MANSFIELD — For Tim Denis, Pride is about being one’s authentic self — but it’s also about finding community.
That’s why the president of the Mansfield Gay Pride Association wanted the city’s annual parade and festival to take place during Pride Month.
“Our community wants to feel like they are part of the whole,” he said. “They would rather have it in June, because that way they feel like they’re celebrating along with the rest of the country.”
Mansfield had its first Pride parade and festival in 2015. Denis said the event has always been in July or August to avoid clashing with larger Pride celebrations across Ohio.
After finding that most of the state’s Pride celebrations occur during the first two weekends in June, Denis said the board decided to move Mansfield’s to late June.
This year’s Mansfield Pride Parade and Festival takes place Saturday. The parade begins at 11 a.m. at the intersection of Marion Avenue, Sturges Avenue and Park Avenue West.
The festival will follow in Central Park from noon to 5 p.m. It will feature vendors, live music, a dunk tank, a bouncy house and more.
Denis said the event is an important chance for the area’s LGBTQ+ residents and allies to come together and be themselves.
“I think a lot of our LGBTQ community on tends to feel a bit repressed,” he said. “I think a lot of our community feels isolated from everybody else. There’s not really that much room for connection with other like minded individuals.”
Pastor Dan Dickman of Peace Fellowship will serve as the parade marshall.
Denis said Dickman has been ministering to the LGBTQ+ community for more than 30 years, providing palliative care to those impacted by HIV/AIDs and pastoring Peace Fellowship, one of the first open, affirming churches in Richland County.
“We are proud to have him be our grand marshal this year,” Denis said. “He has done a tremendous amount for the LGBTQ community over the years. We felt like it was long overdue to recognize him.”
Festival will include AIDS memorial quilt
For nearly 40 years, the AIDS Memorial Quilt has honored the unique lives lost to the HIV/AIDs epidemic. Individuals and groups create quilt panels to honor, remember and celebrate the stories of those lost.
After seeing a portion of the quilt on display at the Renaissance Theater, Denis was inspired to create a local version that could be displayed at future pride events.
Starting this year, attendees will be able to write the names, years of life and other details on panels provided by the Mansfield Gay Pride Association. Those panels will be sewn together for next year’s festival.
Pride includes festival performances, after parties
Saturday’s festivities will also include live performances throughout the afternoon.
The lineup includes Melissa Etheridge tribute band Brave & Crazy at 12:15, a drag show hosted by Anita B at 1 p.m., local singer songwriter Sarah Goff at 2 p.m., performers from the Renaissance Performing Arts Association at 2:30 p.m., The Forgotten at 3:15 and a drag show hosted by Natalie Nightengale at 4 p.m.
Denis said there is still a long way to go for LGBTQ+ inclusion in Mansfield and surrounding towns. But he’s also encouraged by the growth of Pride over the last ten years.
During the first parade in 2015, there were about ten parade entries, 20 vendors and 35 people marching in the parade.
Now, there are about 33 entries, 63 vendors and more than 350 marchers.
“It just fills my heart with happiness to be able to see that kind of participation, that kind of support from our community businesses,” Denis said.
“We’ve had to actually extend our perimeter at the festival. Up until now, our west perimeter has always been at North Main Street. We are extending it on down to Walnut Street to accommodate our growth.”
The celebration will continue with an After Pride Party at the Electric Company Saturday night. An After Pride Drag Brunch will take place Sunday at the Park Hotel. The party starts at 7 p.m.; admission is $10 at the door. The brunch costs $25 to attend; doors open at 10:30 a.m.
