By CRISTINA JANNEY
Hays Post
Hays Pride sponsored a Pride in the Park event on Saturday at Frontier Park to celebrate Pride Month.
People gathered to socialize and eat pizza despite balmy temperatures.
"We are incredibly thankful for the community support we have," said Anniston Weber, Hays Pride board member. "We have a fantastic LGBTQ community here in Hays. Having events like this just shows we are here to support people, and we love you and you should be welcome in Hays."
She said it's important to have a support event that is out in the open.
"I am proud of the community we have here," she said.
Hays Pride has just become a nonprofit. The group is completely funded through donations.
If people want to become involved, they can message a Hays Pride board member or message them on their Facebook or Instagram pages.
The board meetings are open, and community members are welcome to attend the meetings, she said.
Hays Pride is also sponsoring a Pride Prom for all ages from noon to 4 p.m. Saturday and 11 p.m. to 1 a.m. for those 18 and older at Arcade 11 in Hays.
Pearl Oden of Russell attended the event representing Equality Kansas.
The organization is on a tour in an attempt to attend as many Pride events in Kansas as possible.
Equality Kansas lobbies the Kansas Legislature for LGBTQ-friendly Legislation and against legislation that would restrict LGBTQ rights.
The group also participates in political action and community organizing.
"The Legislature is not favorable to us as a community," Oden said. "They try to pass bills that harm our community. Therefore, we need the community to get up and fight against the bills they try to pass, and we can make our voices heard."
Oden said Pride events show support.
"Without Pride events, a lot of people wouldn't think twice about us," Oden said. "It gets us out there, shows that we're here. We're not going to leave, and we're staying."
The group will renew its lobbying efforts once the session starts again in the spring.
