Reporter's Notebook: The Grind Of Pride

A lot of people who know what I do at my main gig have been asking whether June was a busy month for me. The short answer to that question is “yes.”

It has been quite the month. Part of it was to attend LGBTQ+ Pride events across the state of Minnesota and to show that – on behalf of the magazine – that we care.

Well, I care.

Since May 20, the state of Minnesota hosted around 20-plus LGBTQ+ Pride celebrations. They ranged from Twin Cities Pride – the largest celebration in the state – to smaller events located in every corner of Minnesota. It was as June was busting out all over, along with Pride celebrations! 

The stops I made so far have been in Rochester, Northfield, Golden Valley, Marshall, Alexandria, Chaska, Monticello, and West Saint Paul. 

I am not calling this an obligation that I have to attend these Pride events. It does help to show face and talk up the magazine to communities that do get actual copies of them. 

With that said, I chose the Pride events to attend based on interactions prior to publishing the string of Pride-related issues. I also chose them as a gauge of the progress the state of Minnesota has experienced over the past several decades.

There are further changes ahead. Since signing the Trans Refuge Bill, the state of Minnesota has experienced an uptick of new residents moving from other states. They found that we are not open for healthcare and community support; we’re also open for business.

There will be some challenges. Home prices are way up across the state. Availability of housing for renters are at a premium in many communities. The price of basic necessities and services also rose. However, wages have stagnated since the COVID-19 Pandemic.

On top of the economic impact the LGBTQ+ community – well, everybody – is dealing with, there is the visible backlash targeted towards this culture. Except for a couple of stops, there had been protesters. That’s nothing new, but it would be an unwelcomed experience for a first-time Pride celebration. Expected, but unwelcomed. So far, they have been peaceful – to a point. Except for one such potential situation, no arrests were observed when I witnessed these protects. 

These are some of the topics I have listened to at these Pride events across the state. Economic and safety concerns are universal themes. Yet, their impact on LGBTQ+ people have a deeper effect. 

So, why do I attend these Pride events? Despite not being obligated to do so, it is part of the work I do to see what our community is all about across the state of Minnesota. To get ideas, have conversations, and observe. Then, I come home to sort it all out. Maybe consider a story in a future issue. Or, to debrief myself and take what I've learned to see what stories I could glean from them for the magazine – and, here in V&R.

To do this work, you have to listen. You have to be curious. Be observant. See how that community gels together towards thriving as a people, as well as to protect themselves from their enemies. All of this points to one thing: Being a journalist. 

One more thing before I conclude this story: It is one thing to say that you're busy. State what you've accomplished. What you've achieved. I hope that is what I am expressing in this story.

I’ve seen so much progress in the years since before I came out. From being pummeled by the AIDS Crisis to learning that smaller rural communities are coming together to celebrate LGBTQ+ pride for the past few years, I’ve witnessed so much. I’ve dealt with a rollercoaster of emotions towards seeing the good and bad from this community.

While there is progress, the LGBTQ+ community still have a lot of work to do. It is a long list and it encompasses dealing with both external and internal forces towards an equitable society for all.  

If there is another reason- among many – to travel to as many pride celebration as possible: It is to simply find intelligent LGBTQ+ life wherever I go.

This is not the end of my attending LGBTQ+ Pride events. According to the magazine, there are 13 more events left in Minnesota alone. These are scheduled into October. I may just make a few more stops before then. 

No matter where and how you celebrate – we're all in this together!

All photos by Randy Stern