By Faradis Lindblom
Following the mass shooting in an Orlando, Florida, nightclub June 12, members of the Iowa City LGBTQ community embraced the celebration of the annual Pride Week as a way to connect with each other, find resources for help, and express their pride.
During the week, Iowa City Pride, a local not-for-profit group, held events showing LGBTQ pride and diversity. Events such as a bar crawl, karaoke night, Pride show, and parade took place around the city.
Jewell Amos, the head of the Iowa City Pride Committee, said emotions were certainly heightened during Pride Week because of the events in Orlando but she saw immense support for the LGBTQ community.
“There is so much acceptance here in Iowa City that it’s almost taken for granted,” she said. “This year, people are still having some fun, but at the same time, they appreciate the people around them so much more.”
Amos said she experienced an outpouring of love and support from family and friends following the events in Orlando and throughout Pride Week.
Jason Zeman, the owner of Iowa City’s only LGBTQ-affiliated nightclub, Studio 13, echoed that.
“I’ve never seen such an outpouring from the community,” he said. “I think that’s the best way to win against people who try to do that kind of hate.”
Despite the support the LGBTQ community received in the week, both Zeman and Amos said more security was added during Pride festivities as a precaution.
Zeman said during Pride Karaoke night June 14 at Studio 13, both Iowa City and University of Iowa police officers were present.
“The university and Iowa City Police Department have a great relationship with us,” Zeman said. “I know they’ve got our backs in this town.”
Another presence that was new this year was the addition of grief counselors provided by the Johnson County Crisis Center at the festival June 18. Amos said she thinks the support from the counselors is important in the LGBTQ community, because they provide ways to cope with the hardships and exclusion that is still a concern for members of the LGBTQ community, especially in recent times.
“We get insulated sometimes, especially being in a city like Iowa City, but that hatred is still out there,” Zeman said. “When that kind of stuff happens, its hard to get your head around it.”
Sara Sedlacek, the communications and development director for the Crisis Center, said the LGBTQ community is at greater risk for suicide because of discrimination, oppression, and bullying. These are some of the reasons she thought the counselors’ presence was important at the Pride festival, she said.
“The community has been greatly affected by [the events in Orlando], so we wanted to make sure that we were available to talk,” she said.
Zeman had similar thoughts, saying Pride Week was especially important this year. He stressed bringing more awareness to the issue of discrimination as well as locating and highlighting the acceptance and support for the LGBTQ community. Bridging gaps between those affected by these issues and resources for help was also an important aspect, he said.
“People ask why there is gay pride; it’s because we fought so hard for it,” Zeman said. “[Pride Week] is a good time to celebrate who we are.”