New events are also popping up such as “Power up the Pride” night with the West Virginia Power, West Virginia’s minor league baseball team. We just hosted a Pride Kickball game between Huntington Pride and Rainbow Pride of WV, celebrated Pride month with after-parties on patios of two neighboring businesses in Charleston, and held our first Drag Queen Bingo since the pandemic began.”Īll events were well-attended and met with support from the entire Charleston area. But this year’s Pride is “exciting because we are celebrating it throughout the entire summer and fall seasons. “It pushed us to find ways to increase our online presence and move many events to a virtual space that still gave an opportunity to being visible and building community,” Gosses said. Last year, COVID-19 put events and outreach on hold. In the Mid-Ohio Valley, Parkersburg Pride hosts a Drag Queen Bingo. Many other LGBTQ groups also hold their own events this month as well as during the year. Rainbow Pride also hosts the state’s annual June Pride Parade & Festival. Although Rainbow Pride of West Virginia is the largest and longest-running Pride group, they’ve reached out to newer organizations to support their growth and have a bigger impact in the state. Rainbow Pride is one of a dozen LGBTQ groups that make up the West Virginia Pride Network. Rainbow Pride of WV President Chris Gosses with a member of WV Power baseball promoting the upcoming Pride Night to the crowd at the Pride Kickball game on Sat. He was a member of the Rainbow Pride board and now serves as president. They’ve worked to expand their outreach and audience in the Charleston area, which has afforded them the resources to partner, cross-mentor, and collaborate with other groups around the state.Ĭhris Gosses moved to West Virginia 14 years ago to be with his partner Josh, a native of the Charleston area.
The organization was founded as an LGBTQ education and social advoacy organization and is an all-volunteer group. Rainbow Pride of West Virginia is celebrating its 25th year in West Virginia this year.
0 kommentar(er)
