Open Arms, Open Doors: Spotlighting Queer-Friendly Businesses in Pacific County
Time Enough Books
Born and raised in Chinook, WA, Kelli Hughes-Ham has been a teacher at Ilwaco High School for 17 years and advisor of the student-led Pride Club since its founding. Now the owner of Time Enough Books (and soon a teacher at Hilltop Middle School, starting this fall), Kelli sat down with us to talk about Pride, progress and this place we call home. Enjoy!
What kind of space do you want Time Enough Books to be for our community?
I see the bookstore as a space to gather — a space where everyone’s welcome and no one feels judged for who they are. We’re more diverse out here than some might think, and we want people to know that rural places can be inclusive. We’ve expanded our collection of queer literature; we have a Pride display; we have a very inclusive business next-door, Purly Shell. We want to create a space where people can come in and realize, “This isn’t just a bookstore. It’s a place where I can be myself.”
What does Pride mean to you?
A Pride celebration, to me, is a chance for people to express joy about who they are and witness other people feeling joy. Honestly, that’s one of the best forms of resistance: queer joy. When I was in high school, I had friends who wouldn’t dare come out; it just wasn’t an option, and they went through so much sh*t that they shouldn’t have had to go through. In my years at Ilwaco, I’ve seen attitudes about gender and sexuality transform; I’ve watched kids come out left and right, walk down the hall holding hands, go to prom together — I’ve been lucky enough to witness that. To have a Pride celebration in Pacific County... It’s a way to show my friends, students, former students and every other queer person here that their hometown loves them and believes in who they are.
What do you think being an ally looks like?
Well, it looks like stepping the heck back and letting queer people lead. Allies are important, but it’s not about us or our experience; it’s about listening to what LGBTQIA+ folks need and providing whatever support we can. For me, a big part of it is putting my business on the line with the books I carry and the authors I host, and making this a space for people to assemble and organize. Allyship means providing not only moral support but political support, monetary support, logistical support — using our privilege to put our bodies between queer folks and the people who want to hurt them.
What are you looking forward to this year at Pacific County Pride?
I’m excited to see the drag group from Tacoma! I love how much the organizers have focused on entertainment and vendors and fun. Pride is so important to so many people and I can’t wait to see families enjoying that space together. I know some of my students are super excited to bring their parents, and I know some parents who are clearly leaning hard into supporting their queer kids — seeing even a second of that is special. For any parent to be willing to show up to a Pride event and say, “Yeah, let’s go check that out” means everything not only to the kids who may be struggling with their identities but to the kids who’d be their allies.
Endless thanks to Kelli for sharing her heart with us! You can visit Time Enough Books at 157 Howerton Way SE, Ilwaco, WA. Don’t forget to check out the Pride section!