MI Pride event celebrates diversity, inclusion and belonging

Mercer Island’s Phoenix Miller and her friends had just arrived at the Pride in the Park event on Aug. 7 and they were already soaking up the celebratory atmosphere at the city-hosted community gathering at Mercerdale Park.

Miller was first joined by Emily (last name withheld) and then V Bensen and Jade Tracey cruised over and the twosome became a quartet as they chatted away under the sun and blue sky.

Emily said the friends were having a good time as music bounced from the speakers off in the distance, people — and even a dog or two — donned Pride capes while a few attendees jogged around the lawn shooting bubbles into the air. Smiles were abundant on this day as well.

The city is proud to host the Pride event, according to a statement to the Reporter, adding that it’s a community celebration of diversity, inclusion and belonging.

“What brought me out here is that the community really does show how Mercer Island is very inclusive, and I like that,” Miller said. “I think that it’s just generally really important to be here and show that everybody here is totally accepted for who they are, at least around here, and you can be yourself without being afraid.”

City recreation program supervisor Katie Herzog said the event was bigger this year as they scheduled it before the popular Mostly Music in the Park series. Later in the evening, Brickhouse unleashed its ’70s disco and funk vibes to keep the party rolling.

During Pride, people swayed to songs like the Bee Gees’ “Night Fever,” ABBA’s “Dancing Queen,” Michael Jackson’s “Don’t Stop ‘Til You Get Enough” and heaps more uplifting tunes.

“We’re really happy with the turnout so far. I think the weather’s great, it’s a good vibe in the park, a nice night to be out here just hanging out and visiting the booths,” Herzog said. “Just bringing pride to the community I think is really important and hopefully that’s what this is doing.”

While standing near a few of the informational booths, Mercer Island City Councilmember Daniel Becker noted that it was important for him to attend the event to show his support for the community.

“As far as I know, I am the first openly LGBTQ city-wide official in Mercer Island,” he said.

Becker added that it’s crucial to “show everyone else that I appreciate them being here and to try to be an example for other people and for kids and for families that are in the region. I think we want to show people that Mercer Island is a good place to live and a welcoming place to live.”

Pride in the Park featured a wealth of information, including booths from the city, Mercer Island Natural Resources, Mercer Island Visual Arts League, GenPride, PFLAG Bellevue Eastside (with a “Leading With Love” banner), Eastside Pride PNW, All the Best Pet Care, Island Cats Veterinary Hospital, Congregational Church on Mercer Island (with “A Just World for All” banner) and more.

GenPride’s outreach and education coordinator Pamela Nassar Altabcharani said the LGBTQ+ senior center is located on Seattle’s Capitol Hill and serves all of King County.

It is GenPride’s first year of involvement with Mercer Island’s Pride event and Altabcharani was enjoying her time interacting with attendees.

“It’s been really kind of warming for (the city) to reach out to us. They want us to be here because we represent all seniors in King County who are LGBTQ+, which they experience double invisibility. The invisibility of aging first of all, and then the second one which is being gay and transgender at that age group is a lot harder than it is for us younger ones.”

Altabcharani said she wants to ensure that seniors’ specific needs, voices and stories are recorded and viewed as being just as important as the voices of youth.

Congregational Church on Mercer Island’s Jonathan Harrington praised the city and the parks and recreation department for encouraging inclusivity and diversity on the Island.

“Our faith community has embraced inclusion for decades and many of our faith leaders are members of the LGBTQ community, including ministers, and everyone needs to have a welcome place to congregate and to learn and to actually worship,” he said.