Thinking about relocating or visiting the Seattle area? Put Renton on your list. Just south of Seattle and Bellevue, our city combines big-city resources with a small-town community vibe—including for LGBTQ+ folks. With supportive city leaders, inclusive spaces, and a thriving queer-led network (hi, that’s us!), Renton is building a future where everyone is seen, celebrated, and safe. This page is your starting point for discovering what makes our city special.
Pride in Renton
Pride season in Renton is a citywide reflection of inclusion, joy, and practical support. The Renton LGBTQIA+ Community works alongside local partners to offer a variety of experiences that meet people where they are—whether that’s celebrating community, accessing services, or simply connecting with others. Events range from low-key craft nights and social gatherings to affirming programs like the LGBTQIA+ Town Center, which offers help with paperwork like name changes, voter registration, and gender marker updates. Looking for something classic? Join our parade unit at the Renton River Days parade in July (parade winners in 2023 and 2024!)
In partnership with small businesses, libraries, and community groups, the month also features colorful drag story hours, bingo nights, and public art events that showcase queer creativity. The City of Renton’s public support of Pride, including its ongoing annual proclamation and Pride Flag raising, underscores a continued commitment to making Renton a place where LGBTQIA+ residents and visitors are not only welcome, but celebrated. Pride here is more than a moment—it’s a mosaic of community in action.
From First Visit to Forever Home
Renton is a great place to visit—and an even better place to live. Nestled just south of Seattle, our city offers more than good views and walkable parks. We have queer-friendly healthcare, affirming mental health providers, inclusive congregations, and trusted allies in local government. And with relatively accessible housing compared to neighboring cities, Renton’s a practical place for LGBTQIA+ people to build a life.
We invite you to explore allied businesses through our Renton Pride Passport, or meet neighbors for a cozy craft night for teens and adults. Looking to pull up a blanket and break bread? Our Pride in the Park event is a great way to enjoy our greenspaces, and we’re always looking for volunteers ready to help make Renton even better. Whether you stay for a day or for a decade, Renton is ready to welcome you.
Your LGBTQ+ Moving Guide
We believe everyone deserves a soft landing. That’s why we maintain a carefully curated set of LGBTQIA+ resources available exclusively to our members—no cost, no gatekeeping, just good information shared in good faith. From doctors who understand transition care, to places of worship that affirm your whole identity, to shops and services that make you feel seen—we’ve done the work of collecting what you need.
Out of respect for privacy and safety, we don’t list these resources publicly. But joining our (free!) membership gets you instant access to our digital Membership Packet, filled with vetted, local recommendations and our newsletter with our upcoming events to help you feel at home in Renton, starting on day one.
Building Belonging Together
The Renton LGBTQIA+ Community was founded to do more than host Pride—it was created to build lasting belonging. Since 2019, we’ve hosted joyful celebrations, stood firm in the face of bigotry, and helped shape a city that says yes to inclusion. Thanks to strong partnerships with the Renton Library, local businesses, and our city’s leadership, we’ve become a steady presence in Renton’s civic and cultural life.
Our work is rooted in the belief that LGBTQIA+ people deserve visibility every day of the year—not just in June. That’s why we keep showing up—and why Renton is increasingly recognized as a place where queer families, trans folks, and LGBTQ+ newcomers can find a sense of home. Here, LGBTQIA+ people are part of the day-to-day fabric of life. Schools are learning to support queer youth. City offices are learning to better serve trans residents. Clinics, barbershops, therapists, even coffee shops—you’ll find a lot of places where being yourself isn’t just allowed, it’s welcomed.
This is a community that listens. When support is needed, community steps up. Renton offers something different: a place where you don’t have to fight to be seen. The LGBTQIA+ community lives in, works at, and loves this city, and works to improve it day by day.