By JAN McLAUGHLIN
BG Independent News
The clean cut man in a long blue skirt didn’t stick out at the BG Pride event Saturday afternoon. He was surrounded by people who dressed as they wanted – not according to conventional norms.
But to the man, who lives in a small town outside Bowling Green, this was a rare opportunity to dress in something he hasn’t felt comfortable wearing in public.
“I second guessed myself on the way here,” he said. But as he stood among others at BG Pride, the man said he was glad he took the chance. Among others in the LGBTQIA+ community, he felt safe wearing the skirt.
“I think in the current moment right now, it’s important to go out in the sun and live without fear,” he said.
That’s exactly what the organizers with BGO Pride had in mind when they planned the annual rally in Wooster Green.
“This is a place to be comfortable being yourself without fear,” said Amanda Ark, a member of BGO Pride.
Last year, 758 people attended the event. This year, organizers were hoping for even more. Within 20 minutes of opening, Kenny Sheets of BGO Pride had already clicked in 190 people. “I’m just ecstatic,” Sheets said.
“We need the community to show up – to show a united front,” BGO Pride Vice President Beca Rios said.
They weren’t disappointed. Close to 1,300 people were clicked in as they entered the one entrance to the event in Wooster Green.
While many were members of the LGBTQIA+ community, many others were allies.
Mother and daughter, Linda and Tiffany Mills, were attending their first rally in Bowling Green – promising to return next year.
“My son and his party are here, and we’re just allies of the cause and here to support,” said Tiffany Mills, of Bowling Green.
Carol Castello, of Napoleon, wore a T-shirt reading “Proud Grandma” in support of a grandchild.
“It’s all about love. Whoever they are loving, that’s good,” Castello said. “I’m a person of faith, and I’m always confused by people singling out this as the biggest sin.”
Joe and Stephanie Watkins were at BG Pride to offer “mom hugs” and “dad hugs” to people whose parents don’t accept them. They are members of a Toledo area chapter for “Free Mom Hugs.”
“So many in the LGBTQIA+ community, their parents have disowned them,” Stephanie Watkins said. “Everyone deserves a hug. Everyone deserves to be accepted as who they are.”
In spite of the 90 degree heat, the BG Pride event featured several entertainers who danced and lip-synced drag performances. The crowd surrounded the stage area and cheered on performers – some who wore high heels, heavy makeup, and full drag costumes.
Nearly 60 vendors and non-profit organizations set up tents at the event. There were services offered by the mobile health unit from Wood County Community Health Center, and the scheduling of free HIV and STD testing by the University of Toledo Health.
There were non-profits like churches, the Girl Scouts of America, Brown Bag Food Project, the Cocoon, La Conexion, the Wood County Alcohol Drug Addiction and Mental Health Services, NAMI, BG Save Our Neighborhoods Group, the League of Women Voters, BG Curling, Wood County Humane Society, plus foster care and adoption agencies.
Matt Sussman, of the BG Curling organization, said the group is working to raise money to put a Pride themed decal on the curling ice at the facility just north of Bowling Green.
“We’re just trying to connect with the community,” Sussman said.
Taylor Perley, a recruitment specialist for Girl Scouts, said that organization wanted to have a presence at the BG Pride event.
“Families come to Pride, too. Pride is a place for everyone,” Perley said. “We wanted to make sure we were here.”
And there were food trucks and small businesses selling artwork, jewelry, candles, clothing, bath and body items, mini rainbow cakes and cookies.
Taylor Dungjen and her son, from Toledo, brought their “sad snacks” rainbow cookie business to the rally to offer “happy snacks for sad people.”
Dungjen, a police officer in Toledo, said she turned her tendency for “sad” or “rage” baking into a side hustle.
“There are a lot of things to be sad about right now,” she said. “We put a lot of love into it.”
Many at the rally were there to support not only the LGBTQIA+ community, but also the small businesses at the event, and the drag performers.
“Every chance we have, we show our support,” said Stacie Zamarripa, of Bowling Green.
Bowling Green city government also endorsed the BG Pride event and community. Because Mayor Mike Aspacher was unable to attend the event, City Council President Mark Hollenbaugh read aloud a proclamation supporting diversity in the community.
“The City of Bowling Green has a long history of inclusiveness and welcoming and is fortunate to be a diverse community, including LGBTQIA+ residents,” Hollenbaugh read. He cited the city’s proactive stance of enacting laws that protect people against discrimination, passing resolutions condemning violence and hate speech, and proclaiming the community as safe and welcoming to all.
Council members Joel O’Dorisio and Greg Robinette also attended the event. “Jordan is a colleague of mine on City Council,” Robinette said of BGO Pride President Jordan Musgrave. “I’m happy to support Jordan.”
And Musgrave was appreciative of the community’s support.
“I think it was a success,” he said. “It was important to see diversity supporting citizens of the community.”
“I’m incredibly proud that we are becoming cohesive right now when it matters,” Musgrave said, referring to the current political climate.
“Things going on at the federal level are very scary. It’s important to be united as a community.”
Rios recalled the first BG Pride event five years ago celebrated with a potluck in the basement of First Presbyterian Church, right next to Wooster Green. Each year, the event has attracted more people.
“We busted our biscuits this year,” Rios said, of the BGO board, volunteers, vendors and non-profit groups involved.
“I think that we are really creating something special for the community that hasn’t been there,” said Maeve Georgeson, newly-elected treasurer of BGO Pride. “We’re not doing this for ourselves to have fun. We are filling a void in the community. We are helping foster community.”
