Every June, companies begin to don rainbows and much more colorful palettes because, in 1999, President Bill Clinton officially recognized the month as Gay Pride Month. However, people had been celebrating Pride long before it was officially recognized. New York’s first Pride march was held on June 28, 1970, in response to the Stonewall riots—a series of riots that occurred in response to police raiding a gay bar on June 28, 1969.
For Indiana, the history of Pride is more complicated. Until Indy Pride became an official organization in 1995, many citizens remained quiet about gay pride due to how unaccepted LGBTQIA+ members have historically been in society.
“There were no safe gay bars or places for the LGBTQ community in Indianapolis,” according to Indy Pride. “In 1981 the first pride event was a dinner in a now gone, Essex Hotel where many of the attendees wore masks upon entering the hotel to not be seen.”
In the early years for the monument circle event, Indy Pride events would see somewhere between 1,000–5,000 attendees. This year, for the 30-year anniversary of Indy Pride, around 60,000 people attended the Indianapolis parade. The Pride Fest was not limited to just one day; this year it expanded into a full two-day celebration.
“It was super fun,” junior Angel Schick said. “Everyone was bringing the vibe, and I had a great time walking downtown.”
Part of the weekend included a two-day series called Word of Mouth, featuring a stage for drag shows, national touring bands and more. At Monument Circle, vendors sold Pride-themed merchandise such as shirts, umbrellas, and sunscreen, creating a lively and inclusive atmosphere.
Indy Pride is not the only group celebrating Pride across the state. Many other counties in Indiana celebrate in their own ways- some hold festivals, others organize picnics or casual meetups.
Last year Fishers Pride officially formed with their first event being held Sept. 13 at the Holy Family Episcopal Church.
This year, Fishers Pride hosted their first-ever drag brunch on June 22, where drag performers danced through the room after guests enjoyed brunch. But their celebrations did not end in June, however they also hosted their annual Pride festival on Sept. 13.
“It does tie in a little bit with my feelings about Pride that Pride can be experienced all year,” Ryan Davies with Fishers Pride said. “Stonewall happened in June so that is typically when it is celebrated, but we are in this region where we are rich for Pride celebrations.”
It is not just official organizations that get involved. Some citizens choose to host smaller, creative events simply for fun. For example, the community group Fishers Rocks! held a Pride-themed rock painting event, where anyone could stop by for two hours to paint designs such as Pride flags or messages of kindness.
From small towns to big cities, Hoosiers are finding meaningful and creative ways to celebrate Pride. These events, whether parades, picnics, or painted rocks, show that Pride is more than a month-long event. It is a growing movement full of visibility, connection and community.
“Pride to me means being who I am even if society and the government hates me for it,” sophomore Sage Keffaber said. “I find those like me, and we lift each other up as a community. We are in the fight together.”
