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Emerald Coast Pride will host their kick off event on Saturday June 1 at the Niceville Communnity Center to celebrate Pride Month.
RELATED: Progress on Pride: LGBTQ+ Group Gets City Approval to Host Event at Community Center
A release from the organization promises a full day of family-friendly activities, entertainment, and inclusivity.
The festivities start at 8:30 AM with various games, crafts, food trucks, and a DJ. Attendees can enjoy will receive gifts, including hand-held pride flags, pens, buttons, and stickers.
New this year is the Pride Closet, offering gender-affirming clothing for anyone in need and a Pride Book Swap featuring LGBTQ+-themed books. Organizers will host a virtual silent auction to raise scholarship funds for local LGBTQ+ youth.
At 9:00 AM, the newly formed Gulf Coast Pride Choir will perform, followed by a reading from Emerald Coast Pride Poet Spencer Brecevic and an inspirational speech by David Simmons, President of PFLAG Niceville.
The 6th Annual Pride Walk, begins at 9:20 AM. Marchers will proceed from the Niceville Community Center along Partin Drive and John Sims Parkway, concluding with hugs from Free Mom Hugs, a group offering support to those who feel rejected by their families.
The day continues with a screening of Disney’s short film Out at 10:15 AM, followed by an open mic session at 10:30 AM, where participants can share their stories. Activities will pause for an afternoon break at 2:00 PM.
The evening concludes with the Pride Prom from 6:00 PM to 9:30 PM, featuring a performance by dance professor Vanessa Kanamoto, and free hors d’oeuvres and beverages.
Emerald Coast Pride, hosted by PFLAG Niceville, is dedicated to inclusivity, celebrating all individuals regardless of race, class, age, ability, sex, gender, or sexuality. The event is fully free and open to the public, with security and medical volunteers ensuring a safe environment.
PFLAG Niceville, a non-profit organization, provides support, education, and advocacy for LGBTQ+ people and their allies. Monthly support group meetings are held in Crestview and Valparaiso. For more information, visit www.pflagniceville.com.
Emerald Coast Pride is sponsored by numerous local businesses and individuals committed to supporting the LGBTQ+ community including The Ruby Slipper, BAE, The Salon Trinity, Bay Breeze, The Bridgeway Center, Generations Primary Care and the Okaloosa County Democratic Party.
Emerald Coast Pride underscores the critical need for such events, as LGBTQ+ youth face significantly higher risks of suicide and homelessness.
Dr. Misti Schneidewind, a local Nurse Practitioner and mother, emphasizes the importance of acceptance and love: “Members of the LGBTQ+ community need to know they are loved and accepted, that they are awesome, and that they matter.”
Trey Crouse, a PFLAG Niceville scholarship recipient, highlights the impact of Pride events: “Having these Pride events gives those who are normally excluded by society a chance to see that they are never alone.”
Dr. David Simmons, President of PFLAG Niceville, reflects on the support received: “This year, we saw a small handful of people attempt to harm or silence local LGBTQ+ youth and adults, but we were overwhelmed with allies who joined our cause. Emerald Coast Pride seeks to transform hearts and minds, affirming and celebrating LGBTQ+ lives.”
RELATED: Proposed Pride Gathering Compared to Ku Klux Klan Rally at City Council Meeting.
For more details on Emerald Coast Pride, visit www.emeraldcoastpride.com.
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