Pride Month is usually a time of togetherness for the LGBTQ+ community. But with social distancing guidelines in place, organizers have had to get creative.
Peoria Proud is hosting a Pride Ride Sunday, in lieu of their typical celebrations.
Trevor Neff with Peoria Proud said participants will show solidarity from the safety of their cars.
“It’s just a ride, not a parade. We are driving up the street just to be visible to kick off Pride Month,” he said. “We’ve asked other organizations and businesses on Main Street to decorate their establishments and stand outside on the sidewalk — socially-distanced, of course.”
The Pride Ride kicks off at 1 p.m. this Sunday, starting at Lit! On Fire Used Books and moving up Main Street, over to Moss Avenue and through the Bradley Campus, ultimately ending at Imago Dei Church.
People who want to join in their cars will meet beforehand in the parking lot of the Peoria Civic Center behind Club Diesel, Neff said.
Those watching from the sidewalks are encouraged to come decked out in Pride gear, while also wearing a mask and staying six feet apart.
“We want to make sure everyone comes together as a community, but also stays in their own bubbles, per se,” Neff said. “So it has been a really challenging way to focus on making this a group effort, but still an individual effort, at the same time.”
Neff said Peoria Proud has had to cancel several events due to COVID-19 concerns. Soon, they’ll have to decide whether they’ll hold the River City Pride Festival in August. It usually attracts thousands of people.
But Neff said the organization is still able to connect with folks virtually.
“We have definitely gone very social media-heavy in these times,” he said. “We’ve put together different groups, just to Zoom with each other and check in on friends and family.”
Information on resources — including what’s open and LGBTQ-friendly or affirming — can be found on their Facebook page or website.
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