With Pride month coming to an end on Wednesday, some Owensboro residents gathered to celebrate their ability to be proud of who they are Sunday.
Bob Coons, Pastor at Unity Fellowship, said they were excited to host the event for the LGBTQ+ community throughout the city. They offered free food, space for vendors to showcase their businesses, a march, and space for people to convene and gather safely.
“Our church is happy to be a sponsor and host for this because we also want to give dignity and respect to everyone. We believe God loves everyone and that everyone is welcome in God’s House,” Coons said.
He said the event is a celebration of visibility and its importance for people to show dignity and respect to everyone.
Resident Emma Latta said when she was organizing the event she wanted to provide a space for LGBTQ people like her, but also to promote a desired fairness ordinance in Owensboro-Daviess County.
At the core though, Latta said she wants the community to be seen throughout the city.
“We want to show that there is, albeit a small one, a community in Owensboro,” Latta said. “We are here. We want to be seen, like everybody else is.”
The festivities of the day began with a parade downtown. The marchers waved their different pride flags as cars honked in support.
Kayla Guthrie said, a resident who participated in the march, said that Pride is important in Owensboro. Guthrie was at the event with her friend Hayden Hardesty. The two were enjoying the time to share with others.
“We are not a minority,” Hardesty said. “Pride means so much because it’s more than who you are. It’s our identity.”
As the day wore on people came and enjoyed the ability to show support for each other — whether it be supporting small businesses or giving free hugs, as many shirts read.
“We get to show that we’re proud of who we are, that we are here, that we exist,” Guthrie said.
