Seattle Pride 2010 Theme Sparks Controversy in LGBT Community

On June 27, 2010, Seattle Out and Proud (SOaP) will present the 36th Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual & Transgender (LGBT) Seattle Pride Parade. Seattle is home to the second largest number of LGBT residents by percentage of population in the country, estimated around 57,900 in Seattle and almost triple that metro-wide. This year’s Seattle Pride theme ‘We Are ALL American’ is igniting early fireworks within the LGBT community. The producers of the annual parade chose to focus the celebration on the passing of Referendum 71, which granted Washingtonian LGBT residents the same rights as other residents. Still, a faction within the community feel that the theme is offensive and are charging that it attempts to normalize the LGBT community. But Jon Mejia, Secretary for SOaP, said “[The bill] serves as a reminder that everyone who came to this land … did so because of America’s promise to provide ALL of it’s citizens equal justice, a level playing field, and liberty to pursue happiness.”