Despite light drizzle, several locals gathered at Burien City Hall on Thursday morning, May 29, 2025 to raise the Pride Flag for the fifth consecutive year in a celebration of LGBTQ+ visibility, resilience and unity.
The annual event signifies the start of Pride Month in June, which honors the 1969 Stonewall Uprising in New York City, a key moment in the LGBTQ+ rights movement. It celebrates equality, visibility, and the ongoing fight against discrimination.
Mayor Kevin Schilling and Councilmember Alex Andrade addressed the crowd during the ceremony, which continues to grow despite recent acts of vandalism targeting Pride flags.
“As mayor, while we’re showing support and love for Pride and for our community as a whole… we’re here to support our community and keep an inclusive and loving space for all here in the city,” said Schilling, who noted he is a proud member of the LGBTQ community.
Councilmember Andrade, a longtime member of the Burien Pride Committee, spoke candidly about the challenges of public visibility.
“Of course, visibility comes with its challenges,” Andrade said. “As a councilmember we receive hate mail, on the Pride Committee we face hateful emails and online attacks — and just this year alone, two of our Pride flags were torn down within 48 hours of them being placed up.”
“These actions are meant to silence us,” she added, “but instead they push us to be even more present, more intentional and always civil.”
The theme for this year’s celebration — “Pride Out Loud” — emphasizes year-round advocacy and celebration.
“Pride isn’t just a celebration in June,” Andrade said. “It’s a year-round commitment to resilience, visibility and love.”
The ceremony concluded with the raising of the Pride flag, group photos, and community members enjoying coffee and cookies under gray skies.
This year’s flag features the Progress Pride pattern, designed by Daniel Quasar in 2018. It incorporates additional colors to represent marginalized communities within the LGBTQ+ spectrum.
Video
Below is video of the event, as filmed/edited by Scott Schaefer (running time 4-minutes, 39-seconds):
Burien Pride is this Weekend
One of the largest Pride festivals in South King County is returning to Burien this weekend (May 30–June 1). with three days of events:
- Friday, May 30, 5 – 10 p.m.: Festivities begin with an outdoor Street Dance Party, welcoming all to kick off the weekend with live music and dancing in the streets of downtown Burien.
- Saturday, May 31, from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m.: All-day street festival packed with live bands, DJs, and drag performances. The event is free, family-friendly, and includes a dedicated kids’ area, local vendors, food, and community booths.
- Sunday, June 1, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.: Drag Queen Bingo & Pancakes, a fun and spirited gathering to raise funds for the inaugural Burien Pride Scholarship, supporting LGBTQ+ youth in the region.
More info here:
