they’re really well trained,” she said.
The Pride Festival at Holley Park will include musical performances, vendors, and a quiet space inside the community center for attendees seeking a break from crowds or noise. Local organizations supporting the LGBTQ+ community will be present at this event.
“There’s art and craft and sensory projects to do, and it’s a way for people to connect,” Paynter said.
Paynter said organizers hope the event continues becoming a lasting tradition for the community.
