From The Editor: And, The Lavender Magazine Community Pride Award Goes To…

It’s mid-June already! Therefore, it’s time for the Lavender Magazine Community Pride Awards issue!

Just like every year, we try our best to present these awards to a worthy group of people, organizations, and businesses that serve our community well in their own capacity. We look at the past, present, and future of our community when we select these worthy recipients.

From key figures in healthcare to driving forces supporting our community, we have a superb group of people to celebrate this year Some of which you will meet for the first time.

On behalf of everyone at Lavender Magazine, we congratulate all of the winners!

You can, as well. At our First Thursday event on July 6 at the Rock Elm Tavern in Plymouth. Just like every First Thursday we host, it starts at 5:30 PM.

Also, we’re a weekend away from Twin Cities Pride. We have a couple of items that we have on here, including an interview with the new Executive Director, Andi Otto. He is also gracing our cover in this issue. You might not want to miss this year’s expanded Pride festival, now scaling over Hennepin Avenue into the Sculpture Garden. Not to mention, Otto is driving new initiatives to bridge our community beyond just the Twin Cities.

Also, we have more for this month in this second issue of June. Think of this as a “volume 2” of our last issue – the big Pride issue. There’s always more stories to tell as a run-up to Twin Cities Pride weekend.

Don’t forget to use this as a guide to get in and around Twin Cities Pride! Look for the map and listing of vendors and other information inside this issue to plan out your weekend at Loring Park, the Sculpture Garden, and on Hennepin Avenue.

I often ask why we include as many stories as we do during our June issues. It is all because of us – a diverse community that is seen, celebrated, and honored.

That’s why June is our month.

Keep in mind that our lives do not stop celebrating at the end of Twin Cities Pride weekend. Just a gentle reminder that there are more Pride celebrations across Minnesota and beyond out state line scheduled all the way into October. Not to mention that the Gay Softball World Series is coming to the Twin Cities at the end of August and the Lynx is hooping it up in their 25^th season!

Celebrate, dear readers! Bring your flags, your pets, and your families! After all, the party is far from over!