When lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people and progressives here think of Gay Pride, images come to mind of a large and boisterous parade and thousands of people flooding Loring Park. But Minnesota is also home to an event that Out magazine, a national LGBT publication, has labeled the "Hottest Small Town Pride" in the country.
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The 21st annual Duluth-Superior LGBT Pride kicks off today in the Twin Ports of Duluth and Superior, Wis., with a mayor's reception. Duluth Mayor Herb Bergson became the first Duluth mayor to recognize the Labor Day weekend tradition in 2004 after years of negativity by the office of former mayor Gary Doty.
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In 2004, Bergson said, "Whether people want to acknowledge it or not there are gay people in our community who work at banks, who work as lawyers, who own businesses -- they are in politics, they are in all walks of life. The bottom line is everyone is welcome in Duluth."
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As members of the Twin Cities LGBT community converge on the Twin Ports, Pribnow says that involvement from people from the cities is an important way for the two communities to get together. "We look forward and encourage our fellow GLBTAQI from the Twin Cities to come and enjoy our weekend of celebration of who we are and what we stand for." Pribnow also said that the celebration should be a jumping off point for collaboration as well. "The real successes come when we work together to help relieve the hardships that people face everyday and to enjoy the satisfaction that comes when we are able to make a difference in a positive way."
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