How this headline may connect to industries in Washington. Technical scores are below — click any ? for what a metric means.
‘We’ll always be here’: Rainbow Walk in La Center draws support for LGBTQ+ community - The Reflector.About 100 people gathered on Sunday, June 7, for the sixth annual Rainbow Walk in La Center.Participants marched from the La Center Road bridge over the East Fork Lewis River to Holley Park, demonstrating LGBTQ+ visibility and support during what organizers described as a difficult period for queer and transgender residents in north Clark County.The annual walk, organized by Clark County Pride, began in 2020 in response to concerns about the treatment of LGBTQ+ students in the La Center School District and efforts to form a Gay-Straight Alliance at the middle school.Since then, Clark County Pride has expanded its advocacy efforts throughout rural Clark County.This year’s walk came during what organizers called a difficult period for LGBTQ+ residents in north Clark County.In Battle Ground, debate over LGBTQ+ recognition has continued since the city council’s minority vote removal of a Pride Month proclamation in 2024.Since taking office in January, Mayor Eric Overholser, who led the push to block former mayor Troy McCoy’s Pride Month proclamation two years ago, declined requests for proclamations for Transgender Day of Visibility and 2026 Pride Month.Meanwhile, the La Center School District continues to appeal a ruling from the Washington Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction that found its gender-identity policy violated state nondiscrimination law.The policy allows staff to notify parents when a student is questioning their gender identity or using different pronouns without the student’s consent, a practice critics say could put some students at risk if they lack support at home.Small groups of anti-LGBTQ+ protesters again appeared along the route near Holley Park last weekend, as they have in previous years.However, supporters carrying Pride flags worked to obscure the demonstrators from view, focusing attention on the march.Erin Smelser, activism chair and board member for Clark County Pride, said the event was created to ensure LGBTQ+ youth in rural communities know they have support.“You can’t erase people by trying to silence them,” she said.“We’re here.We’ve always been here, and we’ll always be here.” She said visibility remains particularly important in smaller, rural communities where LGBTQ+ residents can often feel isolated.“I love seeing it come together in this small town, and we’re really here for the rural kids and the people who don’t feel safe and don’t feel like they can be recognized for who they are, so we just wanted to create a fun and safe environment where everybody is welcome and not just welcome but celebrated,” Smelser said.Among those helping lead the parade was Yarnaby Perkins, a self-described nonbinary youth from Vancouver entering third grade, who earned the honor after participating in a Clark County Pride fundraising talent show.“I just want to make other people smile and feel included through Pride,” Perkins said.Perkins said attending Pride events has bolstered support and acceptance for those who need it.“This place makes me feel comfortable with other people and makes me wanna share my gender and other stuff like that,” they said.“I feel like everybody is included in this place.” Brent Hennrich, a Democratic challenger to U.S.Marie Gluesenkamp Perez in Washington’s Third Congressional District, also attended the event for the first time this year.“My campaign focus is that everyone has rights, and whether that’s LGBTQ, or whether that’s any other group of people, whether it’s elderly or whether it’s any marginalized group, that everybody has rights and the government should protect those rights and should never legislate to take them away,” Hennrich said.His appearance follows criticism from some local LGBTQ+ advocates, including Clark County Pride, of Gluesenkamp Perez after her vote in favor of “H.R.2616 - Stopping Indoctrination and Protecting Kids Act,” which would require parental consent before schools could update a student’s pronouns, preferred names or gender markers in certain records.Despite the current political climate, Hennrich said he believes recent controversies have also galvanized supporters.“It’s unifying people,” he said.It’s bringing people together to unify against hate, and that’s a good thing.” After the nearly mile-long walk, participants gathered at Holley Park for a Pride festival with vendors, activities and community organizations.Organizers said the annual walk’s focus is to ensure LGBTQ+ residents, especially young people in rural communities, can see visible support close to home.“I can’t wait to be here in 2036,” Smelser said.