A NOTE FROM THE BOARD CHAIR

It is my privilege to welcome you to Capital City Pride’s 44th PrideFest! Last year we welcomed more than 40,000 people to Des Moines in celebration and this year we have an amazing lineup of events, entertainment, and opportunities to celebrate the LGBTQ+ community. Visibility is education and we are here to show Des Moines and the state of Iowa that the LGBTQ+ community, our friends, family and allies stand arm in arm to celebrate our Pride.

As we celebrate our 44th year of PrideFest, it’s important to remember and celebrate those who work every day to make positive impacts on our LGBTQ+ community. 2023 has been an incredibly difficult year. Legislation was introduced and passed into law in the state of Iowa that singles out LGBTQ+ individuals, attacking some of the most vulnerable members of society. Iowa has always held a foundational belief permeating our state from its very inception; namely, “a powerful commitment to the equality and inalienable rights of all people within its borders’’. After years of moving closer towards equality of opportunity, public leaders accelerated policy to make life harder for LGBTQ+ people who work, live, and go to school here. This does not align with the values we learned growing up in Iowa and makes our work for the LGBTQ+ community even more important.

In supporting our community, we strive to create safe and welcoming spaces where all people feel a sense of community and belonging. We work to ensure that everyone in the LGBTQ+ community not only has access to what we do but sees a little bit of themselves in the programs and spaces we provide. This goes beyond Pride Week and PrideFest. We offer year-round diverse programs and events throughout the year believing Pride is something that must be celebrated every single day.

This year, Pride Week and PrideFest weekend will once again feature some of our most popular events such as the Pride Walk, I-Cubs Pride Night, Mr. Ms. Mx. Pageant, Drag Brunch, The Silent Disco, Family & Youth Zone, Pride Stride, Health & Wellness Zone, Pet Parade, Teen Zone and the Pride Parade on Sunday!

On behalf of the Capital City Pride Board, I’d like to extend a big thank you to the neighbors and businesses in the East Village, the city of Des Moines, all of our sponsors, volunteers, vendors, entertainers, and, of course, all of you who come out to celebrate and support Capital City Pride. We couldn’t do this without you! Again, thank you for participating in this year’s PrideFest!

Sincerely,

Dan J. Jansen Board Chair | Capital City Pride

MEDIS BRKIC, Relationship Manager, has been with F&G for nine years and was instrumental in building the foundation for the company's DEI efforts. She is an active CCP Board member serving as the Director of Diversity, Accessibility & Inclusion. Medis also serves on various boards and committees, and is an active volunteer in the community.