By JAN LARSON McLAUGHLIN
BG Independent News
The Rainbow Rally in Bowling Green gave drag artists a place to perform, provided free HIV tests, signed up citizens to vote, and embraced the LGBTQIA+ community as neighbors.
The gathering in Wooster Green Saturday was all about community. Letting straight people know that LGBTQIA+ people are part of their town. And showing LGBTQIA+ people that they are welcome in Bowling Green.
“We want people to leave here with a sense of community,” said Jordan Musgrave, president of the BGOPride organization. “We’re here for everyone. I hope they see a sense of community with us.”
This was the second annual rally in Bowling Green held to celebrate Pride Month. By mid-afternoon, the attendance had far outpaced last year, with 300 people at the event.
“That’s triple what we got last year,” Musgrave said.
“I’m astonished by the turnout,” said Doug Lay-Paul, community outreach coordinator with BGOPride.
A goal of the organization is to encourage straight community members to be allies for people who are LGBTQIA+ (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer/questioning, intersex, and asexual people collectively.)
“Everybody’s built differently. We want to establish a basis of communication with the community,” Lay-Paul said. “We are all-inclusive. We don’t turn people away.”
BGOPride also wants members to be more comfortable being visible in Bowling Green.
Some states are legislating bans of drag shows, with adults saying they fear people dressing as the other gender may confuse or corrupt children. But the Rainbow Rally gave drag artists a place to perform.
Ariel Armstrong, who was volunteering at the entrance to the rally, said she had no such concerns as her children attended a drag show on Saturday.
“I think it’s silly,” Armstrong said about the parental fears. “I mean, what are kids being exposed to – singing and dancing?”
Children going to a pool or beach see people in much more revealing outfits, she said. “My kids said they wanted to see the pretty people.”
Vendor tents lined the walkways in Wooster Green, selling colorful cupcakes, rainbow flags, tie-dyed clothing, and flower pots labeled “proud trans plant parent.”
Call of the Canyon Cafe had a table selling food.
“We wanted to show our support for the entire community,” said Ardy Gonyer, co-owner of the restaurant.
And First Presbyterian Church provided food and a place for the rally to expand from Wooster Green onto the church property.
“It’s amazing to see a church want to host,” Lay-Paul said.
It was on the stage set up in the church parking lot that Bowling Green Mayor Mike Aspacher read a city proclamation supporting members of the LGBTQIA+ community.
The proclamation noted the rights to equity and equality, plus the city efforts toward inclusion and understanding of all people through education and advocacy. Aspacher talked of the city’s resolution condemning violence and hate speech, and the commitment to “celebrating diversity and welcoming all.”
Other community organizations were present as partners with BGOPride.
The League of Women Voters of Bowling Green offered rally-goers an opportunity to register to vote, explained the new voter ID law in Ohio, and educated people on State Issue 1 on the August ballot that will make it harder for voters to pass amendments.
“Most people are already registered,” said Katelyn Elliott, a LWV member. But not all were aware of voter ID changes or the August issue.
Under another tent, Equitas Health was offering free and confidential testing for HIV, Hepatitis C and syphilis.
“They’ve been pretty steady,” said Troy Miller, the senior manager for the Equitas Health prevention program.
And elsewhere at the rally, members of the National Alliance on Mental Illness were there to answer questions and offer resources. Amanda Like, with NAMI, noted the higher suicide rates for people in the LGBTQIA+ community.
“I feel like mental health is important to everyone,” said Crista Metzger, with NAMI. “Especially people who aren’t getting support from family.”
Also present at the rally were representatives of Brown Bag Food Project, The Cocoon, Bowling Green Arts Council, Fremont Pride, and the NWO LGBTQIA+ Coalition.
Musgrave said it’s these type of community partners who will help BGOPride reach its goals of educating, advocating and being welcoming.
“This isn’t just for a year and we’re done. We want this to succeed,” he said of the organization and the annual celebration.
Kenny Sheets, another of the founding members of BGOPride, reflected on the difficult to measure progress for LGBTQIA+ members in the community. But Sheets said he feels a difference in Bowling Green.
“I feel like I am safe here in this town,” Sheets said. “It’s a safe place for sure. I can’t say it was that way 10 years ago.”
