Intersection of Islam and 2SLGBTQQIA+ Pride in Port Angeles, Washington

Today is the Pride Match in Seattle, which “features a globally controversial matchup between Iran and Egypt, two countries where homosexuality is heavily criminalized. Despite objections from both nations’ football associations, FIFA is permitting rainbow flags and human rights displays inside the stadium.” (Google AI, citing The Atlantic)

Where else do Islam and Pride intersect in Washington State? Port Angeles, Washington. This was where would-be jihadist Ahmed Ressam was arrested on December 14, 1999 after Customs agent Diana Dean became suspicious of “Benni Noris”. The Algerian who had been enriching Canada had more than 100 lbs. of explosives in his rented Chrysler, intending to blow up LAX (for anyone who has been forced to travel through LAX it is tough to know where one’s sympathies should be in this situation).

The town is situated up against the Olympic Mountains:

What would the noble Islamic migrant have seen if he got off the ferry from Victoria, B.C. today? No huge sign or even small plaque at immigration or at the ferry honoring agent Diana Dean, despite the fact that she likely saved hundreds of American lives:

If Mr. Ressam had walked into the local office of the Democratic Party he would have been welcomed in Arabic:

At the front door, the Democrats specifically say that immigration/customs agents such as Diana Dean, Port Angeles’s greatest hero, aren’t welcome:

Context for the above:

Ahmed Ressam would have learned from the Democrats that the whole idea of borders is illegitimate:

Ressam was actually ordered deported from Canada due to his career as a criminal there, but because he refused to assist in his deportation by providing a passport he was allowed to stay in Canada indefinitely. (He is now living at taxpayer expense here in the U.S.) He could have learned this effective strategy from the Port Angeles Democrats (“Do Not Carry Any Documents From The Country Where You Were Born”):

Ressam could have drawn inspiration from RBG: “Fight for the thing you care about” (in Ressam’s case, Islam and Al-Qaeda).

Ressam would have been invited by the Democrats, and by at least half of the other downtown storefronts, to attend the June 14 “Pride on the Pier” festival:

What else would the noble Ressam have seen inside this office?

In the pantheon of resistance heroes, Jew-hater Martin Niemöller, who later become disillusioned with the Nazi Party for which he voted three times, is featured.

Strolling down the street…

What’s in the bookstore window?

(the front door had some more invitations to Pride events and Queerville)

Generally speaking, the town’s storefronts were examples of Rainbow-first Retail, in which the sacred Rainbow Flag must be passed by every customer.

Would would Ahmed Ressam have been enjoying as a snack after his ferry ride, but for Diana Dean’s interference? The “New Zealand-style” ice cream shop next to the ferry offers a Rainbow Sundae and a Pride Float:

How about some reading? The second downtown bookstore had a reasonably rich selection:

That’s it for Port Angeles!

Practical Tourism advice: it’s tough to plan a trip to the northern part of Olympic National Park more than a day in advance if you’re hoping to get up to Hurricane Ridge and actually see anything. There are some decent rainforest walks, though, even when the ride is covered in clouds.

We stayed at Olympic Lodge by Ayres, which might be the best hotel in town. Unfortunately, the WiFi is throttled to 10 Mbits under the best of circumstances and, therefore, it might not be practical to get a lot of work done while waiting days for the weather to clear.

Readers: Who enjoyed the Pride soccer game between Iran and Egypt?