Emporia’s Pride Celebration brought hundreds of residents to downtown Emporia on Saturday.
Grand Co-Marshal Nyk Robertson is impressed with Emporia’s openness since they were a student at Emporia State and even after the first Pride event several years ago. Visibility, they say, is vitally important as rights for the LGBTQ+ community have been rolled back along with previous efforts towards diversity, equity and inclusion.
Co-Marshal Micheal Torres agrees. He says recent federal actions make events like Pride all the more meaningful.
Torres says the turnout and the vibe from Saturday has him looking ahead to next year’s event. In the short term, Robertson sees this year’s Pride as an open door towards unity, not division.
Pride celebrations are rooted in what are called the Stonewall Riots after a law enforcement raid at a New York City hotel in 1969.
Locally, activities featured a parade to kick off the annual Pride Live event, with performances by the New Start Choir, Emporia State Summer Theatre and others leading to a drag show.
*Click here for KVOE News’ YouTube channel, including a YouTube Short from Saturday.
Photos by Chuck Samples/KVOE News
