Category: Tulalip News

Nothing but Day light

By Micheal Rios, Tulalip News

Multi-sport athlete and Tulalip tribal member, Tucker Day, has taken up the grid iron challenge. Having already found early success on the baseball diamond as both a pitcher and hitter, the inspiring 11-year-old has swapped his glove and baseball for shoulder pads, a helmet, and a nifty forearm play sheet as a two-way player for the Concrete Lions youth football program.

“After I saw Tucker’s athletic potential and grittiness displayed playing baseball, I asked his parents if he could play football,” explained Lions head coach Arthur Sanchez. “He never played organized football before, but both he and his parents were on board with him playing. He’s shown a lot of potential already. He’s our starting wide receiver on offense and starting cornerback on defense.

“He’s got great hands. He’s got speed. He’s got height. All things any coach would love to have in a pass catcher,” added the longtime football coach. “On defense, he doesn’t shy away from contact, he’s a great tackler. Having never played before, there is still so much for him to learn, but it’s obvious he’s a willing learner and wants to develop his technique on both sides of the ball to benefit his team.”

Tucker’s innate skill and ability on the football field was on full display during a recent jamboree hosted outside Burlington-Edison High School. Youth programs from across Snohomish, Skagit, and Whatcom counties were invited to the fast-paced football extravaganza. Games typically lasted only 15-20 minutes before teams would rotate and immediately begin playing a new opponent.

The quick turnaround and lack of prep for their opponents made the stakes low and competition high; yielding plenty of moments for Tucker to shine. Casual sideline observers could easily distinguish Tucker from the myriad of other players and teams because of his signature twin braids.

“I’m proud of Tucker for embracing his Native American heritage through his hair,” shared Tucker’s mom, Jerry Davis. “He’s known as the boy with the braid by other baseball teams in our area because he’s a pretty good baseball player and having a braid is something that stands out. I thought it would be cool if he went with two braids for football.”

Living in Sedro-Woolley, one could imagine a boy with a braid is a rare sight, let alone two braids. As Tucker continues to develop his athletic potential in multiple sports, traveling near and far, his braids are something that can always serve as his connection to tribe and community.

In fact, that connection will take on an entirely new meaning come September 7. On that summer morning, Tucker’s Concrete Lions will host the Tulalip Hawks.

“Baseball is my favorite sport. I really wanted to try out for football because it’s a cool sport and some of my teammates from baseball play on this team. I also love running and in football I get to run around, a lot,” said Tucker following the jamboree. “Playing wide receiver is fun because I get to run on almost every play. There are so many routes to run, like posts, slants, and go routes.”

Regardless of which route he’s runing, the desired result is always the same – a catch in the open field with nothing but day light in front of him. 

A feast of fun and wisdom at the Elders Potlatch

By Wade Sheldon, Tulalip News

Elders from near and far came together at the Tulalip Gathering Hall on August 15 for the Annual Elders Potlatch. With an impressive 898 elders signed in, the event saw over 1,000 attendees who gathered to enjoy camaraderie, delicious food, and thoughtful gifts. The line stretched out the door and down the street as people eagerly arrived to partake in the festivities.

A lively bingo game added to the festive atmosphere and allowed participants to win prizes, enhancing everyone’s enjoyment of the celebration.

The event began with tribal member Tony Hatch welcoming everyone. Following his introduction, the Tulalip Canoe Family performed traditional songs, enriching the atmosphere with their powerful voices. Reigning King and Queen Ray and Sheryl Fryberg were honored at the event, drawing smiles and applause from the attendees.

A special moment of the day was the recognition of the two oldest attendees: 96-year-old Donald Smith from Yakima, born on May 28, 1928, and 97-year-old Vera Drake (Charity) from Campbell River, born on June 6, 1927. Both elders were celebrated with handmade gifts donated by local artists, including a wool skirt, shawl, and handcrafted cedar hats.

Lloyd Belmont from Suquamish shared his reflections on the event, emphasizing the importance of connecting with the elders. “Meeting all the grandmas and grandpas, introducing myself, and getting to know who they are and what territory they come from—Yakima, Elwa, Lummi, Ground Round—is so meaningful. Receiving those blessings and experiencing the hospitality that Tulalip has to offer is something special,” he said.

For Lloyd, the event was more than just a gathering, it was an opportunity to watch, learn, and honor the elders. “Teachings come in many forms, and it’s important to give them that acknowledgment, from the youngest to the oldest,” he continued. “Often, people tend to leave their elders sitting at home alone. Sitting down with them, sharing a smile, and connecting is essential. We need to remember they blazed the trail that allows us to be doing what we are doing today.”

Stan Manzano from Yakima and Wiley Close from Lindale, Texas, both had high praise for the event. Stan particularly enjoyed the seafood selection, especially the crab, remarking, “It was a good event. I enjoyed it.” Wiley, who traveled back for the second year, added, “I loved the event. I came the first year and had to travel back for the second one. I liked the Canoe Families’ songs.” Both expressed their excitement by stating they would be back next year.

The Annual Elders Potlatch united generations, strengthened connections, and honored the elders. The day’s atmosphere of respect and community left a lasting impression on all who attended.

Paddling Forward: Over 100 TELA students take next step in educational journey

By Kalvin Valdillez, Tulalip News

Standing in line amongst their classmates, a cohort of Tulalip’s youngest learners patiently waited for DJ Auntie Monie to call their name. After receiving a cedar paddle necklace, they took a symbolic step into the future as they passed under an archway of cedar branches to the applause of hundreds. At that moment, a flash of each of their personalities shined bright as many students either took the time to strike a pose or hurry out of the limelight. But without fail, you could see their confidence and pride grow as they found their loved ones cheering them on in the crowd. 

Held at the Tulalip Amphitheater on the morning August 16, the Paddling Forward ceremony was the Betty J. Taylor Early Learning Academy’s official return to an in-person celebration. Although the drive-thru style graduation was a hit during the pandemic, the excitement about this year’s event was electric among the families and staff, and especially the graduates who couldn’t wait for the festivities that would follow the ceremony. Altogether, there were over 100 graduates, with nearly 40 students moving up to preschool and about 70 kids transitioning to kindergarten this fall. 

Beautiful regalia was on display as the kiddos rocked cedar caps or wool woven headbands for their big day. These were handmade by their families as a part of the Academy’s family culture nights. Each graduate also received a giftbag with their very own hand drum to take with them on their educational journey. 

TELA excels in both introducing and instilling Tulalip’s culture and traditions to their students at a young age. This ultimately helps establish a foundation where they can continue learning and practicing the lifeways of their people throughout their lifetime. And in turn, pass the teachings on to the next generation. 

TELA Director, Sheryl Fryberg, shared , “We have a new assessment called the LOVIT Way. So, teachers are always paying attention and thinking how they can integrate more culture and language, on a daily basis, into their classrooms, beyond what the Lushootseed teachers bring to us. It’s really enriching all of our children. A few years ago, we brought the Lushootseed teachers to birth-to-three and it’s making a huge impact. Our next step is getting it to the prenatal, because how do we learn English? When we’re in utero. We want them to have that because that’s where our language will live on. And for our culture, we have such great plans for this coming year because we have more people that are going to be working with Lushootseed. They’re called the Rediscovery Program, and it’s amazing that’s happening.”

Once each graduate received their paddle pendants, the students rushed toward the outer edges of the amphitheater where fun awaited them in the form of bouncy houses, a bubble station, and numerous carnival-style games and activities. 

When asked if she could impart one final message to the recent graduates, Sheryl shared, “Reach for the stars and learn to love to learn. That’s the most important thing. I think that when we instill that in our babies, that sense of wonder, that’s where they’ll grow and find that thing that they love to do in their lives.”

RaeVolutionary Buckets

By Micheal Rios

The RaeVolution that is RaeQuan Battle’s evolution from a rez kid with a basketball to a professional bucket getter was celebrated in the traditional Tulalip way on Tuesday, August 13. A meaningful, community-led event to celebrate RaeQuan and his most recent basketball accomplishment – signing an Exhibit 10 contract with the Charlotte Hornets – was organized in the days following a breaking story by The Charlotte Observer. It’s just the latest development in the lifelong pursuit of Tulalip’s favorite baller as he lives out his hoop dreams.

Let’s clear up the confusion around what exactly an Exhibit 10 contract is. In the simplest of forms, it’s a training camp contract. It allows for RaeQuan to continue to build off his NBA Summer League momentum, dawn the Hornets’ signature teal and purple colors, and gain further exposure training with and playing under the tutelage of an actual NBA team. The structure of the contract offers the Tulalip icon a chance to make an NBA roster during training camp or to stay within Charlotte’s development system through the G League.

According to Alex Kirschenbaum of Hoops Rumors, “[RaeQuan] could also see his training camp contract converted to a two-way deal with the Hornets up until the day before the regular season begins (October 22). Charlotte currently has one open two-way slot available, with the other two committed to point guard K.J. Simpson and center Moussa Diabate. It’s more probable that [he] will be cut prior to the start of the year and will then become an affiliate player with their G League Squad, the Greensboro Swarm.”

So essentially, in RaeQuan’s case, the signing of an Exhibit 10 contract with the Charlotte Hornets means that while he wasn’t drafted, he still has an opportunity to compete for a spot on the team. If he doesn’t make the final Hornets’ roster, the contract could be converted to a two-way deal, or he could join Charlotte’s G League affiliate. His community supporters will have to wait until October when the ’24-’25 NBA season begins for confirmation on his NBA status.

Alas, that’s over two months from now. Let us refocus on the present and the hundreds of Coast Salish tribal members, of all ages, who journeyed to the Youth Center on short notice to celebrate the 23-year-old hoops legend before he returned to Charlotte.

“This is something we needed to do because he deserves all the love and medicine we as a community can wrap him in. It’s like we always say, ‘If one of us makes it, then we all make it,’” explained grass-roots organizer Sara Hart. “I had support from Kim Kalliber who made the flyer, Jessica Bustad with getting this facility to host, and Chuckie Jones with organizing the coastal jam. I didn’t know what the turn out would be with only a few days to make this happen, but seeing the gym full now makes my heart so happy. Our community really came through.”

Kicking-off the cultural get-together, RaeQuan was blanketed by sisters Theresa and Shawnee Sheldon before being gifted a hand carved spirit mask necklace and custom paddle created by artist Ty Juvinel. 

The 6-foot-5-inch RaeQuan was impossible to miss throughout the coastal jam that went well into the evening hours. He was either front and center with his mom and grandfather Hank Williams taking in all the glorious spiritual energy, on the court dancing with his fellow culture bearers, or, as was often the case, basking in community fandom by taking photos and signing autographs.

Youth, adults, and elders alike beamed with pride as they stood in the presence of the Tulalip trailblazer of the hardwood. RaeQuan was gracious enough to autograph any items they presented to him and didn’t say no to a single photo request. This seemingly simple act was not lost on Marlin Fryberg, who has known RaeQuan since before he could dribble a basketball.

“He definitely has the heart to give back to his community, supporters throughout Indian Country and the kids who idolize him. His desire and willingness to give back is an often-overlooked part of his story,” said Marlin. “He’s had challenges, some big, some small, but every challenge he’s managed to rise to the occasion. The whole community is proud of him. We hope he maintains this trajectory to reach heights none of us have seen before. He has a lot of work still to do, but he enters this next stage of his journey knowing he has the support of his Tribe every step of the way.

Tulalip Boys & Girls Club. Marysville Pilchuck High School. The University of Washington. Montana State University. West Virginia University. NBA Summer League. All of these are stages of RaeQuan’s basketball journey. As he’s journeyed through the world of basketball, he’s illustrated determination, adaptation, resiliency, and cultural pride.

He never shies away from telling people where he’s from and who he is as a proud Tulalip tribal member. That intention to never forgetting his roots, instead to showcase them whenever possible, is a big reason why so many from throughout Coast Salish territory showed up to shower him with all the positive vibes.

“This means the world to me that people not just from our reservation but other reservations and Canada, too, came together to sing and drum and really send me off on this next journey in the best possible way,” shared RaeQuan. “Tulalip and the game of basketball have been my whole world. For them to come together in this way, at this moment is just surreal to me.

“Everywhere I go and everyone I meet, I try to represent the Tribe in the best way that I can,” he continued. “I wouldn’t be here today with the opportunity I have before me if it wasn’t for my mom, my grandparents, and all the coaches and community supporters who have been courteous enough to help me along the way. All this support gives me the strength to kick down the door of the professional world.”

Breaking down barriers and getting buckets. In true RaeVolution style.

Protect Act 2024 aims to help tribal courts and law enforcement combat the opioid epidemic

By Kalvin Valdillez, Tulalip News

By Kalvin Valdillez, Tulalip News

On the afternoon of August 6, Representative Rick Larsen (WA-02) visited with the Tulalip Board of Directors, the Tulalip Police Department, and members of the Tribe’s Treaty Rights Office and legal team to discuss a bill recently introduced to congress this month. 

The bill is officially titled the Protection for Reservation Occupants Against Trafficking and Evasive Communication Act, or the Protect Act for short. If passed, this could have a major impact for tribal nations as they continue to combat the opioid and fentanyl crisis. 

Tulalip Chairwoman Teri Gobin opened the gathering and shared, “First of all I want to welcome you to Tulalip and thank you for leading and introducing this bill. It’s amazing what this could do for us, the Protect Act of 2024. We’ve had 71 fentanyl overdose deaths that accounted to an actual overdose, but we’ve had a lot more deaths than that (due to addiction). The sad thing about it is the children. So many of the children are being left orphaned, both of their parents passing away from overdose. We’re having a lot of children who are born addicted, born with it in their system. So, our hands go up to you, we’re really excited about moving this forward. It’s time.” 

The Protect Act addresses a glaring jurisdictional issue that currently prevents tribes from prosecuting non-tribal members for illiegal drug activities on the reservation. The act is specific to drug trafficking, but it is key to battling the crisis and preventing loss of life on reservations throughout the country and a big step for tribal court systems. 

Providing a little historical context, Vice-Chair Misty Napeahi explained, “The Oliphant v. Suquamish Indian Tribe was passed by the United States Supreme Court in 1978, which literally took away the ability for tribes to prosecute non-tribal people on the reservation, and that is steeped very much in racism. I feel really thankful for you and the other congress people that are going to sign on to this bill for standing up for tribes. The people that bring the drugs in, they’re not dumb. They understand jurisdictional issues and they fully capitalize on it.”

BOD Glen Gobin added, “Across this nation there’s a fentanyl epidemic that every state is dealing with and are feeling the impact. For tribes, it’s even more difficult because of the jurisdictional questions that come up, who has criminal authority over non-Indians on the reservation. This bill looks to address that and bring safety to our community to deal with this. We’re looking to protect all of our citizens on the reservation and stand up and be part of this, fight against this epidemic that we’re all dealing with.”

In Larsen’s official press release, he surmises the Protect Act, and it reads as follows: 

Specifically, the PROTECT Act:

  • Provides parity for Tribal courts to issue search warrants for certain electronic communications, including social media, by adding Tribal courts to the list of courts with “competent jurisdiction” under the Stored Communications Act.
  • Expands Special Tribal Criminal Jurisdiction (STCJ) to crimes associated with drug trafficking.

Amends the Bureau of Prison’s (BOP) Tribal Prisoner Program (TPP) by expanding eligibility to offenders who commit drug-trafficking-related offenses.

According to the Snohomish County Opioid Overdose and Prevention Data and Dashboard, there were 188 overdose deaths in our county alone last year. There have been numerous studies from the likes of the CDC and Washington Post that show Native communities have been hit the hardest by the opioid crisis. 

The Washington State Department of Health’s Opioid and Drug Use Data Dashboard gives detailed and up-to-date statistics about the epidemic in real time. If you navigate their website and pull up overdose deaths stats based on demographics, the results are shocking. For all other races and ethnicities, there was an average of about 30 deaths per 100,000 people in 2022. The number for Alaskan Natives/American Indians was literally off the charts, with over 120 deaths per 100,000 population. 

Director of Treaty Rights Office, Ryan Miller, expressed, “I’m very excited to continue to push this forward and add this as another tool in our ability to fight this problem on our reservation; for the surrounding communities as well. Yeah, we’re focused on the Tribe, we’re focused on the reservation, but this affects everybody, all of the communities around us. We’ve got so many tools that we’ve been successful with, the Healing Lodge and so many other things that have helped us bring our members out of addiction and back in the community. And those have been fantastic, but without that tool to be able to put away the people who bring these drugs on the reservation and commit these crimes against our community members, we’re not going to be successful. This is a huge step towards that.”

You can follow the bill as it goes through the process of becoming a law, as well as read it’s official text, by visiting https://www.congress.gov/bill/118th-congress/house-bill/9310?s=1&r=1. 

Said Representative Larsen, “I look forward to working with you all to get the Protect Act passed and signed into law to ensure that tribes have the tools to combat the opioid epidemic and save lives. I raise my hand to all of you for the important work that you’re doing to save lives and make your communities safer.”

Strengthening community ties at National Night Out

By Wade Sheldon, Tulalip News

The annual National Night Out (NNO) brought together community members at the Tulalip Amphitheater on Tuesday, August 6, fostering a deeper connection between the Tulalip Police Department (TPD) and the people of Tulalip. Several families attended to support TPD while also getting some cool swag.

NNO strives to educate the community about various police and community programs that are accessible to them. These programs include child support, mental health and wellness, educational services and more. Each tribal department spotlighting these services had a booth where kids and adults received gifts, and could participate in games like spinning the wheel for prizes, or making buttons and keychains.

Moving along with the theme of the evening, the new Chief of Police, Shawn Ledford, was on the scene to introduce himself and express his excitement about joining the community. He shared his eagerness to engage with residents, saying, “I can’t wait to sit down, have some coffee, and go over your concerns and how the police department can meet the needs of this community.”

Ledford highlighted the importance of NNO, stating, “It’s a good opportunity for the community members to come out, meet some of the officers, and see some of the equipment. Break that barrier down where maybe the officer seems intimidating at some point, or it’s hard for them to make connections when they are out patrolling. Here, they can spend time with the officers and the K-9 and get to know each other.”

He also outlined his plans as the new Chief, emphasizing his commitment to safety: “Coming to Tulalip, I’m going to make sure that this is a safe community, making sure that we address the drug problem; help the users and hold the dealers responsible. We want to address any gang issue right away; make sure it’s not tolerated here on the reservation. Keep the neighborhoods safe. We want people to be able to walk around their community and not be worried about being a victim of crime.”

The event strengthened the bond between the Tulalip community and its police department, laying the groundwork for a safer and more connected future.

New apartment complex coming to Tulalip

By Wade Sheldon, Tulalip News

With their ever-growing community in mind, the Tulalip Tribes hosted a groundbreaking ceremony on August 5 for their new 85-unit apartment building, Quil Creek Crossing. Located just off 27th Avenue on Sandra Madison Loop Road, the groundbreaking marks the beginning of a new chapter in the Tribes’ history. 

Following a blessing of the land by tribal members Clarissa Johnny and Andy James, community members gathered to witness Tribal leaders, and representatives from the Wenaha Group and Korsmo Construction, as each of their golden shovels struck the earth.

Chairwoman Teri Gobin spoke about how the property was once filled with tires and junk vehicles and how glad she is that Tulalip could turn it into housing for tribal members. She emphasized that taking the land back was extremely important, but what’s more critical is providing affordable living spaces for Tribal members.


Vice Chairwoman Misty Napeahi shared, “We started this project pre-COVID, and we wanted to build a community for our 19-25-year-olds. There are 648 young adults in that age group. So, we thought about building a community for them. What would they want? We have one, two, and three-bedroom apartments. We know some of our people already have children, so we wanted to build for their families. It will be a beautiful complex with a basketball court, a BBQ pit, and walking trails. We are trying to build a healthy community for our young people. Also, they will have an opportunity to get residency so that in the future, if they do want children, they will be eligible for enrollment.”


The new apartment building is being created with an emphasis on comfort, while also acknowledging that it can be loud when many families are in one place. Secretary Theresa Sheldon discussed the challenges of growing up in low-income housing with holes in her floors and how so many of us accept these problems as normal. She went on to discuss the available amenities that will be offered in the apartments. There will be modern appliances, stylish cabinets, and quality rugs. Additionally, she mentioned using soundproof materials for the walls and floors to ensure privacy.


“The site was designed with families in mind,” said Jason Crain, senior project manager for the Wenaha Group. “Most apartment complexes avoid having 3-bedroom units, and this apartment complex has several. It was intentional by the Tribes to promote a family environment, create a home, and raise your kids. The site has a bunch of amenities to support that. There is a large playground and a garden area. There are some playscape areas that are going to have some culturally significant artwork in the native language. The aesthetic of the building is designed to reflect the Tribe’s heritage and its relationship with cedar. It’s not cedar but designed to look like cedar.”


Crain commended COO Sam Davis and his team for helping the tribe focus on family and community and emphasizing the importance of supporting the Tribe’s growth and future. And with rental costs at an all-time high, building these apartments couldn’t come at a better time. 

Council Member Glen Gobin discussed the Tribe’s longstanding goal of constructing more homes and apartments, but that they often lacked the necessary infrastructure. With the availability of sewer and electrical services and adequate space, bringing in an apartment complex as big as this will help immensely. Gobin said, “It’s also a change in how we build homes and places for our young people and elders. We have other apartments, but none like these. These are meant to be homesites for people to come in and live for as long as they need. We hope it’s transitional, but if they end up being there for 20-30 years, then that’s where they are.”


Construction on Quil Creek Crossing will begin soon, and the complex is slated for completion in 2026.

Love=Love: Tulalip Celebrates LGBTQ2S+ Community

By Kalvin Valdillez, Tulalip News

Tulalip’s annual LGBTQ+ celebration experienced quite the glow up this year, moving from the small concession area of the ball fields to the spacious Gathering Hall. New location, same good times, with the addition of more activities and more room for event goers to get their groove on. 

The vibrant colors of the rainbow flag and the transgender flags served as official colors of the celebration and decorated the entire Hall on the afternoon of August 4, including in a variety of balloon arrangements and dessert displays. Everywhere you looked, people were smiling ear to ear and laughing whole heartedly amongst friends and family. The major inspiration behind this gathering was to create a fun environment where tribal and community members, who identify as LGBTQ+ or 2-spirit, could build community and celebrate their lifestyle in a safe space. 

From the get-go, the pride event has been a smash hit in the community and has seen both great attendance and participation. During the planning phase of the first pride celebration in 2020, event organizer and Tulalip community member, Phoenix Two Spirit (Cree), shared, “It is so very important for the 2-spirit community to be included in all of Indian Country, in all the councils, education, youth, advisory committees – It’s part of the decolonization process, recognizing that 2-spirit people have been in the Indigenous community since time immemorial. And it’s time to recognize that there is a place for 2-spirit people in the tribal community, that they hold a special place. This is not new. This is reclaiming our past.”

The gathering is sponsored and organized by the Problem Gambling Program. Coordinator Sarah Sense Wilson assured they are just getting started, and there’s still much work to be done in embracing and showing support to our local LGBTQ+ community. 

Said Sarah, “I would love to bring in even more people and have more visibility to honoring, and respecting, and holding up our 2-spirit relatives. I know in different pockets of the community that there is still a non-acceptance. Even though there’s this idea that we’re a community of inclusiveness, we know that we’re not there yet. And I don’t mean just Tulalip, I mean nationwide. And so, anything that we can do to keep moving the needle forward and marching forward and celebrating and honoring and including everybody, the healthier our communities are overall. That’s my hope. It would be wonderful to have more Tribal leaders participate as well. I wish we had more Coast Salish drumming and singing, an opening prayer in Lushootseed, and just those kinds of elements.”

DJ Monie

Aptly dubbed ‘Pride Everyday’, this particular celebration also includes a healthy dose of culture. Indigenous pride was on full display as attendees participated in events such as the popular fashion contest, which categories include best ribbon skirt, best ribbon shirt, and best earrings. And of course, there ain’t no party like a DJ Monie party, who returned this year and provided all the classic summertime jams throughout the afternoon. Also returning for the third consecutive year was MC Randy Vendiola and Grand Marshal Sage Vendiola, who ensured everything went smoothly and according to schedule, with both good humor and grace. 

With the additional space, Sarah called in a few programs to host resource booths. Event goers could learn about the services that programs like beda?chelh, the Legacy of Healing, and the Healing to Wellness Court offer, all while obtaining free swag, playing games, creating arts and crafts, getting temporary tattoos, and building sage bundles. 

Indigenous author Sasha LaPointe (Upper Skagit/Nooksack), who wrote Red Paint: The Ancestral Autobiography of a Coast Salish Punk, was the guest of honor at this year’s event. Sasha held a live reading of her book, as well as a signing, and everyone in attendance received a free copy of her work. 

The five-hour event concluded with a dance party that has now officially become a yearly tradition. Everyone joins together to leave it all on the dance floor, getting down to jams like the Cha Cha Slide, the Macarena, and We Are Family.

Following the gathering, DJ Monie shared a parting message, “Thank you for all the folks who showed up today to represent. It means a lot to our community to be heard, seen, acknowledged, and included. Keep up the good work in including all of us, because at the end of the day, there’s no difference in sexual orientation when you take your last breath. Love one another. Be more compassionate of the people who are around because you never know who is listening. One of my friends’ kid was using the word gay as a slander. If I didn’t correct him, he wouldn’t know better. If you see someone using words like gay in a demeaning way, correct them, because it only perpetuates separation if we continue to allow it.”