When Sponsors Step Back, Our Community Steps Up. Join the Vanguard & Raise the Stage.

We Don't Panic, We Pivot. 💅🪩✨

The political climate has shifted, and some traditional sponsors have stepped back from supporting our community this year. But Yakima Pride's commitment to delivering a beautiful, high-bar festival never wavers. To ensure our event remains free, safe, and as spectacular as our chosen family expects, we are turning to the people who have always had our backs: you.

An incredible coalition of local drag artists and visiting royalty has stepped into the vanguard. Some have forfeited their performance fees entirely, others have generously reduced their rates, and many are stepping up to fundraise live at the Official Yakima Pride After Party! Now, these fierce advocates are building their own fundraising teams to close our funding gap and secure the stage.

The Story of the 1978 Vanguard Crown:

At Yakima Pride, our handcrafted designer crowns are more than awards; they are a growing tradition reserved exclusively for those whose actions fiercely embody our mission, vision, and core values. To be awarded a Yakima Pride crown, an individual must actively drive positive change by educating, elevating, honoring, and celebrating our community. Every single one of these regal honors is a bespoke masterpiece designed by Victor Mucio, an unapologetically queer latine/x fashion designer from Uruapan, Michoacán, Mexico.

This rich tradition of honoring our leaders is woven into the very fabric of our community. We see it in drag artists like Sophia Sinclair, who was awarded a handcrafted, trans-colored designer crown by Victor Mucio for their loyal support as our annual Rainbow Prom host and their status as a profound inspiration to our youth.

We saw this tradition cemented again at last year’s Rainbow Prom 🌈✨—our annual, affirming dance created specifically for LGBTQ+ youth across the Yakima Valley to celebrate safely and authentically. Two youth found themselves in the final Lip Sync Battle for the title of Prom Royalty and the coveted Rainbow Crown 👑. One of those competitors was 19-year-old local drag performer Dea aka Sr DemizerNight-Sinclair-HavenRexia 💚💕. When it was time for the audience to cheer for a winner, Dea quietly stepped back and motioned toward the other youth, ensuring the crowd's roar was entirely for them. The fellow youth won the Rainbow Crown. In response to that profound act of profound act of selfless leadership, Yakima Pride awarded Dea a pink crown because true leadership means living our core values of Authenticity and Community and Belonging. By ensuring a fellow youth felt seen and celebrated, Dea brought our vision—that "Equality reigns"—to life. Because of their continued dedication, Dea was recently selected as an official Yakima Pride Ambassador 🏳️‍🌈.

This year, the tradition continues on the main stage.

The drag artist whose team raises the most funds will be awarded this year's 1978 Vanguard Crown—a custom masterpiece beautifully designed by Victor Mucio, an unapologetically queer latine/x fashion designer from Uruapan, Michoacán, Mexico. They are being awarded this honor for demonstrating that exact same dedication to keeping our festival spectacular, free, and fully alive in alignment with our core value of Joy and Celebration.

We call it the 1978 Vanguard Crown for three foundational reasons:

The 1978 Foundation: In 1978, Gilbert Baker designed the original Pride flag 🏳️‍🌈. The very first stripe at the top of that flag was pink, representing the radical, beautiful act of self-expression.
The Vanguard: A "vanguard" is a group of people leading the way in new developments or ideas. Historically, drag artists have always been the vanguard of the LGBTQ+ movement, and today, they are the vanguard keeping our festival alive.
The Meaning: This crown honors the leader who steps into the vanguard to keep our festival free, safe, and spectacular. By building their team and raising these vital funds, this individual actively lives our mission—educating our valley, elevating our artists, honoring our history, and celebrating our community—while securing the physical foundation needed to carry Yakima Pride into a brighter future.

How You Can Participate:

Find your favorite drag artist below. They are actively building their own teams, so join their Givebutter page to help them recruit and fundraise!
Donate directly to their team to push them to the top of the leaderboard. Every dollar directly funds our physical staging, permits, and safety personnel.
Share their link with your chosen family and coworkers to help their team grow.

Let's Celebrate Together!:

To ensure our celebration is fully inclusive of our youth, families, and all-ages community, we are hosting a massive community thank-you live on the Festival Main Stage at State Fair Park! We will bring every participating artist and their fundraising teams up to receive individual recognition and a thunderous thank-you from the community before crowning this year's official 1978 Vanguard Crown winner.

Join a team today, and let's raise the stage together.

Our Mission

Driving positive change for the LGBTQ+ community in the Yakima Valley and Central Washington by educating, elevating, honoring, and celebrating through transformative cultural experiences, powerful advocacy, and a commitment to a brighter future.

Our Vision

Through unwavering dedication to education, advocacy, and cultural celebration, Yakima Pride will be a driving force in realizing this vision. Together, we will create a world where diversity is not just tolerated, but cherished.

Equality reigns: No individual faces discrimination or prejudice based on their sexual orientation, gender identity, or expression. Everyone enjoys equal rights and opportunities in all aspects of life.

Barriers are shattered: Systemic and societal hurdles that obstruct LGBTQ+ progress are dismantled, paving the way for full inclusion and acceptance.

Voices soar: The vibrant tapestry of LGBTQ+ experiences is woven into the fabric of our community, celebrated and amplified through powerful advocacy and transformative cultural expression.

Art ignites change: Arts and culture become catalysts for understanding, empathy, and social progress, fostering a society where everyone can live authentically and proudly.

Diversity thrives: The rich mosaic of LGBTQ+ identities is embraced as a source of strength, resilience, and inspiration, enriching our community and propelling us towards a brighter future.

Yakima Pride is run solely by committed volunteers from around the Yakima Valley. Our funding comes through community donations, grants, and sponsorship.

Yakima Pride is a nonprofit organization with 501(c)(3) status and Federal EIN # 84-1745033.

Raise the Stage: The 1978 Vanguard Crown Challenge!

When Sponsors Step Back, Our Community Steps Up. Join the Vanguard.

Vanguard Crown Challenge Leaderboard!

Team Members