Today hundreds of Oklahomans gathered on 39th Street in OKC for the annual pride celebration, one of many held to commemorate Gay Pride Month this June.
This year's Pride on 39th's theme is Unite the Fight, something organizers say is bringing the LGBTQ+ community together during a time where they're feeling targeted by some legislation.
“Our theme this year is Unite the Fight, which was specifically about all those bills that were filed this year," said President of Oklahoma City Pride, Tessa White. "So whenever you come out here, we do a lot of talking with one another, and it just helps us to be able to better gather and be able to fight these things.”
Oklahoma City Pride says there were 88 Anti-LGBTQ+ bills filled by the Oklahoma State Legislature this session.
“Fortunately, we had enough people that cared about us within the state of Oklahoma, that only one of those bills turned into law,” White said.
Because of the heafty number of Anti-LGBTQ+ bills, many are fearful about the future of the gay community.
"Considering how many bills were introduced, I mean, how could I feel any other way but attacked," said Transgender Woman, and Pride on 39th Attendee, Diana Lettkeman.
“I'm actually afraid for our community if we don't get people in office and we can get those things reversed from where they are now," said Sister Snatchella Deville with Sisters of The Sacred Heartland.
Many feel as though LGBTQ+ members' rights are in danger, something they have not worried about in decades.
“When I was a kid, it was really bad, you would be jumped in parking lots, you could be beaten up just for walking on the street with your lover," Deville said. "And for the longest after gay marriage passed, everything's (been) fine, we're going to be more accepted... and now we're going back to the 1950s where they want us all back in the closet, they want women to be property, it's just ridiculous.”
There are many other Pride Celebrations throughout Oklahoma this month, next Friday, June 9th there is Pride! on the Plaza celebration, and the last weekend of June there is a Pride Celebration at Scissortail Park.
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