32 Photos Show Pride Persists in Kim Davis's Hometown

The 2nd annual Morehead Pride Festival was held on Saturday, October 7 during a week of events celebrating Pride Week in Morehead. The festival was hosted by Kentucky drag entertainer Cadillac Seville and featured two drag shows as well as live music from Daphne Willis, Amythyst Kiah, The Woodsheep, the Louisville Gay Men's Chorus, and the Tealights. Author and diversity trainer Ryan Sallans gave a keynote speech about his journey transitioning and Morehead Mayor Jim Tom Trent read an LGBTQ-supportive proclamation declaring October "Pride in Diversity Month" in Morehead. Over 50 vendors participated with many local businesses coming out to show support and connect the LGBTQ community with services in the region. Morehead Pride also coordinated two after-parties after the festival -- a Pride Youth Party for ages 16-20 and a 21+ Pride after-party. Both featured drag, male dancers, and a supportive space for LGBTQ people to gather.

Other Pride Week events included an exhibit of two sections from the AIDS Memorial Quilt and a Diversity & Inclusion Forum, co-hosted by Morehead Pride, the Eagle Diversity Education Center, and Camden-Carroll Library at Morehead State University. The two quilt sections on display were from Kentucky natives who lost their lives to AIDS. Forum guest speakers included author and diversity trainer Ryan Sallans, activist and secretary of Bluegrass Black Pride Mark Johnson, and the executive director of AIDS Volunteers, Inc., Jon Parker. Topics included health access, diversity within the LGBTQ community, and inclusion.

For more information about Morehead Pride, visit www.moreheadpride.org or find on Facebook, and Instagram.

Photos by: Eli Hartgrove, Autumn Rose, and Rianna Robinson