Update, 1:28 p.m. Friday, May 31:
Per a request from the City of Lawrence, the PRIDE parade route will now begin at Eighth and Massachusetts streets rather than Seventh, event organizers announced Friday.
Original post:
Rainbow colors will soon hit the streets of downtown for the Lawrence PRIDE celebration, and two Two-Spirit drag performers will be featured this year for the first time.
The 2024 Lawrence PRIDE will include a parade and party. And this year’s celebration features drag performers Lady Shug, Diné, and Landa Lakes, Chickasaw.
Community organizer Moniqué Mercurio, Ohlone Costanoan Esselen Nation, worked with Haskell Indian Nations University and Lawrence PRIDE to coordinate the first year for highlighting Two-Spirit representation this way.
The term Two-Spirit or 2S refers to Indigenous people who may embody both feminine and masculine energies or hold another gender identity separate from the binary. Two-Spirit people are often regarded as sacred or divine, and understandings and definitions are different in each tribal nation, Two-Spirit artist Geo Neptune said in a YouTube informational video.
The day before the parade, Haskell will host a discussion panel event with Lady Shug and Landa Lakes to kick off pride. They’re also set to perform. That event, part of the “La La Land Back Tour,” is scheduled for 7 p.m. Friday, May 31 in the auditorium on campus, 155 Indian Ave. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. and the show will be from 8 to 9 p.m. It’s free to attend.
The Lawrence PRIDE event is scheduled for Saturday, June 1, which is the first day of Pride Month. It’s also free to attend.
The parade is set to begin at 11 a.m. at Eighth and Massachusetts streets, then head south to South Park. (The route was previously announced as starting at Seventh and Massachusetts street, but that has been changed.)
After the parade, the party will continue through Saturday night at South Park, 1141 Massachusetts St. The street will be blocked off for folks to explore food and art vendors, watch and listen to live performances, and dance. Activities for kids and games for all ages will be available.
Those interested in volunteering at the parade or street party can sign up at lawrencekspride.com/support.
View a list of sponsors and additional information about Lawrence PRIDE on its website, lawrencekspride.com. Follow its Facebook page for more. See more coverage of last year’s PRIDE event at this link, this link and this link.
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Maya Hodison (she/her), equity reporter, can be reached at mhodison (at) lawrencekstimes (dot) com. Read more of her work for the Times here. Check out her staff bio here.
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Mackenzie Clark/Lawrence Times
