Pride Quarterly: At The Halfway Mark For 2024

We’re weeks away from the start of Pride season in Minnesota. That also means we’re inching closer to our main event – Twin Cities Pride. 

Last month at the Bauhaus Brew Labs in Northeast Minneapolis, Twin Cities Pride’s Executive Director Andi Otto previewed this year’s festivities. The theme for 2024 is called “Show Your Colors 365.”

There will be changes and additions that will benefit every corner of the LGBTQ+ community. For example, Otto announced putting the Rainbow Stage into the Youth Hideaway area, opening up Friday night for a couple of hours where LGBTQ+ youth can feel safe and welcomed.

This year should see an emphasis on welcoming younger LGBTQ+ people to Loring Park by creating a space within Loring Park. Otto mentioned that the space will be open to let them have a space to play and be themselves.

Many other spaces at Loring Park will return for 2024, one of which is the Living Well Park. This area will feature health and wellness organizations and programs in a single space as a crossroads for information and resources. 

A sports field to be opened up for the local sports organizations, expanding to accommodate more activities at Loring Park to create an environment intersecting the sports and LGBTQ+ communities

On the same theme, one of our professional sports notables was announced as a Grand Marshal of Twin Cities Pride. Carley Knox, the President of the Minnesota Lynx, has been named because of her leadership at one of our favorite sports teams. From the beginning, the Lynx welcomed LGBTQ+ fans to Target Center, as the Lynx won championships against the best of the WNBA. Knox continues to provide leadership for the team as it continues providing LGBTQ+ the most exciting sports experiences in the country. 

Looking back at 2023, Twin Cities Pride welcomed our community with open arms the last weekend of June at the festival held at Loring Park, along Hennepin Avenue for the Twin Cities LGBTQ+ Pride March Honoring Ashley Rukes, and other events across the Twin Cities. 

Seeing a crucial need for our community, Otto’s vision was to create programming year-round. One of these programs that was started in 2023 was the Rainbow Circle. This program offers gender-affirming clothing for the community, along with binders. The Rainbow Circle was one of the successes that Twin Cities Pride accomplished during 2023. 

Another program that began recent was a radio show and podcast called Twin Cities Pride Amplified. It is currently broadcasted Friday evenings on AM 950.  The podcast is released afterwards. “We created this podcast so we can talk about these tough things,” said Otto. He also added those topics they will address various issues Twin Cities Pride had encountered throughout the years. 

In future episodes, Twin Cities Pride Amplified will feature guests. One of those guests will be Zaylore Stout, author of Our Gay History in 50 States. 

Also, Otto mentioned that Twin Cities Pride donated $75,000 to programs across Minnesota. Those donations included assistance in small town pride events and other programs benefitting LGBTQ+ people. 

With only over four months to go, there is a lot more planning ahead. Right now, Pride March contingent, booth and food vendor applications are now being accepted for this year’s Twin Cities Pride. Log on to tcpride.org to apply for your spot at Loring Park and/or along Hennepin Avenue this coming June. Don’t wait to get in on this year’s activities.