Greater Ozarks Pridefest – Be The Change

Greater Ozarks Pridefest will be Saturday, June 21, from 11am to 9pm. The 16th annual Pridefest, a free event, will be held again at Park Central Square in downtown Springfield, Missouri.GLO – the Gay and Lesbian Center of the Ozarks sponsors the event.

This year's theme of "Be The Change" has the focus of amplifying the voices of the LGBT+ community, especially those of transgender individuals, women and queer youth. We strive for a LGBT+ community that fully represents our true diversity by empowering and presenting voices that so often are left marginalized.

Pride, a community-wide celebration, for the first time will be featuring a week-long series of free events beginning Sunday, June 15 and culminating with Pridefest festivities on Park Central Square on Saturday, June 21. During the week both local and national performers and speakers will be bringing their powerful voices for change to the Ozarks.

"We're really excited to [have built] the Greater Ozarks Pridefest to where it is now," said Charles Abernathy, Pride Co-Chair. "It went from just a one-day event ... to a weeklong celebration."

Among these voices will be Amanda Kerri, a transgender comedian hailing from Oklahoma who will be performing at Big Momma's on Commercial Street on Thursday, June 19 from 8-9pm. The Rev. Jamie Haskins will be leading us in invocation and in praise on Saturday, June 21 at 12pm. Haskins is the Director of Spiritual Life, Chaplain and Instructor of Religious Studies at Westminster College in Fulton, MO.

Haskins, an ordained minister in the Christian Church Disciples of Christ, will be continuing the discussion of healing in the faith community at National Avenue Christian Church on Sunday, June 22 at 10am. As an affirming church, NACC will be taking part in Supportive Sunday on both June 15 and 22.

"Since we are the fourth Bible-minded city in the U.S. ... we're having a supportive Sunday," Abernathy said. "We have a list of local affirming churches and Bible studies that we're going to advertise as a safe space to go for Pride."

Kristin Beck, the first known transgender US Navy SEAL and decorated American hero will be your 2014 Pridefest Grand Marshall and speaker, sharing her story of both combat and equality. Beck will be at Missouri State Univ.'s Glass Hall on Friday, June 20 from 5-7pm as well as at Park Central Square Pavilion on June 21 for opening festivities at Noon.

Beck distinguishes herself in her 20 years of exceptionally meritorious service with Special Operations Forces at SEAL Team One, SEAL Team Five, Naval Special Warfare Development Group (SEAL TEAM Six/JSOC) and the Headquarters at SOCOM. ​Her achievements in the military are many with awards including the Bronze star with Valor, Purple Heart, Defense Meritorious Service Medal and many others.

After being interviewed by Anderson Cooper in 2013, Beck quickly became known throughout the world. Her words of activism have taken her before members of Congress and U.S. Senate, as well as starring in the upcoming CNN documentary Lady Valor The Kristin Beck Story.

As Grand Marshall, Beck will be leading our 2014 Equality March that will line up at the intersection of Chestnut St. and Benton Ave., near the Springfield Municipal Court at 11am. This year's March in partnership with Joe's Walk for Change will be a rallying cry for youth as we march to bring awareness to LGBT+ bullying while we also honor the legacy of Joe and his son Jadin.

"We have re-routed the Equality March to be a mile ... and so for everyone who participates, their mile will be donated to Joe's Walk for Change. Joe wanted to walk across the country to bring awareness," Charles Abernathy said. "So people [can donate] miles in their honor [at The Equality March]." Abernathy said Joe's Walk for Change is a charity established by a father whose son committed suicide as a result of being bullied about his sexuality. Joe was tragically killed in an accident shortly after he started on his walk.

The community is invited and encouraged to march with their families, church groups, and community organizations in this mile stretch towards center city. In accordance with the City of Springfield and the Springfield Police Dept., streets will be blocked and participants safely led to march to Park Central Square.

Abernathy said the Greater Ozarks Pridefest has progressed from being a park event to taking up an entire street in downtown Springfield. From Equality Donuts at Hurt's Donut to a Pride Pool Party at MSU (on Friday, June 20), there is something for everyone at this year's weeklong Pridefest celebration. RSVP online; to see the full week's list of activities for the 2014 Greater Ozarks Pridefest: https://www.facebook.com/GreaterOzarksPridefest

The Gayly – June 16, 2014 @ 1:30pm