This year, at least 27 small towns across the U.S. hosted their first-ever Pride events, marking a significant step forward for LGBTQ+ visibility and acceptance in America.
Growing Visibility
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In 2024, 27 small towns across the U.S. held their first Pride events, showcasing the growth of LGBTQ+ acceptance beyond major cities and slowing spreading across the American countryside.
Increasing Support
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Each year, more and more small towns across the country host such events, indicating an increase in support and visibility for the LGBTQ+ community in rural and less populous areas.
Local Organizers’ Challenges
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In Canyon County, Idaho, organizer Tom Wheeler faced threats of violence, but despite these threats, the event was a huge success, with more attendees than the venue could accommodate.
Too Many Attendees
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“I was told to wear a bulletproof vest leading up to our community’s event. However, the celebration was extremely successful, with the only safety concern being too many attendees to fit in the celebration area,” said Tom Wheeler, as reported by The Washington Post.
Overwhelming Attendance
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Van Knapp, another organizer from Canyon County, highlighted a similar experience where he faced an unexpectedly large turnout thanks to strong community support.
10 Times the Expected
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Expressing their astonishment at the event’s success, Knap said, “We expected a couple hundred people to attend the festival and had over 3,000.”
Community Response
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The positive response from local communities celebrating their first Pride events suggests that the anti-LGBTQ+ rhetoric heard across the country may be shifting towards greater acceptance.
Ready for Inclusivity
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After hosting his wildly successful Pride event, Knapp thinks that Idaho is ready to become more inclusive, as evidenced by the community’s overwhelming participation in the event.
How the Community Truly Feels
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“The community showed how they truly feel about the LGBTQIA+ population, and it was much different than the loud voices that we were used to hearing. Idaho is ready to become more accepting, and our event really proved that,” Knapp stated.
Special Recognition
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Prattville Pride in Alabama, a state notorious for homophobic rhetoric, even received the GLAAD Special Recognition award for its efforts in organizing its first Pride event.
A Collaboratives Effort
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The Prattville Pride celebration in Alabama was a collaboration with Good Morning America, and a segment was even aired highlighting the significance of their achievement.
A Sense of Belonging
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one of the organizers, Caryl Lawson, said, “Pride is about a sense of community and belonging and allowing people to take up space and be themselves. It’s so important, especially in today’s climate where our community is under attack.”
Safety Concerns and Protests
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However, Pride 2024 had some complications thanks to security threats and protests, with the FBI and the Department of Homeland Security issuing warnings about potential threats at some events.
FBI and DHS Warnings
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The FBI and DHS warned of “possible threats against Pride celebrations by foreign terrorist organizations,” adding that these threats are “compounded by the current heightened threat environment in the United States and other western countries.”
Proceeding Safely
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Despite these challenges, no terrorist threats were ever followed through with at this year’s pride parade, and all the small town’s first attempt at Pride events proceeded safely.
Inclusion and Acceptance
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Instead of the violent threats being enacted, the success of these first-time Pride celebrations in small towns underscores a broader cultural shift towards inclusion and acceptance across the nation.
East Coast
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Towns on the East Coast hosting their first Pride events include Wilmington, Delaware; New Haven, Connecticut; Provincetown, Massachusetts; and Asbury Park, New Jersey.
West Coast
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On the West Coast, small towns such as Bend, Oregon; Santa Cruz, California; Eureka, California; and Juneau, Alaska, held their inaugural Pride celebrations.
American South
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In the American South, Prattville, Alabama; Charleston, South Carolina; Galveston, Texas; and Fayetteville, Arkansas, were among the towns celebrating Pride for the first time.
Midwest
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Midwestern towns like Bloomington, Indiana; Madison, Wisconsin; Dayton, Ohio; and Sioux Falls, South Dakota, also hosted their first-ever Pride events.
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Featured Image Credit: Shutterstock / eyeforanai.