Pride planning, 2016: We march together

by Sara Ritsch
Staff Writer

Pride is the most positive and typically eccentric festival to celebrate our sexuality and gender identity as LGBT individuals and allies. Finally, 2016’s Gay Pride is approaching, with the cities in The Gayly’s region grinding their gears in preparation for the festivities.

Discrimination and violence end here, we say, as we march with an international, historic pride that reverberates off the city streets and buildings that our ancestors built. Our identities are affirmed as we shout to the world who we are, who we love and how we live.

Our dignity is strong and our rights are only widening their reach – all threats are left at the wayside during Pride. Equality is key, but standing out and standing up for our personhood is the march of the week.

So we march together.

From their genesis during the 1950s and 1960s, Pride festivals have been the most recognized yet stigmatized events within the LGBT community. But there is no shame on these streets, not for us. “Not today.”

So this year, whether you live in Kansas, Missouri, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Texas or anywhere in the nation, a city near you will be celebrating Pride. You might feel it in your toes as the excitement shakes the earth, or maybe a gust of wind will bring glitter your way.

You can look forward to a 10-day stretch of events in Wichita and Hutchinson or a street fair in Topeka; and Kansas City will boast their slogan, “Like a rainbow reflects light in water droplets, the LGBTQIA community reflects human equality,” across their booming festivities.

Springfield, Missouri, will see over 2,500 attendants (mostly single!) and Joplin, Missouri, will host G-rated entertainment, presenting events for teens, children and families alike.

Northwest Arkansas will put their focus on both jovial drinking and on HIV prevention, providing HIV tests and bars to hop for their attendants. Little Rock specifies on their Pride website that the celebration in their city will be to combat the idea that being who you are is considered “relentlessly gay.” But we’ll show them relentlessly gay, all right.

For those of you in Oklahoma, OKC is known to have featured the Village People in their 2015 Pride, costumes and all…so their plans for this year will have to top that! And, you can look forward to playing a part in Oklahoma’s longest running Pride, in Tulsa, by celebrating at a picnic in the park for their 33rd year.

For more family fun, Enid hosts the most G-rated of the Pride Fests so that young adults and teens can get involved, celebrating their own diversity as well. A picnic will be ready for the family, too, in Tahlequah.

Amarillo, Texas, will see about 1,500 LGBT people and allies. You can look forward to Amarillo’s signature Pride Picnic and double up on both gay pride and Texas pride for a truly rowdy time.

So no matter where you live in The Gayly’s South-central region, there is a city near you awaiting your presence. Because what is Pride without its entire community – every L, G, B, T, Q, I, 2 or A?

Tune in next month for a list of each city’s events and dates.

The Gayly- 3/18/2016 @ 9:36 AM CST