Posted on Jun 24, 2023
PrideFest 2023 will celebrate LGBTQ life amid increasing threats
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Organizers of PrideFest 2023 expect more than 300,000 people to flood downtown St. Louis this weekend for the two-day event, which culminates in a parade Sunday afternoon.
The festival is the best-attended celebration of LGBTQ communities in St. Louis. It will include hundreds of vendors and nonprofit organizations, plus a lineup of performers topped by Kat Graham and Betty Who on Saturday, followed by Idina Menzel and Cece Peniston on Sunday.
Other performers include the Gateway Men’s Chorus, the St. Louis Drag Revue and Divas of the Grove.
The event comes after a recent wave of legislation supported by Republican lawmakers that targets LGBTQ people, and trans people in particular.
“With the context of how things are going right now, people are very scared or are nervous,” said Morgan Morris, secretary of Pride St. Louis, which organizes PrideFest. “The idea for this event is that we can help people see other people that are them, or at least get them connected to like-minded people. We want there to be more visibility. The idea is to empower.”
The festival is the best-attended celebration of LGBTQ communities in St. Louis. It will include hundreds of vendors and nonprofit organizations, plus a lineup of performers topped by Kat Graham and Betty Who on Saturday, followed by Idina Menzel and Cece Peniston on Sunday.
Other performers include the Gateway Men’s Chorus, the St. Louis Drag Revue and Divas of the Grove.
The event comes after a recent wave of legislation supported by Republican lawmakers that targets LGBTQ people, and trans people in particular.
“With the context of how things are going right now, people are very scared or are nervous,” said Morgan Morris, secretary of Pride St. Louis, which organizes PrideFest. “The idea for this event is that we can help people see other people that are them, or at least get them connected to like-minded people. We want there to be more visibility. The idea is to empower.”
PrideFest 2023 will celebrate LGBTQ life amid increasing threats
Posted from news.stlpublicradio.org
St. Louis
LGBTQ+
Threat
Posted 11 mo ago
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PO1 William "Chip" Nagel live and let live...
..."The event comes after a recent wave of legislation supported by Republican lawmakers that targets LGBTQ people, and trans people in particular.
“With the context of how things are going right now, people are very scared or are nervous,” said Morgan Morris, secretary of Pride St. Louis, which organizes PrideFest. “The idea for this event is that we can help people see other people that are them, or at least get them connected to like-minded people. We want there to be more visibility. The idea is to empower.”
Hate crimes against LGBTQ people are on the rise nationally. Sexual orientation is the second most-common motivation for hate crimes committed in Missouri as of 2021 — followed by race and ethnicity — according to statistics compiled by the U.S. Department of Justice.
A brunch featuring a drag performer at Bar K in St. Louis was disrupted last weekend when someone started booing and interfering with the event, said attendee Randy Rafter.
“They were basically causing a scene because people were just being who they are and representing their part of their community,” said Rafter, president and CEO of Black Pride St. Louis, which describes itself as the second-oldest U.S. support group for LGBTQ people who are Black.
“Even though we're a strong community and a strong people, it still gets under your skin sometimes to see that hatred for someone just because they're being who they are,” Rafter said."...
..."The event comes after a recent wave of legislation supported by Republican lawmakers that targets LGBTQ people, and trans people in particular.
“With the context of how things are going right now, people are very scared or are nervous,” said Morgan Morris, secretary of Pride St. Louis, which organizes PrideFest. “The idea for this event is that we can help people see other people that are them, or at least get them connected to like-minded people. We want there to be more visibility. The idea is to empower.”
Hate crimes against LGBTQ people are on the rise nationally. Sexual orientation is the second most-common motivation for hate crimes committed in Missouri as of 2021 — followed by race and ethnicity — according to statistics compiled by the U.S. Department of Justice.
A brunch featuring a drag performer at Bar K in St. Louis was disrupted last weekend when someone started booing and interfering with the event, said attendee Randy Rafter.
“They were basically causing a scene because people were just being who they are and representing their part of their community,” said Rafter, president and CEO of Black Pride St. Louis, which describes itself as the second-oldest U.S. support group for LGBTQ people who are Black.
“Even though we're a strong community and a strong people, it still gets under your skin sometimes to see that hatred for someone just because they're being who they are,” Rafter said."...
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