OKC Pride: Looking forward, looking back

by Michael Clark
OKC Pride President

2015 has been a watershed year for the LGBTQ community with marriage equality becoming the law of the land. It was a tremendous year for OKC Pride as well. We have seen this non-profit community organization run by a group of dedicated volunteers grow into a strong voice for the community and a resource for those in need.

I am proud to return for another year as President of OKC Pride and look forward to even bigger and better things in 2016.

OKC Pride is best known as the organization that puts on the OKC Pride Festival and this year was our biggest ever. More than 70,000 people came out to 39th Street over three days to show their support for Oklahoma’s LGBTQ community. We had great performances by The Village People, En Vogue, Erika Jayne, Nexus, DJ Red Handed, Born in November, The Black Shades, Gentry Counce and numerous other local artists.

The arts festival and food court was filled with fantastic vendors. The OKC Pride Parade thrilled the crowd of over 40,000 with fantastic floats. Most importantly, we provided a forum for everyone to see how large and diverse the LGBTQ community is here in Oklahoma.

OKC Pride was proud to host our second annual Second Chance Prom where we filled the Allied Arts rooftop with couples who were able to take who they really wanted to prom. Everyone had a great time dancing and voting for the king and queen. We also hosted the second annual Treats & Tricks on 39th Halloween Block Party. This year we filled Angles with hundreds of people in fabulous costumes, gave out cash prizes and offered food trucks and beer on the street.

As wonderful as 2015 has been for OKC Pride, we are looking forward to bigger and better things in 2016. We are beginning the year with “ValenTrans” on February 10. We are inviting all members of the transgender community to attend an event celebrating Valentine’s Day where we will offer free food and beverages, makeovers, advice and assistance with a variety of challenges people face. Keep an eye on OKC Pride’s Facebook and website, as well as The Gayly for more details.

In the spring of 2016, we will be hosting two different prom events. LGBTQ Youth Prom will be held in early March and offer those ages 16-21 a safe place to have a great prom experience with others from across central Oklahoma. Music, refreshments and dancing will be provided free of charge and participants will have an opportunity to win a number of door prizes.

Our 3rd annual Second Chance Prom for those over 21 is scheduled for early April and is shaping up to be an even larger and more elegant affair than previous years. Additional details and ticketing information for both will be available after the first of the year.

None of these great events would be possible without the hard work and dedication of our OKC Pride Board of Directors, tremendous volunteers and generous supporters. We are working hard to ensure that OKC Pride 2016 is even bigger and better, while reaching out to provide better service and representation to the Oklahoma LGBTQ community. If you would like to join OKC Pride, volunteer or make a donation, please visit our website www.OKCPride.org.

The Gayly - 12/24/2015 @ 10:23 a.m. CST