WE WERE GAY BEFORE IT WAS COOL. SEPTEMBER 2016 | LIBERTY PRESS | Page 21
Community pride and diversity the focus of this year’s Topeka Pride By Ciara Reid, staff reporter TOPEKA - The 2016 Topeka Pride Festival starts Sept. 12 with activities scheduled through Sept. 17. This is the third annual pride festival for the city, and while pride and diversity are naturally areas of celebration during pride festivals, organizers of Topeka Pride are placing a special emphasis on these themes this year. Especially in this time of strife, when bathroom laws and gender identity conjure heated debates and uneducated opinions all over the country, any opportunity to come together and celebrate differences is welcomed. Topeka pride organizer Stephanie Mott views this pride celebration as more than just equality and celebration based on sexual orientation and gender identity. “We recognize that we must celebrate who we are, but that we also need to celebrate all the intersectionality of who we are,” she says. “This includes all marginalized and oppressed populations including people of color, people with disabilities, people of all socioeconomic classes, and people of all ages,” Mott continued. “If we don’t celebrate diversity, we end up not including some of our own. So, why not recognize that all diversity is cause for celebration, and that when all oppressed and marginalized people join together, equality for all will become a reality.” The festival will be located in the North Topeka (NOTO) Arts District, with various
events scheduled in and around the district. Topeka Pride will commence on Sept. 12, with a Spirituality Night scheduled from 6-8pm at the Temple Beth Sholom. Karaoke Night takes place Sept. 13 from 7-9pm at the Metropolitan Community Church of Topeka. The Topeka Pride Awards are scheduled for 7-8:30pm on Sept. 15 at the Unitarian Universalist F e l l o w s h i p o f To p e k a . Nominations were accepted via the Topeka Pride website through Aug. 15. Nominees included an individual, group, or organization located in the Topeka or Shawnee County areas that have contributed to the advancement of support, understanding, acceptance, or equality for sexual and gender minorities in Topeka/Shawnee County (including family, friends, and allies). One of the most anticipated events - the Topeka Pride Drag Show - takes the stage Friday, Sept. 16 from 9pm-2am at Serendipity. Tickets for the show are $10 in advance and $15 at the door. The festival will conclude Sept. 17 with the parade and street festival. The parade begins at 2pm at N. Kansas Avenue and NW Morris Street. The street festival runs from 3-7pm. Additional events, activities and performers are still being confirmed and will be announced on the Topeka Pride website. For information on events, performers, vendors, and opportunities to sponsor o r v o l u n t e e r, v i s i t w w w. topekapride.org. l
Last year's Topeka Pride Parade was a great success! Photos by Dan Brennan
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