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2025 brings a new era of challenges across the nation for LGBTQ+ people and those who love them. Regardless, PFLAG will continue to support, educate, and advocate for LGBTQ+ communities. Underterred by the challenges, we will lead with love and be visible and accessible in Lower Coulmbia communities in 2025 and beyond.
In 2024 PFLAG Lower Columbia celebrates its 20th anniversary with a colorful banner featured at the front of the chapter's new rainbow canopy. We hope, as the chapter begins its third decade, that we will realize PFLAG's vision of an equitable, inclusive world where every LGBTQ+ person is safe, celebrated, empowered, and loved.
Dale and Carla at the 2024 International Festival at LCC. They enjoyed Norwegian split pea soup, Polish sausages, and dancing and songs from around the world.
It was sunny, but very windy day, at the Barbey Marine Center along the Columbia River where PFLAGers, Shirley and Dale, joined the Astoria Pride Festival. It was a fun day! Following the downtown Pride parade, the marchers arrived at the Barbey Center, waving pride flags and in a festive mood, on the pride festooned Astoria Trolley.
The 2024 Kelso Public Library's Annual Duck Tape War was lots of fun for the kids who taped librarian, Eric, to the walls. The intensity of the kid's taping was amazing and enjoyable for the adults to watch. Eric, who smiled through out the ordeal, was able to break loose from the wall but his legs had to be rescued by a policeman wielding a strong pair of scissors. As the kids duck taped Eric and made bead bracelets, Dale told the adults about PFLAG.
It was an overcast and windy day at the 2024 Pacific County Pride Festival in Raymond but weather did not dampen the festivities. In contrast, day two of the festival in Long Beach, was sunny and warm. At both locations Dale and Shirley shared PFLAG's history and mission with large appreciative crowds. Participants also spun the wheel for Pride swag and kids made bead bracelets.
Megan had a fun time tabling at the 2024 Broad Strokes Project Drag Brunch at Longview's Merk Building. Broad Strokes promotes public art in Longview and raises funds through the annual brunch.
It was a festive and fun Erebus Pride Nite on Friday, June 14th. While Dale tabled and talked with individuals, the club's owner stopped by and invited him to speak to all the attendees at once. Dale simply told the patrons about the love he has for his gay son and how that love prompted his involvement in PFLAG. He then explained PFLAG's mission. The crowd responded with great applause, and after Dale went back to tabling, many more individuals approached him to get more information and to collect PFLAG swag. Dale says, "It was gratifying to see the appreciation the celebrants have for PFLAG."
It was typical Pacific Northwest stormy day when PFLAG Lower Columbia tabled at the 2024 Woodland Planters Day Festival. It rained, then poured, then rained, then poured, and finally the sun broke though the clouds and our canopy and flags provided the rainbow colors! Even though it was rainy, many people visited the chapter booth including young people seeking affirmation and support and parents and allies who were so glad to see PFLAG visible in the community.
At the 2024 Rainbow Walk it was inspiring to watch the Rainbow Community youth take charge in organizing and leading the march around Longview's Civic Circle. Later some of the adults gathered at the PFLAG table to celebrate LGBTQ+ youth and the loving parents who support their children. PFLAG Lower Columbia is grateful to have participated to this fun event.
The Rainbow Station is an annual event where LGBTQ+ people, families, and allies safely gather to enjoy a BBQ picnic and watch Longview's Go 4th parade. Our host, Kia, Megan, and Geoff, served delicous hamburgers and hot dogs and we also enjoyed popsicles donated by Walmart.
The chapter won the 2nd place award for its portrayal of the 2024 Bald Eagle Days parade theme of Wings Over Wahkiakum. The decorations included colorful eagle pride flags and flowers and a large nest of eagles and eaglets.
With eagle pride flags flying, PFLAGers and allies are ready for the 2024 Cathlamet Bald Eagle Days parade. Marchers wore butterfly wing costumes and the banner bearers wore pride colored capes and hats.
Dale, Carla, and Steen shared PFLAG's story with booth visitors at the 2024 Cathlamet Bald Eagle Days Festival.
The owners of Emerald Haven game store, Amy and Dani, particpated in the 2024 Terry-Taylor neigborhood yard sale by selling games and puzzles. The proceeds of their yard sale were donated to PFLAG Lower Columbia, which tabled at the event. Thank you Amy and Dani.
New chapter board member, Ryan, helped tell many 2024 Squirrel Fest participants about PFLAG.
PFLAG Lower Columbia chapter member, Mandy (right), grew up in Clatskanie, Oregon. She joined Dale (left) on a very windy day at the 2024 Clatskanie Harvest Festival. It was fun to meet so many members of the LGBTQ+ community and their families and allies and, also, Mandy had an unexpected reunion with some of her relatives!
On October 5th, 33 people gathered at the Longview United Methodist Church to watch the documentary 1946 presented by the church and PFLAG Lower Columbia. PFLAG Lower Columbia and Called to Love, a Christian reconciliation organization, had literature and other information available for the participants.
Shown in the pictures (L to R) are Gail and Eunice from Called to Love, Pastor Allison, and Dale from PFLAG; Gail, PFLAG Lower Columbia founder Mary Ann, and Eunice; and Shirley with the popcorn. There were also candy Kisses and Hugs. Pastor Allison led a post viewing discussion.
PFLAG table at the 2024 Queersgiving
The 2024 Queersgiving was a huge success with over eighty participants enjoying a feast of turkey, ham, and all the trimings and desserts galore. Over thirty wonderful door prizes donated by Woodland's Corner Store, Magpie Book Store, Emerald Haven game store, Cafe Guse, Sugar Pearl Dessert Company, Forest, Stone, and Sea store, Queerly Crafted, and community members were given away. The highlight of the giveaways was the joy on a boy's face when he won the last prize, a beautiful Pride quilt created by a talented ally out of donated fabric. Thank you to the prize donors and also to Walmart and US Chefs Store for their donations of water and supplies.
The setup, music, and decorating crews pause for a group picture at the 2024 Queersging dinner. Thank you to the many volunteers who helped setup, decorate, and cleanup, as well as those who provided festive music throughout! A special thanks is given to the Woodworkers Union for making their hall available.
Mary Ann at the 2024 Living Well in Wahkiakum event in Cathlamet.
PFLAG National celebrated its 50 anniversary in 2023. To commemorate this wonderful achievement, PFLAG gave each chapter a new logo, banner, and table runner. PFLAG Lower Columbia displayed its new logo, banner and table runner at numerous tabling events in 2023.
PFLAG Lower Columbia's entry in the 2023 Cathlamet Bald Eagles Day Parade celebrates PFLAG's 50th anniversary.
Steen, a native of Denmark, told the Norwegians and other particpants about PFLAG at the 2023 Sons of Norway Spring Festival.
Megan is at Link's 2023 Back to Summer festival. Megan helped the kids make bead bracelets.
Dale at the 2023 International Festival at Lower Columbia College. He helpled festival participants spin for prizes and learn about PFLAG.
Megan and Steen lead PFLAGers and allies at the 2023 Bald Eagle Days parade.
Mary Ann and Carol passed out candy to the crowd lining the 2023 Bald Eagle Days parade route.
PFLAG received the award for the best decorated car at the 2023 Bald Eagle Days parade.
Carla and Steen at the PFLAG booth at the 2023 Bald Eagle Days Festival.
Dale enjoyed a great drag queen musical show and spoke to the crowd about PFLAG at the 2023 Pacific County Pride Festival in Long Beach.
Participants at the Pacific County Pride Festival could make bead bracelets and spin for Pride prizes as well as learn about PFLAG at the PFLAG Lower Columbia booth.
PFLAG Lower Columbia at the 2023 Squirrel Fest.
Nicole, Dale, Julia, Megan, Mary Ann, and Pat posed for a picture after preparing the Woodworkers Union Hall for the 2023 Queersgiving dinner.
The Woodworkers Union Hall is decorated and ready to host the 2023 Queersgiving where over 50 guests enjoyed a bounteous feast of turkey, ham, mashed potatoes, veggies, and a variety of delicious desserts.
PFLAG Lower Columbia's table at the 2023 Queersgiving
Dale and Mary Ann passed out candy bags to both kids and adults at Cathlamet's 2024 Neewollah (Halloween spelled backwards) Trunk or Treat event. Kids could also make bead bracelets and spin the wheel for more candy,
Megan and Dale took turns passing out candy bags at downtown Longview's Trunk or Treat event. The bags contained candy and the chapter business card and were sealed with a rainbow sticker.
Mary Ann at the Wahkiakum County Resouce Fair. Making bead bracelets was popular with the kids.
In 2013 PFLAG celebrated its 40th anniverary and then PFLAG Lower Columbia commemorated its 10th in 2014. The following years saw progress in achieving LGBTQ+ rights, including marriage equality, at both state and national levels. Due to the Covid pandemic the chapter transitioned from inperson support meetings to Zoom meetings. Then, as the pandemic subsided the chapter support meetings transitioned again; this time to hybrid meetings held both in-person and via Zoom.
In 2013 PFLAG Lower Columbia joined PFLAG National in celebrating its 40th aniversary.
PFLAGers and allies ready to march in the 2014 Bald Eagle Days parade. The chapter celebrated its 10th year in 2014.
Tabling at 2014 Bald Eagles Days
In 2014 the chapter played frisbee. Fun!
PFLAG Lower Columbia offered cold water to runners in the 2015 Cathlamet Downhill race.
PFLAG Lower Columbia founder, Rick, enjoys the warmth of a fire at a chapter picnic in 2016. The participants enjoyed Smores prepared over the fire pit.
Mary Ann offered free PFLAG hugs at a 2017 chapter event.
PFLAG Lower Columbia entry is decorated and ready for the 2018 Bald Eagle Days parade.
PFLAG Lower Columbia founders Mary Ann and Rick (partially shown) joined PFLAG Vice President Diego Sanchez at the 2018 Pacific Northwest Regional Conference in Boise.
The PFLAG Lower Columbia table is decorated with Pride colors for an event in 2019.
At the 2021 Bald Eagle Days Parade the car was decked out in Pride flags and ready to roll.
Carla and Dale at Link's 2022 Back to Summer Festival
Shirley at Bald Eagle Days Festival, July 2022
Steen and Carla at RAINS Pride, July 2022
