Patti Hearn has led Seattle Pride as executive director since July 2023, after more than two decades as founding head of Lake Washington Girls Middle School and later running her own consulting practice. A queer woman who has lived in Seattle since 1994, she calls herself a connector and amplifier and has made lifting up BIPOC voices a priority. In 2026 she has spoken about building lasting financial support for LGBTQIA+ communities as corporate Pride sponsorship shrinks.