06/04/2026
PRIDE COMMITTEE & VOLUNTEERS
What you have done over the last few months showing up, organizing, planning, and pouring your energy into Pride, is nothing short of community shaping work. In a time when LGBTQ+ people across the country face louder ridicule, harsher rhetoric, and more uncertainty under the current administration, your commitment becomes even more powerful. You did not just plan an event. You opened space for people who need to see that they are not alone, not invisible, and not going anywhere.
Pride in Dayton has always been more than a celebration. It is a declaration of presence, resilience, and joy. It is a reminder that our community has survived far worse than the noise aimed at us today, and we will continue to rise, thrive, and move forward together. The work you have done ensures that every person who walks into our festival feels seen, welcomed, and valued. That matters.
I want to take a moment to acknowledge the leadership guiding this year’s celebration. Our Executive Director Rick Flynn and our Pride Chair Michael Bananzer along with their committee chairs have shown extraordinary vision, steadiness, and heart. Their leadership is a major reason this year’s Pride is on track to be our strongest, most vibrant, most unifying celebration yet. Their work, and yours, will echo far beyond this weekend.
And yes, we all know there are people and groups out there who belittle the effort it takes to put on Pride. They minimize the labor, the planning, the emotional weight, the logistics, the courage. But here’s the truth: they underestimate us. They underestimate the strength of a community that has always found a way to shine, even when others tried to dim the light.
Our community is strong. Our community is united. And our community will succeed, not in spite of the challenges, but because we face them together.
You are appreciated. You are essential. And you are making history in Dayton, one act of service at a time.
Happy Pride!
