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Plateau Pride 2023

Why do we have Pride events in June?
Across the world, the LGBT+ community comes together every June to celebrate Pride Month. June was chosen to remember the Stonewall Riots or Uprising, which occurred in June and early July 1969.

In 1966, the Stonewall Inn was converted into a gay bar and became a place of relative safety for gay men, and later for lesbians and transgender people. The bar was regularly raided by police, who arrested all men dressed in drag, as well as women who did not appear “feminine” enough.

A raid on the 28th of June 1969 was met with uncharacteristic resistance by the Inn’s patrons, which led to a series of protests over the following nights. Marsha P Johnson, a black, self-identified drag queen and activist, is now recognized as a leading figure in the Stonewall Riots and went on to participate in the first Gay Pride rally in 1970.

Johnson, who died in 1992, has also been described as transgender and bisexual, and used the pronouns “she/her”.

Who is Hope Development Practice?
Our primary goal is to empower LGBTQIA individuals to overcome and navigate the challenges associated with trauma, mental illness, internalized and systemic oppression, grief and loss, and adjustment to major life changes. We believe that:

People deserve support and compassion.
People can make targeted changes to improve their life.
People should have access to competent mental healthcare.
Providers hold clients accountable using therapeutic boundaries and expectations.
People are more successful when they incorporate organic support into their work.
Therapy and progress vary on an individual basis.

What makes Hope Development Practice different is our strategy to move people from help to hope through healing. This mission flows from the research-based conclusion that trauma and insecure attachment in development are passed down across generations. While these symptoms show up on a personal and individual level they are contributed to and healed through the family system. While the original traumas and lessons often come from the family of origin, a system of organic support created during their recovery such as a chosen family and close friends often fosters a durable and compassionate space for healing.


What problem is the Plateau Pride event addressing?
The significant lack of adequate mental health care for the LGBTQIA community in East Pierce County. This may be correlated with misinformation of LGBTQIA community and fewer resources as you move away from city centers to support diversity. We have seen more LGBTQIA families moving to the East Pierce County area in recent years. The Plateau Pride event provides an opportunity to foster education, advocacy, and inclusivity. In addition, the event provides an opportunity for the public to show support for the community by joining the Pride celebration.


Describe the work for which you are seeking funding
Hope Development Practice started Plateau Pride in 2022 in East Pierce County, where there is a history of discrimination against LGBTQIA. We hope that on a small scale, Plateau Pride will help families in the LGBTQIA community feel safe and give them a place in East Pierce County to celebrate Pride. But on a larger scale, we hope to create change in East Pierce County through education and by gaining support to increase understanding and acceptance in these areas, leading to an increased sense of safety for the LGBTQIA community. We hope to create increased competence in the proper treatment of LGBTQIA people and the trauma that is often experienced and even perpetuated by some therapists. This will happen by employing and promoting LGBTQIA staff.

2022 Event FAQs
The event was open to everyone.
There were 500 participants.
There were 45 community volunteers.
There were 32 community and business vendors.
28 silent auction items were provided and sold.
The event offered activities for every age and activity level.
King 5 News attended and reported on the event.

What’s needed for Plateau Pride 2023?
The biggest need is funding. Hope Development Practice is a 501c3, so all donations of funds are tax deductible. The 2022 event expenses totaled $6,000. We anticipate our expenses will increase slightly for 2023, as many companies donated their time and materials for 2022 to keep costs as low as possible. We have a group of 17 Hope Development and community volunteers. Our goal is to increase attendance to 1,000 by increased advertising. We are actively seeking other funding.

All sponsors are offered company advertising on the Hope Development website and sponsorship recognition on all printed materials. We offer volunteer opportunities for company employees to help during the event or assist with planning. The 2023 event will be held in Tehaleh in Bonney Lake with a community of 3000 -5000 people who will have access to all marketing materials.

Hope Development Practice is a 501c3 non-profit. If you would like a tax write off letter, please email [email redacted] and we will send that to you.

Thank you for your consideration,
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Organizer

Wendy Gianini
Organizer
Bonney Lake, WA

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