By Madisyn Hahn
June 5, 2019
This year marks the 13th year of Star City Pride here in Lincoln. Every year Star City Pride puts on a celebration in support of the LGBTQA+ community. Pride brings together Lincoln’s community whether allies or members to raise awareness of equality.
President of Star City Pride, Buffy Cranford said, “The annual Star City Pride Festival is a celebration of diversity within communities to achieve unity, harmony, and equality. The festival features non-stop entertainment in the form of live performances of local and national musicians and drag performers.”
This year Star City Pride is using “Rise Up” in honor of Stonewall to celebrate the long coming of LGBTQA+ equality.
“This year is the 50th anniversary of Stonewall. Stonewall is either represented as a violent rebellion by members of the LGBT community against the police, or a long overdue stance for gay and human rights. It was the launch of LGBT political activism. Fifty years later, our communities may be safer, but there are still people who would rather we disappear,” Cranford said.
Since this event is a nonprofit organization that is run by generous donors and advertisers it’s free for anyone to attend. With vendors, live music, drag performances, celebrities, and local favorites attendance this year is expected to surpass 1,000 people.
“We will have taco trucks and a full line of performances including drag titleholders such as Miss Maxx Mr. Fire and Brimstone, current and previous Mr. and Ms. Star City Pride titleholders, Ru Paul girls, Sisters of Shade, and fresh off the Melissa Etheridge cruise, Sarah Peacock,” Cranford said.
The events start June 6 at the Panic Bar and ends June 9 at Das Haus. Starting Thursday with the Pre-Pride Party, followed by Star City Pride Festival – Rise Up in Lincoln Journal Star’s Event Lot both Friday from 4 p.m. until midnight and Saturday noon until midnight, then ending Sunday with the official Post-Pride Party.
Since June is Pride Month, it’s a time to celebrate all month long. Whether part of the LGBTQA+ community or not, it’s important that no human being be discriminated against. This event shows that our youth are the future and that love and acceptance are key across all walks of life.
“Our rights are never set in stone, and it is important for us to Rise Up and support each other with love. Rise Up and be at our voting booths when political candidates are vocally against our LGBTQA+ community,” Cranford said.
For more information and updates on Star City Pride visit its website here.
Madisyn Hahn is a multimedia intern with KZUM.
