Orange City, Iowa, to Hold Community's Second Gay Pride Festival Next Weekend!

Remember OC Pride last October? It was the first time that the conservative town of Orange City held any Pride activities. There was culture warrior push-back as the community's churches successfully sought to segregate materials with LGBTQ content to a special section of the library (here and here for more info). But otherwise it was a great success and a wonderful chance for LGBTQ people to congregate!

It was such a success that OC Pride has decided to do it again! Next weekend, they have planned a "bigger and gayer" Pride event in Orange City. There still won't be a parade, but there are an assortment of other activities spread out from Friday the 19th through Sunday the 21st:

Friday 10/19:
5:30-7:30 PM Kid Show featuring Story Time, Dancing with Queen & Kings, and MORE! at Prairie Winds Event Center
8:00-10:30 PM Headliner Drag Performances from the Shakers Family & Music from Des Moines Gay Men's Chorus at Prairie Winds Event Center

Saturday 10/20:
8:00-9:00 AM Yoga at City Hall
12:00-2:30 PM Information/Resource Fair, Crafts/Activities for all age, at City Hall
3:00-5:00 PM "Buried Seeds" Storytelling event, sponsored by L.E.A.P. at City Hall
6:00-7:00 PM Happy Hour Music at Town Square
8:00-11:00 PM "Stilettos and Broken Bottles" Dance at Town Square 

Sunday 10/21:
11:00 AM-2:00 PM Brunch & Show Tunes at Town Square Coffee House

The Sioux County Conservatives are predictably upset over the event, particularly the inclusion of family-friendly activities for those as young as three. They repeat the "as young as three" over and over and over. They want you to know that they aren't calling for OC Pride to end. They are calling on Orange City's Christian leaders and people to rise up and decide if it should end.


Incidentally, it kind of happened accidentally. But I became Facebook friends earlier this year with OC Pride organizer Mike Goll. He and his husband are really sweet guys. OC Pride couldn't have better representatives.