Author: seattleaceadmin

At our booths this year, we had the “Field Guide To Pride Flags”, a binder with a bunch of Pride Flags and a quick blurb about the identities they represent. We plan to update this with more flags from time to time.

After two years off, the Seattle Pride Parade is returning in 2022! The Seattle Aces & Aros are planning to march for the third time. Bring your signs, flags, and other Aro and Ace Pride gear and come join us!

It’s free and doesn’t require any commitment other than time.

The Pride Parade will be on Sunday, June 26th, starting around 11AM . The Parade runs through downtown Seattle on the mostly flat 4th Ave, from around Westlake Center to Seattle Center. Distance is about a mile.

We are Contingent #40, with a scheduled arrival time of between 10:45 and 11:30 AM. Our staging zone is located on 4th Avenue, between University and Seneca. This is several blocks south of Westlake Center, and only about a block away from the University St. Light Rail station. They have us set to line up in the middle of the street. It appears that there is a small plaza between Purple and The Financial Center, so if you don’t see us, hang around that area until the flags show up.

We will be staged between Code.org and the King County Democrats and next to the Righteously Outrageous Twirling Corps, and will be marching between Salesforce and the KC Dems. One thing to note is that the staging map shows us in close proximity to the “Body Pride Ride”, which is a group of nude cyclists who may or may not be covered in body paint. (If this makes you uncomfortable, you can wait further north in the staging area along 4th Ave and join us when we pass.)

It is impossible to know exactly when we’ll start marching, so we should expect to move any time after 11:30. I would estimate our arrival at the end of the parade at Seattle Center to be sometime between 12:30 and 1:30.

Important! Seattle Pride requires that all marchers provide proof of vaccination or negative PCR test within 48 hrs. (PCR tests are the lab test, not the home rapid tests), and they are requiring that all groups verify. They will be spot checking contingents for compliance. Any contingents that are not in compliance will be kicked out of the parade, so be sure to bring your proof! (Physical card, photo of card, phone app, etc. are all valid forms of proof.) Masks are not required, but you are encouraged to wear one in the crowded staging area and welcome to wear one for the rest of the parade.

Facebook Event: https://fb.me/e/4IIg2M8Hv

Meetup Event: https://www.meetup.com/Seattle-and-Surrounding-Area-Asexuals-Seattle-Aces/events/284274387/

(RSVPing is encouraged, but not required. You can just show up on the day of the event and we’d love to have you!)

There are three other events around the march, and you don’t have to be marching to attend any of them.

First is a Pre-Parade Meetup, a couple of blocks from the staging area:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/events/734861714230254
Meetup: https://www.meetup.com/seattle-and-surrounding-area-asexuals-seattle-aces/events/286714509/

There will be an Informal Watching Group along the route, in case you want to hang out with other aces and aros to watch the parade, but don’t want to march yourselves:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/events/1414072005723902
Meetup: https://www.meetup.com/seattle-and-surrounding-area-asexuals-seattle-aces/events/286653385/

And finally, after the marching group gets to Seattle Center, there will be a Post-Parade Hangout:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/events/367533058699392
Meetup: https://www.meetup.com/seattle-and-surrounding-area-asexuals-seattle-aces/events/286715087/

This year, Washington has recognized Aromantic Spectrum Awareness Week for the first time! We are the fifth state to do so, after Colorado, Virginia, Michigan, and Minnesota, and after the District of Columbia and the city of Denver, CO.

Here is the full proclamation (click to zoom):

Full Text:

The State of Washington

Proclamation

WHEREAS aromanticism is a generally unknown and misunderstood romantic orientation; and

WHEREAS people who are aromantic often feel isolated and confused, and lack access to resources and support networks; and

WHEREAS discovering aromanticism can be an affirming and positive personal experience; and

WHEREAS having peers and family know of and understand aromanticism can provide safety, support, and comfort to aromantic people; and

WHEREAS Aromantic Spectrum Awareness Week aims to spread awareness and acceptance of aromantic spectrum identities and the issues faced by the aromantic community; and

WHEREAS Washington is proud of and made stronger by the vast diversity of its residents;

THEREFORE, I, Jay Inslee, Governor of the state of Washington, do hereby proclaim the period between February 21st and February 27th, 2021, as AROMANTIC SPECTRUM AWARENESS WEEK in Washington, and I encourage all people in our state to join me in this special observance.

Signed this 24th day of February, 2021

Governor Jay Inslee