A Proclamation, a Parade and Persevering Pride Through 50th Annual KC Pride Festival

  Kansas City’s 50th annual Pride festival began on June 6, followed by the annual parade through Westport to the Country Club Plaza on June 7.  

   KC Pride is a three-day festival that allows the community to show its support for LGBTQIA+ individuals during Pride Month. 

   Many UMKC students attended the festivities from the Friday night kick-off to the Sunday family day. 

   “It’s nice to know that I live in a community where I can feel accepted and safe,” said Isabella Robinson, a junior studying film and media arts and a parade attendee. 

   To celebrate and commemorate KC Pride, Student Government Association President Justice Horn signed an executive proclamation recognizing the contributions of LGBTQIA+ students, faculty, and staff to the university. 

  “People will continue to push and erase and discard people, especially queer people, if we allow it,” said Horn. 

   Since June is nationally recognized as Pride month, Horn criticized UMKC’s lack of acknowledgement of the month.

    “As our community faces legislative violence, both from the federal level, the state level, everywhere, we should actively be trying to resist in all ways,” said Horn.

  While the university was not represented this year, Sexuality and Gender Alliance (SAGA) President Sam Justice confirmed next year UMKC has been approved for a booth.   

   The festival allowed  students to explore the community, with nonprofits and businesses offering giveaways as well as support for the community. 

   “As a student, [pride] shows that we are not alone on campus, but there is a whole city that celebrates who we are,” said Justice. “Pride is like a breath of fresh air after being trapped in a cave for a month.”

   Another attendee at the Parade , Makenzie Jarreau, a junior studying elementary education, was glad to have something as joyous as pride during such a politically charged time.

   “Kansas City has a big LGBTQ population, so you have to look at what’s going on around you and that’s something important, it’s definitely important to those at UMKC,” said Jarreau. 

     Students, while feeling overall accepted through the university, felt a lack of presence by UMKC at the festivities, many wishing that UMKC had its own celebration of pride. 

  “It would be cool if UMKC maybe had something of their own, maybe a club could come together with support of faculty.” said Robinson.

   UMKC students can celebrate pride year-round by participating in any of the numerous LGBTQIA+ clubs available on campus. Among the support on campus is the Rainbow Lounge in the Student Union and events year-round.

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