Rochester MN Pridefest

From Rochester MN Pridefest Website:

Pridefests started to commemorate the Stonewall Riots that took police in New York City on June 28, 1969. The riots were a result of police persecution of gay people and raids on establishment such as the Stonewall Inn. For more information see the website: http://en.********.***/wiki/Stonewall_riots.

Times have changed and LGBT people have received more recognition but still do not have equal rights with non-LGBT people and are still being discriminated against simply because of their sexual orientation or sexual identity. For this reason, it is necessary to continue to raise the visibility and awareness of the GLBT community. For most of the year, we are often an invisible community. Pridefest events give us a chance to remind greater community that we exist and we are part of the diverse general community of southeastern Minnesota.

These events give us chance to get together as a community, meet friends, develop relationships and enjoy some great entertainment.

The Gay/Lesbian Community Services of South Eastern Minnesota (GLCS) held its first Pride event at Central Park during July 1988. In later years the event was moved to the Peace Plaza. Now in July 2017, Pridefest is again on the move to a new location at Solders Memorial Field Park.