June has been a month of firsts for the Burlington community.
On June 3, city council chambers were packed with members and supporters of the LGBTQ+ community as the city officially declared it Pride Month for the first time in history.
"This is so much more than a piece of paper," said David Kroll, the official recipient of the Pride Month Proclamation. "This is the city recognizing the diversity that is, always has been, and always will be, here in Burlington. That's the first step to advancing civil rights and equality for everyone."
Kroll was also an organizer of the other history-making Pride Month events in Burlington this year, including the first-ever Pride Parade down Jefferson Street, followed by the Pride on the Riverfront Celebration and a Pride After Dark drag show.
Myra Goldie, another organizer, said they call themselves the “Queer Many” and this year’s expanded events built on what Pride in the Park did in the past.
Goldie said one of the goals of Pride events is to provide a safe space for the LGTBQ-plus community and their allies.
“Just being able to live out loud and not have that fear. Before moving back to southeast Iowa, I was living out in L.A. So I was worried about coming back to Iowa and having to step back into that proverbial closet,” Goldie said. “This really shows that is absolutely not the case, and Iowa is making strides.”
Goldie said organizers spent countless hours planning this year’s Pride Parade and Festival and put a “whole lot of love” into it.
Jenny Dowsey came to Burlington from Galesburg with her wife and daughter to attend the parade and festival.
They also attended Galesburg’s Pride Picnic earlier this month, but wanted to make the trip to southeast Iowa.
“When something is happening, you want to come out and support it,” Dowsey said.
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