Celebrating Pride
Published on June 11, 2026
June is Pride Month, a time to honor the 1969 Stonewall Riots, the spark that started the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer, Intersex, and Asexual (LGBTQIA+) rights movement. Pride Month recognizes the decades of struggles for civil rights among the LGBTQIA+ community and the ongoing fight for greater equity and inclusion.
During Monday's city council meeting, Mayor Armondo Pavone designated June as Pride Month in Renton. Planning Commissioner Kevin Poole accepted the proclamation.
Poole, who served as the LBGTQIA + community representative for the Mayor’s Inclusion Task Force for over 10 years, shared that he is looking forward to the next generation of the LGBTQIA+ community taking the lead on civic issues.
The Proclamation read was written by the Renton LGBTQIA+ Community Organization. The Renton LGBTQIA+ Community seeks to foster a community that celebrates all LGBTQIA+ identities and their intersectionality throughout the greater Renton area.
Flag Raising with Mayor Pavone, Renton City Council, city staff, community members, and Matthew Woolcott
Monday morning city councilmembers, city staff, and community members gathered for the ceremonial Pride Flag raising. Equity Commissioner Matthew Woolcott was on hand to assist Mayor Pavone in raising the Pride Flag at City Hall. Woolcott reflected “The (Pride) flag is something really special, it’s something that LGBTQIA + kids and families see and they know that they belong, this is where they want to live, and this where they want to send their kids to schools. It is something that LGBQTIA+ entrepreneurs see, and they think I want to start a business in the City of Renton, business owners want to continue to invest. It’s a powerful message.”