LGBTQ Ally and 'Country Boy' Cody Barlow Drives Pickup in Pride Parade

LGBTQ ally and rural Oklahoma native Cody Barlow made headlines early in Pride Month when he posted a picture of his truck that he'd decorated with a rainbow flag and text that reads "not all country boys are bigots."

This weekend, Barlow, a Navy veteran, drove his truck in a Pride parade in Oklahoma City, where he offered hugs to people as well. The week before, he drove in his first Pride parade in Fayetteville, Ark., according to Gay Cities.

"I would love to shake your hand or give you a hug and talk to you. Your stories mean a lot to me ... I want to come support all of you. Don't be hesitant to approach me, I'm just an average guy," Barlow wrote in a Facebook post.

In his original post explaining why he felt it was necessary to express support for LGBTQ people he wrote, "This is important to me, not only because I have family and friends that are LGBTQ+, but also because countless people have dealt with hatred and judgment simply for who they are, and/or who they love, for far too long. Obviously doing this isn't going to change the minds of those who are intolerant, but hopefully, it can help drown out the hatred with love."

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"I live in a rural area in Oklahoma, surrounded by small towns in every direction, and I'm sure this is not a very welcome message around here, but this is going to be displayed on my truck for the entire month of June in support of pride month," Barlow continued. "I hope everyone finds their inner strength to finally live life loud and proud without regard for the negativity of ignorant people."

Pride attendees in Oklahoma City posted their appreciation for Barlow's support on social media.

"Meet Cody, a country boy from #oklahoma who made national news for his reaction to a friend coming out - a friend who was afraid he would lose Cody's friendship because many in their small town are anti-gay," Oklahoma resident Jason Sway wrote on Instagram. "We have both been in that friend's shoes."

"Cody is doing this, not to say that most 'country boys' are bigots, but because he never wants another person to worry about coming out," Sway continued. "He wants them to know that while some country people may be closed minded, not all of them are. Thank you Cody for being the person to youth today, who we needed a decade ago in our towns."