This year's Truckee Pride Week was a vibrant and loving celebration of diversity, inclusion, and community spirit with a whole lot of Truckee style. From colorful parades to bouldering and Drag Queen bingo, Truckee came alive with pride and joy as locals and visitors alike joined together to celebrate the LGBTQ+ community. The week-long festivities showcased Truckee's commitment to embracing and celebrating individuality, making it a truly unforgettable experience for all who attended. Let's take a look back at the highlights and through the lens of Truckee/Tahoe community member, Nikki Ritcher.
Queer Bouldering at Split Rock
Brooke Hess, accompanied by her dog Noodle, stated, “Pride week was huge for the climbing community in Truckee. Climbing and outdoor sports, in general, are historically white and male-dominated spaces. Truckee Pride is one way we can help increase diversity in the outdoor activities that many people in Truckee love. So many people showed up to the Pride Bouldering event—both queer individuals and allies. It was incredible.”
“This event, and all events throughout the week, meant a lot to me as an ally who hopes to be part of a community where all individuals, regardless of climbing ability, gender, or orientation, feel valued and welcomed. Pride Week did just this: It established Truckee as a place that welcomes all types of people. It was a blast to participate in, and I’m excited for next year’s events!” stated Megan Ogden.
Megan Ogden, Greg Horvath, and other group leaders were thrilled to transform their regular Tuesday Night Bouldering group into a Pride Week event after David Mack (organizer of Pride Week) invited their participation.
Over 30 LGBTQ+ members and allies gathered in a vibrant celebration for Truckee’s first-ever Pride Week Bouldering Event.
Pride Week Film Screenings
On June 4, 2024, LGBTQ+ members and allies gathered for back-to-back film screenings hosted by Liberty Bell in Historic Truckee. The first film, People Like Us, celebrated queer life in non-urban environments, showcasing how vibrant communities can thrive in small towns. The second film, Jardines, depicted displaced LGBTQ+ individuals seeking asylum in the United States, highlighting their support for one another through the challenges and triumphs of a queer family on the move.
Unicorn Bike Night
RMU transformed its monthly Bike Night into a Unicorn Bike Night Pride event on June 6, 2024. The festivities culminated at RMU with a Unicorn Dance Party featuring local DJs RAZL and taabbbss.
RMU was one of 12 businesses that hosted events during Truckee's inaugural Pride Week. Dozens joined the Unicorn Bike Night Pride event on June 6, 2024.
Yoga for Everybody
More than 25 yogis gather at Alpenflow Yoga on Saturday, June 8, 2024, for a complimentary session led by Julz Zasyatkina. Julz said, “The opportunity to host a Pride yoga class for Truckee was an honor for me as an ally. Alpenflow has been open since December 2018, but the studio has supported the community for much longer, since 2004. To see its first Pride event in 20 years was a monumental moment for this space. The impact of coming together to move through energy and breathe together is what has always drawn me to group yoga practices. Then add a strong loving intention and a large, proud community to the effort...bam! You get alchemical magic. The support the event drew was a testament to the community's need and readiness to encourage queer safe spaces. I'm grateful that Mike Richardson, the owner of Alpenflow, is so willing to foster inclusivity in our community.”
David Mack, the lead Pride organizer, expressed, “For me, Pride is about providing something that’s really missing in Truckee: queer inclusive spaces where the community can get together, meet each other, discuss things that affect us, and just enjoy each other’s company. While many spaces in Truckee are generally friendly, it does make a difference when you explicitly define a space as Pride/Queer. The broader goal is to try to make Truckee feel more safe and welcome to Queer people. We received many hugely touching comments from community members about Pride Week's impact on them. Parents say it gives them hope that their kids will have a supportive environment to grow up and discover themselves. Queer adults said that
they never before had a chance to meet up with others and grow friendships.”
Dames of Dirt Mountain Bike Ride
Dames of Dirt member Myrriah Covarrubias, accompanied by dog Marcy, reflected, “Having pride week in Truckee means I don’t have to go far to celebrate the LGBTQ+ community with local friends while connecting with others who live nearby. It means feeling accepted and
included (especially on the mountain bike side) in the local community where we would typically drive farther for pride celebrations in June.”
The Dames of Dirt hosted an MTB Pride Ride in the Sawtooth Forest on June 6, 2024. Founded in 2020 by Maggie Ziols, Dames of Dirt boasts roughly 750 members and aims to cultivate a supportive and inclusive mountain bike community for women, non-binary individuals, gender-fluid, and transgender in Reno-Tahoe and beyond. Their mission is to foster a welcoming environment where riders of all skill levels can connect, progress, and inspire positive change in the local MTB community.
Jen Chang, a member of Dames of Dirt, shared, “It’s nice to feel that support and inclusion in our local mountain town! Having a safe and welcoming space is amazing and important, and it allows people to meet other people and create a broader sense of community.” Montucky Cold Snacks was a proud sponsor of the event, providing beer, decor, and swag.
Members of Dames of Dirt add colorful face paint flair before embarking on the organized Pride MTB Ride by Dames of Dirt.
A member of Dames of Dirt carving through the stunning Sawtooth Forest trails during their MTB Pride Ride.
Pride Paddle at Donner Lake
The Pride Paddle event at Donner Lake on June 7, 2024, united a diverse community. Elena Olzark shared, “Truckee Pride was wonderful because it allowed us to connect with local LGBTQ+ individuals. I loved seeing people from all walks of life participate in the events—it was awesome! The Donner Lake event was especially memorable; I made new friends who shared my passion for paddling. One highlight was meeting a supportive straight mom who proudly flies the flags at her house—she shared that all her children are gay, and she embraces them wholeheartedly.”
Thank You + See You Next Year!
The events throughout the week not only celebrated diversity & inclusivity, but also fostered meaningful connections and a deeper understanding of the LGBTQ+ experience in our mountain community. We extend our heartfelt gratitude to everyone who participated, volunteered, and supported this incredible weeklong celebration. Your enthusiasm and participation made Truckee Pride Week 2024 a huge success. We can't wait to do it at all again with you next year!
