Mid- Missouri
LGBT Coaltion
The Overview
No celebration would be complete without entertainment. Attendees are continually treated to an array of performers. The selected acts try to capture the diverse interest of the crowd. Past performances have included folk singers, jazz, hip-hop, gospel sing-a-longs, classic and new wave rock and roll, heavy metal and contemporary music, hula dancing, belly dancing and both male and female impersonators. During the past two years, many of the attendees have become “instant” entertainers when they competed in the very popular Mid-MO Pride Idol contest for a cash prize.
Every year the Mid-Missouri PrideFest is organized around a theme.
2004
2007
Nearly 40 years ago the Stonewall uprising marked a major turning point for many in America. Up to that point the Gay Community had been forced to be fairly secretive and kept hidden in fear for their personal and financial security. It was commonplace for governmental agencies to aggressively roundup, arrest and prosecute individuals with the intent to publicly humiliate and ostracize them. After a particularly aggressive and brutal attack by government officials during a routine roundup, riots broke out in Greenwich Village in protest of systematic oppression.
Every year since the brutal attack, Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, & Transgender (GLBT) people, their friends, and family members have held annual celebrations to commemorate this monumental watershed event. No longer willing to take the victim's role, the Gay Community with their Straight Friends have collectively banded together to prove they have nothing to hide and are proud of who they are. These celebrations take many forms, marches, festivals, street fairs, parties, parades and picnics. All of them promote GLBT visibility, unity and progress toward full equal civil rights. For decades the Columbia GLBT community has joined with other communities as this celebration has spread to become an international event.
The Mid-Missouri LGBT Coalition has been honored to be the organizer of the pride celebration in central Missouri for the past 4 years. Activities at this local celebration are designed to be family friendly and are quite diverse. A resource fair attracts nonprofit organizations, governmental agencies and interest groups. They offer information on GLBT friendly churches, support groups, advocacy on a variety of human rights issues, health education and screenings, chorale groups and hands on arts and crafts opportunities. A local church group provides organized activities in a designated area for families with children. A variety of goods are available from vendors. These include jewelry, home accessories, like candles, pictures, and quilts, T-shirts, pet treats and accessories, vacation planning, real estate information and adult items in age restricted booth in keeping with a family focused festival. The “Pride Cafe” provides festival attendees with a selection of food items and beverages to nourish and refresh.
The election year 2004, brought about a massive politically motivated effort to constitutional sanction continued discrimination by adding an amendment to Missouri's Constitution to limit marriage between a man and a woman. Got Pride?- Show-Me! unified over 450 attendees in the face of continued systematic oppression. Spirits were dampened in festival attendees were shocked by the recent brutal murder of Jesse Valencia, a gay MU student. In honor of Jesse and to show solidarity as a community - festival attendees wore black armbands of mourning as they celebrated life.
2005
The continued struggle to be able to participate fully as American citizens was reflected in the 2005 theme: Equal Rights, No more-No less. The steady growth of festival participant to 600 attendees demonstrated the need to find a bigger location than Dexhiemer shelter in Cosmo Park.
2006
The steadily growing festival moved locations to better accommodate the 850 + attendees. The theme Pride Not Prejudice, united the diverse participants. Festival organizers and community organizations added a variety of educational workshops and extended the celebration into the night to promote community fusion with the Atomic Dance Party hosted by The Center Project to the schedule of activities. The local festival gained national attention as the focus of smaller town Pride Celebrations for the documentary, “Profiles In Pride”, that was produced by CBS-LOGO News.
The KKK March through central Columbia prompted the 2007 theme United in Diversity. Participants celebrated their own uniqueness while joining forces with diverse groups. The festival continues to grow reaching 900 participants from central Missouri and adjoining states. The success of last years post-festival dance party - prompted The Center Project to host the 2nd annual Atomic Dance to promote community fusion.
This free daylong celebration is open to the public and presents a unique opportunity for everyone to learn about diversity while enjoying a variety of entertainment. People of all ages, races, religions, differing abilities, economic groups, straight, gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender people, opposite sex couples, same sex couples, families of all different types attend this event.
