Our Work
The San Juan Island Pride Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit foundation. You know us as SJI Pride, and the work we do is essential for wellbeing and celebration.
We throw some great parties like our annual SJI Pride Festival and Queer Prom, creating vibrant spaces for visibility and joy. But we don’t stop there— we foster a thriving queer community by bringing resources, education and social opportunities that have been lacking in our remote, rural island community for decades.
Our History
In the summer of 2021 a group of individuals got together and made plans to host San Juan Island's first Pride, a potluck picnic at Jackson Beach. The picnic was a huge success with nearly 200 people joining the festivities. Attendees shared food and stories, enjoyed beach games and live music and built connections with members of the LGBTQIA+ community, and allies.
In the wake of the picnic's success, the Friday Harbor Pride Foundation was founded in 2021. Community members showed out in force to march with the foundation in the town's annual 4th of July parade, marking the first time in San Juan Island history that the island LGBTQIA+ community had a visible community presence.
In 2022 the foundation reformed as San Juan Island Pride Foundation and became an official 501c3 organization. That same year the foundation began hosting monthly meet-ups providing much needed opportunities for relationship and community building.
Over the years our Pride Fest celebrations have grown, attracting an estimated 2,000 members of the LGBTQIA+ community, friends, and allies from San Juan Island and our neighboring communities. We’re continually expanding our advocacy and allyship efforts year-round to promote diversity and inclusivity—and to call our community to action.
Mission & Vision
The mission of SJI Pride is to foster community across LGBTQIA+ and intersecting identities and to bring much needed resources that meet the unique needs of our remote and rural island queer community.
The vision of SJI Pride is an island where all people thrive and are able to live safely and openly as their whole, authentic selves on this magical island we share with all walks of life.
SJI Pride is a registered 501c3 organization (EIN: 87-1855049). All donations are tax deductible.
