Twin Cities Pride-goers celebrate, express worries for future of LGBTQ+ legal protections

Kelsey Christensen KSTP

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Thousands of people showed up on Saturday for the 50^th annual Twin Cities Pride Festival to celebrate the LGBTQ+ community and strides made toward equality.

More than 400 BIPOC and LGBTQ+ advocate vendors have set up booths for attendees to enjoy Saturday and Sunday at Minneapolis’ Loring Park.

However, celebrations have also come with some heartache for people within the community after the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision to overturn Roe v. Wade on Friday.

Justice Clarence Thomas’ opinion also includes the potential to reconsider other precedents, such as the legality of same-sex marriage, which has only been in place in the U.S. since 2015.

(KSTP)

Twin Cities Pride is making efforts to brand the festival as a safe space for those expressing worry.

“We want to make sure everybody here knows that they’re here to come, they’re here to voice those opinions and those griefs,” said Twin Cities Pride Director of Operations Andi Otto, “and we understand, and we’re here to listen in community, but what I think it reminds us of is that we’re a community, we’re strong, we’re resilient and we will stand up and we’re not going anywhere.”

Broadly, Twin Cities Pride organizers said safety is top of mind this weekend.

Officials explained they’re increasing the amount of security. The security team will roam the park throughout the festival, and EMS will be on site.

Twin Cities Pride also launched an emergency text alert phone line. Attendees can Text “ALERTS” to 612-255-3264 to be in the know at all times.

Festival-goers can also text or call the 612-255-3265 phone line if they see anything that looks out the ordinary.