Indy Pride plans two-day event, despite tough climate
Why it matters: It's the 30th anniversary for Indy Pride and organizers say folks wanted Pride weekend to truly feel like a whole weekend-long celebration — a needed balm for the anti-LGBTQ+ rhetoric that's gotten louder over the last year.
What they're saying:"You can feel it in the energy," said Tina Robb, Pride's marketing director. "You can feel that people aren't wanting to celebrate as much this year. They're a little scared."
"It's hard, but we're going to do it. We're going to celebrate. This is our month to be loud and proud."
The big picture: Once-proud corporate America is pivoting. Companies big and small across the U.S. have pulled their support for some Pride events amid a larger rollback of diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives.
Mastercard, Citi, Pepsi, Nissan and PwC pulled sponsorship of NYC Pride and Minneapolis' Twin Cities Pride rejected Target's sponsorship dollars, citing the company's DEI rollbacks.
State of play: "Once the DEI announcement came out, we started to see community sponsors and major sponsors that could no longer participate with Indy Pride," Robb said. "It wasn't angry. It wasn't anything hostile. It was … it is what it is.
"It's disappointing and upsetting, but there's always support out there."
Robb would not list which sponsors backed out but said they've been able to fill in gaps and the show will go on.
Zoom in: Pride weekend starts Saturday, June 14, with the annual parade along Mass Ave. Robb said that event is largely unchanged, but will be smaller this year than last.
They're expecting about 200 participating groups, rather than the 250 they had last year.
The traditional festival and concert that follows the parade is back, but in a new spot and will last for two days.
What's new: The location. Construction near Military Park where festival vendors usually set up forced Indy Pride to look for a new home.
"Since it's our 30th anniversary, we said, 'Why don't we connect things back to the history?'" Robb said.
The earliest Pride celebrations were on Monument Circle, so that's where the free two-day festival will be this year.
The ticketed concert, called Word of Mouth, is moving to the American Legion Mall on Saturday and Sunday.
It'll be headlined by Natasha Bedingfield Saturday and Tinashe Sunday.
If you go: The festivities start at 10am June 14 for the free parade on Mass Ave.
The free Celebration on the Circle runs noon to 5pm June 14 and 15.
Word of Mouth is 2-10pm both days. Tickets are $42 for one day or $62 for both.
Pro tip: Robb said volunteers get a free ticket to Word of Mouth and attendees at one of the earlier Pride month events can get a discount of 20% off tickets by asking at the Indy Pride Inc. tent.
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