Lewis Elementary again celebrates diversity in annual parade

When Lewis Elementary School in the Woodstock neighborhood held its fourth annual Kids’ Pride Picnic & Parade on June first, it was perfect weather. Students, parents, siblings, teachers, and community members filled the playground under a clear sky before setting out northbound on 43rd Avenue. The day also featured live music from Bloco Algeria – as well as food, freebies, and other musical performances.

To put this local neighborhood event into context, the first such celebration of LGBTQ+ culture and rights occurred in 1970, after a violent police raid at New York’s Stonewall Inn, a gay bar. Since then it has grown to be a worldwide celebration, mostly taking place during the month of June.

One of the Lewis Elementary celebration coordinators, Dawn Haecker, remarked to THE BEE afterwards: “Special thanks to the residents of 43rd Avenue, who came out to cheer us on, decorated the street, and made massive bubbles happen. Much love to the businesses on Woodstock Boulevard, who put our posters up, showed their support during the parade, and shared about the day on social media.”

Organizers of this year’s Lewis Kids’ Pride Picnic and Parade were happy that it had been a safe and fun experience, as it wound down at 1 p.m., saying that keeping these celebratory events safe is top priority. They also expressed gratitude to the parade’s funding and in-kind sponsors: Lewis Elementary PTA, Woodstock New Seasons, Elk Rock Yoga, Notary Ceramics, Daphne Botanicals, SW PDX Martial Arts, PPS LGBTQ+ Program Manager Britt Bieberich, as well as to Clackamas Nothing Bundt Cakes.