Festival invokes pride
Annual festival celebrates LGBTQ community
May 29, 2015
“Pride, I found, was a safe place where you could be who you wanted,” Henry said. “People dressed in Speedos and Rollerblades and balloons, however, they wanted to express themselves. No one really judged them.”
Dot Belstler, executive director of Twin Cities Pride, said the Pride parade is part of a weekend-long festival celebrating those who identify with the LGBTQ movement. She said the modern movement first started with those in New York City who stood up for their rights against police raids.
“The Stonewall riots of 1969 really started the modern day GLBT rights movement,” Belstler said. “They said enough was enough and we are not going to let you abuse us anymore. We have our rights. So every year, it is a recognition of that.”
Henry said he was unable to participate in the parade last year, but said he thinks the event is a great way to celebrate the LGBTQ community.
“I think it is really important to support the LGBT(Q) group,” Henry said. “The LGBT(Q) community has not been talked about for a good chunk of our history and has only really started coming out of the closet for the past 50 years. So it’s a good way to celebrate different identities.”
Belstler said she never attended the festival prior to her position at Twin Cities Pride. She said a close friend, who identifies with the gay community, asked her to come with her to the event, which she found to be really fun.
“I thought for a long time that I wanted to go to Pride but I just never got around to it. I thought there were way too many people there and I don’t feel like doing that, but I did,” Belstler said. “I was just really impressed with the volunteers, the people and the community and how happy people were.”
Senior Khadija Ali said she would attend the event to support the LGBTQ movement, even though she doesn’t identify with the movement.
“It’s against my religion, but I support it,” Ali said. “The more people there are (at the event), the more attention (LGBTQ) will get.”
The theme for this year’s festival is Together We Can, according to Belstler.
“Everything that we do is really trying to be inclusive and making sure that everybody’s voices are at the table,” Belstler said.
Henry said the event means a lot to him because he feels welcome to attend.
“It means having identities accepted and being able to be who you are without really worrying that people will judge you,” Henry said. “There were a lot of different people and groups that were so supportive and it just showed how accepting the community is and is becoming.”
Belstler said the event allows people to explore different aspects of the LGBTQ community.
“Sometimes they are just coming out and they want to be able to celebrate that fact in a very welcoming atmosphere,” Belstler said. “Sometimes people in general come to support their friends and family. And sometimes people come just to learn about the gay community.”
When Henry attended the festivities last year, he said he was surprised about the diversity of the community supporting LGBTQ.
“It was a lot to take in because there were so many places that I wouldn’t really associate with prior (to the parade),” Henry said. “Everyone there was super nice, even the random people.”
Henry said he likes to participate because he feels he is helping a movement just beginning to grow, develop and gain more visibility.
“Things can’t get done without teams. You can go individually but you aren’t going to go too far,” Henry said. “With a team regardless of who that team is made up of, you are going to succeed more. So having straight allies is helpful, but the movement shouldn’t be led by people who are just friends and allies. It should be led by the people in the (LGBTQ) community.”
The festival takes place 10 a.m. June 27-28 in Loring Park. The Pride parade starts 11 a.m. June 28 at 3rd and Hennepin Avenue. More information about volunteering and ways to get involved can be found at www.tcpride.org.
