MANSFIELD – People of all shapes, sizes, religious backgrounds, genders, and sexual orientations gathered at Mansfield’s Central Park on Saturday for the city’s third-annual Gay Pride Festival.
Despite the weather literally raining on their parade Saturday morning, the Mansfield Gay Pride Association pressed onward and tried to stay dry for the festival itself. Todd Rice, president of the Mansfield Gay Pride Association, even tried using a musical icon to keep the rain away.
“Last night I posted on Facebook Barbara Streisand’s song ‘Don’t Rain On My Parade,’ and Mother Nature didn’t listen to Barbara,” Rice said with a laugh. “I don’t know if Mother Nature wants to go toe-to-toe with Barbara Streisand, but she’s trying.”
Fortunately, attendance numbers were steady in the first few hours of the festival, with Rice hoping numbers would continue to grow as the festival continued throughout the day. The new location in downtown’s Central Park helped with exposure and drawing the crowds.
“We want the exposure, we want people to see who we are,” Rice said. “Everyone is accepted here, regardless of who they are, so we think this is a great spot for it. Everyone can see us and know we’re not tucked away, we are here.”
In its third year, the Mansfield Gay Pride Festival sees familiar faces as well as new visitors. Amber Vanriper, a veteran of the festival and student at Madison Comprehensive High School, brought her friends and classmates Brandon Hurrell and Connor Binion to this year’s festival to show their support, as well as score some rainbow-themed merchandise.
“This seems like something that would only happen in a bigger city, but it’s here and it’s awesome,” Hurrell remarked.
“On a normal everyday basis, you don’t go out and say ‘hey, we support everyone here,’ so coming here says even though we don’t say it every day, we’re here for you and support you.”
The three 17-year-olds noted that the Gay Pride Festival was a very welcoming atmosphere for everyone – even those who may disagree.
“This is a place for everyone, even protestors,” Vanriper said. “As long as they’re civil and not trying to throw things at us, we welcome them. And they’ve been very nice.”
Standing at the corner of the downtown square, Greg Jevnikar and Cliff Hewitt each held signs reading “LGBTQ Mocks God” and “Biology Is Not Bigotry.” They said they attended Saturday’s festival to celebrate a different degree of love – not a “physical-type” love, but a love for God.
“We’re here to try to share God’s love with others,” Jevnikar said. “They’re offending God by celebrating their sexual immorality. They’ve got the free choice to do that, but they’re making the wrong choice, so we’re here to say that there’s an alternative to the lifestyle they’re offering.”
Rice also responded to any protestors by saying everyone is welcome to exercise their right to free speech.
“Those who want to protest, they have every right to say what they want to say,” Rice said. “When I said everyone was welcomed, that includes them. I’m not going to infringe on someone’s First Amendment right so that my First Amendment right can be given.”
Despite the stress of his first year at the festival’s helm, and despite any backlash from those in the community, Rice said looking at the finished product of the Gay Pride Festival on Saturday made the whole process worth it.
“It’s rewarding at the end of the day,” he said. “People will tell me they’ve just come out a month ago, and this is their safe place where they can be themselves. Here they can be who they are and be welcomed, and that’s what understanding and acceptance is all about.”
