"Diversity, The Rising Tide"

Wichita Pride celebrates ten years

by Rob Howard
Associate Editor

The Wichita Pride 2015 theme, “Diversity, The Rising Tide: Standing Together,” stands for the immense pride organizers feel as they celebrate ten years of LGBT Pride in Wichita. Each year, Wichita Pride seeks out contributions from the community for a theme and logo. It gives everyone ownership of the event, according to Evan Shaheen, President of Wichita Pride.

Wichita Pride events begin on Friday, Sept. 18th and continue through Saturday, Sept. 26th with a family picnic at O.J. Watson Park. In between are the Block Party, Drag Party, Parade, “Wigstock”, bowling and many other exciting events.

This year will include an “after Block Party Drag Show.” Shaheen said, “We have so many entertainers that want to go on the stage that we can’t accommodate them all, so the Saturday night event is when they can come out and perform for Pride.”

“Sunday, Sept. 20, is the big day for Wichita Pride,” as excitement and pride can be heard in the President’s voice, as he describes the event. “Events begin with a 10:30am church service conducted by the First Metropolitan Community Church of Wichita, at the Mid-America All Indian Center. A big rally begins at noon at the Sedgewick County Courthouse.”

He points out that Kansans may have won the right to marriage equality, but the LGBT community faces a hostile governor and legislature, and there are no protections against anti-gay discrimination in employment, accommodation or housing.

After the rally, the Wichita LGBT Pride Parade steps off at 1pm from the Courthouse, and travels to the Mid-America All Indian Center. “We have drag entertainers, vocalists, food, and more. It used to be exclusively drag, now if you can sing, tell jokes, if there is something family friendly that you can do, we want you on the Pride stage. It makes things more fun and keeps people interested. Of course, we still have plenty of drag entertainers because they were there at the beginning, and we certainly want them around.

“We have a kid’s area with big inflatables that kids like, so folks are encouraged to bring their children. Organizations will be there providing information about their groups, there will be vendors, the Health Coalition booth will offer health information and testing, Equality Kansas, The Center of Wichita [and more].” Pride organizations from Salina and Kansas City will attend and WitCon, a transgender support group. Shaheen expects around 2,000 attendees.

No Pride Festival could exist without sponsors, and Wichita Pride’s list is impressive. Major sponsors include food giant Cargill, communications company T-Mobile, AARP Kansas and The Gayly. Many other businesses are on the list of sponsors.

This year’s celebration will be a little different from previous ones, said Shaheen. “This is Wichita Pride’s tenth anniversary. We started this organization when the marriage referendum was passed in 2005, and now marriage is legal. So it’s going to be different in the fact that we are celebrating what we were gunning for. There’s a lot more to be done. It’s a celebration this year for the huge victory we had.”

Shaheen is particularly proud of the Wichita Pride board. “The board is a diverse group, both the executive board and the steering committee and includes allies. The board composition goes through sexuality, gender and race.” He praised the board and the event’s volunteers for all their hard work to produce a bigger, better Wichita Pride 2015.

The Mid-America All Indian Center at 650 N. Seneca St. in Wichita is the site of the Block Party, the Worship Service and the Festival.

WICHITA PRIDE SCHEDULE
Friday Sept. 18: 9pm-2am, Party Bus Bar Crawl
Saturday, Sept. 19: Block Party, Mid-America All Indian Center
(Drag Party, after Block Party at Boomerang)
Sunday, Sept. 20:
10:30am church service, First MCC of Wichita, at the Mid-America All Indian Center. A big rally begins 12 noon: Rally, Sedgewick County Courthouse
1pm: Parade followed by the Festival
Monday, Sept 21: 6-9pm “Wigstock,” a big hair contest, Riverside Hair Station,
Friday, Sept 25: 10:30pm to 12:30am, Cosmic Bowling, at Seneca Alley
Saturday, Sept 26: 11am3pm, Family Picnic, O.J. Watson Park, Shelter No. 6

Published The Gayly - 6:18pm CDT 9/6/2015