First annual Plumas Pride a success
It was a day of smiles and hugs and warm weather and a bright blue sky. Rainbow flags were flown all over downtown Quincy in support of LGBTQ community members being able to live their lives freely.
Plumas County’s first ever LGBTQ Pride event took place Friday and Saturday, Sept. 20 and 21 — two days filled with love and acceptance.
Organizers counted 250-300 people in attendance at the all-ages block party on Friday night in Grover Alley behind the library, with Quircus, a family friendly drag show, a dj dance, and food outside The Drunk Brush and The Knook.
The party continued on Saturday with a parade circling the courthouse block and Grover Alley filled with vendors, information booths from county agencies, music and a few speeches, with hundreds in attendance.
The event was put on by the Plumas County Gay Straight Alliance (GSA), which is a program of Plumas Crisis Intervention and Resource Center.
There was a strong presence from local LGBTQ youth from all Plumas County towns and some from Sierra County students as well. Strongest presence was the Quincy High School GSA and their parade float.
Local Christian church leaders also had booths and one had a sign posted that said, “We apologize for the way Christians have treated you.”
Local arts organizations and groups had a strong presence, too. Quircus, West End Theatre’s SWEET program, Pachuca Productions, and the Dancing Witches Dance Troupe.
The event was attended by and for local LGBTQ and their families and supporters. The most frequent phrase heard by local residents walking away at the end of the day could be summed up by “Wow. I’m so happy and proud that this is event is here in our community.”
Many remarked that 20 years ago such an event would not have been possible.
In recent years, as people have become more aware of the suicide prevention and the suicide rate in rural America especially among young people, more events like this have taken place to let people know that they are not alone and are loved for who they are. The suicide rate and homelessness for LGBTQ teens are higher than any other demographic of teen—largely from non-acceptance by their families and communities.
Older LGBTQ in the Plumas County community offered that they felt seen and respected for the first time. Some said it gave them courage to “come out of the closet” knowing the closed-mindedness they grew up with might be waning.
The weekend ended with an adult drag show at the Main Street Sports Bar.
