By CHERYL ROMANO/Lincoln Chronicle
YACHATS — Three days of celebrating diversity begin Friday, when Yachats Pride offers live music, discussions, dinners, a dance and a puppy parade, all indoors at the Yachats Commons.
For the seventh year, the local nonprofit group is staging a weekend of events to “give everyone a chance to connect with people who may be different,” said Yachats Pride board member Kait Brudzinski of Waldport.
“We make room for everyone,” said Brudzinski.
The group was formed in 2017 to celebrate diversity among the central Oregon coast’s lesbian, gay, bi-sexual, transgender, queer, inter-sex and asexual residents.
The Yachats events is the kickoff of Pride Month events on the central Oregon coast, across Oregon and the country.
Under the theme “Gays in Space”, the festival kicks off at 5:30 p.m. Friday, June 6 with a dinner and show featuring live musical performances. Suggested donation is $10.
Saturday’s lineup includes a Trans Tea Party at noon, with a discussion on community and family. At 5:30 p.m., Drag Bingo and dinner by chef Devon Chase of Ona restaurant is on the menu with a suggested $10 donation, followed by a dance party at 9 p.m.
On Sunday, a “Queer Vendor Market” is slated from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., with 22 vendors offering goods from herbal items to jewelry, soaps to pottery. A picnic hosted by Yachats Community Presbyterian Church runs from noon to 2 p.m. A Puppy Parade takes the Commons’ stage from 1-2 p.m.
“We strive to make our events inclusive, and most are donation-based,” said Brudzinski. Proceeds go toward paying performers and funding next year’s weekend. Beer and wine will be available for purchase throughout the weekend.
According to Budzinski, the Pride programs are also educational.
“So often, people use their own experiences to extrapolate to the world,” she said. “This is a chance to have a conversation with others that may be provocative and insightful.”
Budzinski cited one Midwestern visitor at last year’s celebration who was non-queer — and was struck by “the joy, celebration and acceptance” evident throughout the weekend.
Brudzinski praised the many volunteers who help stage the event, including those who will keep a slightly tighter eye on security this year. With the Trump administration’s antipathy toward transgender people, she said, “We’ll make sure everybody is safe.” Last year’s event had no security issues.
Last year, an estimated 350 people attended the weekend’s events, which took place in and around the Commons. Because bad weather on the final day reduced attendance, all activities this year will be indoors.
As the Yachats Pride weekend has grown, Budzinski said, so has interest from other towns. “We’ve been asked by other communities in the Pacific Northwest for help in starting their own Pride,” she said.
For more information, go to the Yachats Pride website, or email info@yachatspride.org. People interested in volunteering are encouraged to make contact through the email.
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