It鈥檚 been 50 years since , a night when the LGBTQ community resisted a police raid in New York. It鈥檚 the catalyst for many Pride parades around the U.S., and in honor of that anniversary, students are throwing the celebration in Las Vegas, New Mexico this weekend.
Pride parades are common around the country, but they鈥檙e still making their way to smaller communities. College students in Las Vegas, New Mexico are launching the town鈥檚 inaugural Pride parade on Saturday, April 27.
Maysie Bucklin is the co-founder of 鈥擯romoting Respect for Identity and Sexuality Movement鈥攖he first chartered club at Highlands University for LGBTQ students. She said she hopes the parade will promote visibility and help fight discrimination. "We鈥檙e going to keep moving forward," she said. "We鈥檙e going to keep progressing until we feel that we have a place here, until we can feel free to move about the town and about campus."
Bucklin said other students have raised objections to the event, and she鈥檚 a little nervous, because she doesn鈥檛 want anything bad to happen at the town鈥檚 first Pride. But organizers said they are working with local police, who are confident they can keep the peace.
"We鈥檝e had help from Albuquerque Pride, from Santa Fe Pride, from New York Pride, from Taos Pride," she said. "We鈥檝e received so much support, it鈥檚 kind of unbelievable."
Next, the club plans to work with the schools and the community off campus to understand new state laws protecting LGBTQ people.
Friday, April 26
- 7 p.m.鈥擫as Vegas Pride Pageant, Wilson Complex
Saturday, April 27
- Noon鈥擯ride Parade, corner of 5th Street and National
- 1 p.m.鈥擯ride Plaza, music and booths
- 7 p.m.鈥擜ll-Ages Dance, Palms Ballroom on the plaza
