06/01/2026
With gratitude and heavy hearts, we are sharing a message from Kirsten Foster, as she steps down from her role as Otsego Pride Alliance President.
Help us thank Kirsten for her years of service and leadership, and her fearless and endless dedication and love for this community.
Please read her farewell message and call to action to the community below:
"It’s 5/31/2026, you know what that means……Pride Month Eve!
This is my most favorite time of year, my Christmas, my Halloween, my celebration of Queen Latifah’s birthday all wrapped up in one!
Folx, it doesn’t feel like it lately, but we as a community, have come so far. Extraordinarily far, and it’s because of each and every one of you.
Forgive an old butch her dream reminiscing sequence.
10 years ago I moved here and was aching for community, a few of us got together and started that. We were able to get local people involved which magnified the movement of visibility in this area, our importance, our value, our worth.
We held fundraisers and started drag shows, introducing a young adorable ever talented Les Michael to the crowd. I am blown away at the drag scene there is now, it’s very moving.
Other regions were catching on, starting their own journeys of q***r activism. There are q***r events all over! The gay agenda has lit up Central New York. I never thought I would see something like this in my lifetime.
It’s even more unbelievable than that fu**er getting elected twice (we all know it was rigged)
We are still here, and we will be here after 2028, us q***rs, we’ve been through hell and back, we all share that experience.
We are listening to our ancestors and they are whispering in our ears, “There is joy in this life, and no one can take it from you. We exist regardless of hate. We exist because true love knows no bounds.” Listen hard, it’s there trust me.
OPA doesn’t exist without community. We can’t do this without each and every one of you. You are all worthy of a safe space, and that’s all we have really ever tried to do.
So I am asking for help. OPA needs y’all now. They need ideas, and organizers and people who have things to say who need an outlet. They need folx who are fu***ng angry (cause that’s how it started) and folx who are concerned for other q***rs in the region.
Volunteer people, contribute, this is how the gay agenda survives. We love each other, we love each other so much around here. It is a beautiful fu***ng thing to be a part of. Try it!
I will miss you all something awful. I won’t be at Pridefest. But this will always be my most favorite time of year because of the untold memories I have of it.
Please take care of each other. We are all we’ve got. Kerri Chase is doing an outstanding job at the helm. But one person can’t handle it all alone. Thank you Kerri, I am forever on your debt.
All my love everybody, and maybe I’ll see you around sometime.
HAPPY PRIDE
Kirsten"
