La Conner reflects on a joyful Pride Month — and what comes next

Jennavessia Touché entertains the crowd during the Pride Drag Show at the Swinomish Yacht Club. Photo by Nancy K. Crowell/La Conner Community News

Pride Month may be over, but La Conner’s LGBTQIA2S+ community is still feeling the joy — and planning what’s next.

3–5 minutes

June may be over, but for many in La Conner’s Queer community, the impact of Pride Month is still rippling through their lives in the form of new friendships, stronger community ties, and a renewed sense of safety, visibility, and joy.

“It’s a little sad, but mostly I’m proud,” said Christina Burdick-Good-Rubenstein, a member of the La Conner Pride Committee, part of the La Conner Thrives Association that she co-chaired by Christina and her wife, Robyn Burdick-Good-Rubenstein. “The committee and I put our whole selves into everything we did this month, and our hard work paid off in some incredibly impactful ways.”

Events this year included a packed drag show at the Swinomish Yacht Club, the town’s first Queer Art Walk featuring LGBTQIA2S+ artists at downtown businesses, and a sold out Queer Cruise to Deception Pass, just to name a few. 

The month also featured a special exhibit at the La Conner Swinomish Library exploring the 1969 Stonewall Riots, the six-day clash between LGBTQ+ protestors and police that sparked the modern gay rights movement in the United States and beyond.

A special exhibit at the La Conner Swinomish Library explored the 1969 Stonewall Riots, the six-day clash between LGBTQ+ protestors and police that sparked the modern gay rights movement in the United States and beyond. The exhibit, “Tracing LGBTQ+ Activism Since Stonewall: Why We Celebrate Pride” was organized by the La Conner Pride Committee, part of La Conner Thrives Association, for La Conner Pride Month. Photo courtesy Kee Hinkley

Library Director Jean Markert recalled one visitor who thanked the library for the display, saying, “You have no idea how much displays like this mean to people.”

According to committee member Mollie Pepper, the exhibit drew visitors from La Conner and beyond. “A few people mentioned learning something they didn’t know from the display,” Pepper said, “like vocabulary that was new to them or that Stonewall is the foundation of Pride.”

That spirit of education and empowerment extended to the Queer Art Walk, where 14-year-old La Conner High student Eva Dent shared work publicly. “I saw it as an awesome way to show my work,” xe said. “I enjoyed interacting with all the people around.”

La Conner Pride Queer Cruise

Image 1 of 10

Photo by Nancy K. Crowell/La Conner Community News

For Robyn, the experience was validating on multiple levels. “It feels amazing to have been a part of this,” she said. “To find out that we’re capable of planning something like this, executing it, and succeeding. To find so many other LGBTQIA2S+ people around our small community.”

And while June was joyful, being queer in La Conner the rest of the year can be more complicated. Christina, who co-owns Tillinghast Postal & Business Center with Robyn, noted that being out as a business owner carries risks. “You have to be ready to receive negative criticisms not just for your work, but for who you are,” she said. “It can be really scary, but really rewarding.”

Still, the Burdick-Good-Rubensteins have found strength in visibility. “We have a rainbow flag flying 24/7, 365 days a year,” Robyn said. “People notice. We’ve had multiple people declare our shop their safe space due to that alone.”

Boone Farrell with their art on display during the Queer Art Walk June 21 in downtown La Conner.

Local business owner Jules Riske, co-owner of Hedlin’s Family Farm, said the turnout at events like the drag show was a heartening surprise. “We need those wins right now,” she said. “The stronger we are as a community, the more we’re going to be able to take care of each other.”

Riske described the drag show as both wildly entertaining and meaningful. “It was really fun to watch the performers, the MCs, the positive message just kind of seep into everybody,” she said. “To know that they were all going to go home feeling just a little better about themselves made me really happy.”

That kind of joy matters — especially in a time when queer communities across the country are facing increased hostility. 

“So many people discovered more of ‘their people’ in the community than we ever thought there were,” Robyn said. “It’s so easy to look at the news or certain flags around town and feel shunned or even threatened, but hundreds of people made it a point to show up and support us more loudly than any of the haters could have.”

For La Conner resident Alex Dallas, efforts to support the queer community year-round — not just during Pride Month — matter. “Seeing more community efforts, especially outside of June, things that are specifically for the queer community but open to everyone, I think will definitely have more of a lasting impact,” he said.

Jay Lockrem, a longtime La Conner resident who now resides in Mount Vernon agrees and also added, “Honestly, that goes for everyone in your community. Let’s lift each other up and create space in La Conner that is loving and welcoming for all.”

Staci Baird is the managing editor of La Conner Community News.

Subscribe
Donate 🤍