MINOT, N.D. (AP) - There has been a storm of media attention on the issues of equality for gay rights and gay marriage, with bills and legislation, debate and discussion at the forefront of the list. Those issues have been raising awareness and trying to gain more acceptance, and one group trying to do that closer to home is Pride Minot, a relatively new organization for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people.
Pride Minot was started in 2013 and aims to build pride in the Minot LGBT community while creating a strong network. They want to help change the conversation in Minot and the surrounding cities by bringing forward the attention of LGBT issues, the Minot Daily News (https://bit.ly/1S8M4i4 ) reported.
The initiative of Pride Minot is to do service projects as often as possible and give back to the community. Their goal is to support other like-minded organizations in Minot.
Matt Elmore, Pride Minot coordinator, said the organization started having meetings in January and there has been a lot of interest. Since June is Pride Month, the group wanted to have pride events in Minot, but the events are being held in July due to scheduling issues.
“We’re pushing the events this summer to raise awareness,” said Matthew Hardwig, chapter leader for OutServe-SLDN (Servicemembers Legal Defense Network) Northern Tier, an organization focused on fighting to achieve full LGBT military equality.
There aren’t regular meeting times currently for Pride Minot and there are no membership fees. Elmore said to become a member of Pride Minot that all someone has to do is like the Pride Minot Facebook page and come to the events. There are approximately 20 to 30 active organizers in the group who represent all ages, he said.
Pride events in July include a 5K fun run, a drag show and other activities. The events will take place July 9-11. On July 9, there will be a gathering for a champagne toast at Off the Vine to commemorate the start of the pride events. There will also be an “art hop” in downtown Minot, where people can visit the various art venues and boutiques.
What is expected to be the big event of that weekend takes place Friday, July 10, for the Minot Goes Drag for Charity, a night of entertainment and raising awareness, sponsored by OutServe-SLDN Northern Tier. The event starts at 9:30 p.m. at the Grand Hotel. Tickets are $15. Reservations are required and can be made online at outserve-sldn.org/events.
The list of events for that weekend will include the Pride Minot Rainbow Run 5K on Saturday, July 11. Registration is at 9 a.m., followed by the run at 9:30 a.m. People are encouraged to dress in colorful clothes. Those who register by June 23 will receive a bag and water bottle. Registration can be done by going to the Pride Minot Facebook page or at active.com.
There will also be a viewing of “The Rocky Horror Picture Show,” organized by James Falcon, on July 11 at the Mouse River Theater stage. The time is to be determined. It’s a cult-classic film, a send-up of science fiction and horror movies of the past infused with dancing, music and audience participation. There has been a lot of interest in bringing the show to Minot, Elmore said, and it should be a lot of fun.
Elmore said Pride Minot plans to be involved with the Minot High School Gay-Straight Alliance.
“We want to show that there are professional people here and that you can stay here and be yourself,” he said. Pride Minot would like to help all various gay organizations be connected, Elmore said.
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Information from: Minot Daily News, https://www.minotdailynews.com
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