10/12/2026
As our social media manager, you mostly see the things I write with my sometimes sass-back-diva comments. But tonight, I'd like to take a moment to talk from the heart on behalf of our board, committees, and volunteers.
Our nonprofit was built on the idea of creating the community we all needed, leaving our city better than we found it, and making it more welcoming than ever.
And what a day yesterday was Austin, actually, WHAT A WEEK...
Ya'll do not want to know how many notifications we had this week.
It was a very busy week over here at Austin MN Pride! From the flags going up on Main Street, to final meetings, emails, and check-ins for our big festival, volunteer training with an AMAZING turnout of helpers, our incredible night at the Paramount with the JEWELLE: A Just Vision documentary, and finally, the big day itself.
There is SO much that happens behind the scenes that you don't always get to see.
There are committees, constant meetings, and endless conversations about logistics, thinking through every possible scenario and accommodation to make our event as accessible and welcoming as possible. There are meetings with our incredible leads: Vendor Lead, Volunteer Lead, Safety Lead, Entertainment Lead, and Festival Lead. Committees gather, late nights happen in the garage while we plan, organize, and pack cars, and somehow, we keep finding more things to add to the to-do list. - that we call the "tomorrow list".
We start planning this festival almost a YEAR in advance. And while the festival itself is a huge undertaking, it's only one piece of what we do.
Behind the scenes, we're also doing the work of being a nonprofit, and really we're just getting started. We're building community through
outreach, sharing exciting new announcements like our SMART initiative at Pride, and creating events like karaoke and LGBTea & Coffee. We show up at local events, especially those rooted in community, art, and mental health. We're applying for grants, dreaming up new ideas for the future, collaborating with other Prides, and taking classes to better ourselves and our organization.
I mean, this year alone, we've taken multiple security and de-escalation classes, First Aid and CPR classes, and Narcan/naloxone training. Why? Because PRIDE IS ABOUT COMMUNITY - sorry for yelling, but it's the truth. It's about creating a space where people feel safe, seen, welcomed, and loved.
And then there was this week.
We never intended for our flags to go viral in our little town. Within 48 hours, our page had reached 200,000 views, along with an overwhelming number of comments, some of which I still haven't gotten around to responding to. We navigated challenges that not every organization has to navigate. And time after time, comment after comment LOVE WON!
For every hateful comment, there was a positive one. For every hateful message, there were four filled with love from people who never thought their hometown of Austin would ever include THEM.
We heard from people who have lost loved ones who would be so proud of the work we're doing today. We heard stories from people who struggled to be accepted, who spent years feeling like they didn't belong, and who are now seeing their hometown become a place where they feel welcomed. We heard from people who, for the first time in their lives, felt comfortable enough to come out. We heard stories of hope, courage, bravery, and love.
We also heard from those who came before us, who shared memories of their own journeys, the challenges they faced, and how far we've come to get to where we are today.
Those are the stories that remind us why this work matters.
Your kindness and love outshined the hate. You reminded us why we do this, why we keep showing up, and why we will continue to learn, grow, and do better.
So, from the bottom of our hearts, THANK YOU.
No SERIOUSLY
THANK YOU
to every single person who came to Pride. To our incredible vendors and food trucks, our amazing entertainers, and our wonderful sound guy, Steve. Thank you to Parks and Rec, the City of Austin, our sponsors, our supporters, our volunteers, our committees, and every single person who showed up, helped out, cheered us on, or shared a little love when we needed it.
Thank you for seeing us. Thank you for rooting for us. Thank you for sharing your stories, for standing beside us, and for reminding us that the work we're doing matters.
Our festival happens ONE day a year, but its impact lasts far longer than that. It stays with people for days, weeks, and even years to come. Sometimes, one day is all it takes for someone to feel a little less alone, a little more accepted, or a little more hopeful about the place they call home.
And THAT is why we do this.
Because everyone deserves to feel like they belong in the place they call home.
Thank you Austin ❤
With great pride (and mild exhaustion),
The social media gal✨
