Friends of Dorothy

06/17/2026

We are SO delighted to have Della Lish McGee at Pride Festival this year! Here are her words to us, in anticipation of the weekend's extravaganza:

Pride festivals are an important event in any area, but when that area is in a deeply conservative region with antiquated ideas of how people should look, dress, act, vote, think, and love, then that pride festival is even more important. It is my honor to be asked to kick off Steuben Pride on June 20th, and I stand with the LGBTQIA+ community that is trying to survive in their own authenticity while surrounded by vitriol, hatred, and ignorance.

I will see you all at the Selman Timber Frame Pavilion at 1:00 pm to celebrate you just being you!

Always remember that you are loved and seen, and I’m proud of you for existing and thriving!

-Della Licious

06/14/2026

The countdown to has ALREADY BEGUN. This Saturday, join us to kick off festivities at the Steuben County Courthouse. We will arrive at noon for the Pride March which will commence at 12:30 en route to Commons Park, a roughly 15 minute stroll. Then, stay for the main festival at the Selman Timber Frame Pavilion which will include entertainment, food trucks, and vendors (including, yours truly). We are so excited to see you all there!

06/14/2026

06/13/2026

We were gratified to be invited by Indiana Pride Network to participate in Indy Pride's parade this year.

While we didn't have the capacity to be officially represented, our Chair was present and — in keeping with our mission to support area Pride orgs — walked with our best friends at Steuben Pride. At the end of the route, we stopped to cheer on the floats coming up behind us.

Thanks again to Indiana Pride Network for the invitation, and to Steuben Pride's Executive Director, Chayo Camargo, for providing transportation. And thank you to Indy Pride for putting on such a fantastic event, not just for our state's capital, but for our state as a whole.

06/13/2026

Last week, we did something we've never done before. We asked for help. Not a call to action. But help. And holy smokes did our community deliver! From the bottom of our hearts, thank you! We are now confident that our booths will be fully supplied for the duration of June, and any remaining required purchases are well within our organizational capacity. HOWEVER, our friends at Decatur Pride have a few items on their wish list remaining. If you have the means, consider helping them out:

06/13/2026

Thank you to the Indiana Pride Network for the invite!

06/12/2026

Today marks 10 years since the horrific shooting at Pulse Nightclub in Orlando, Florida, which took the lives of 49 beautiful souls and wounded more than 50 others.

We will not forget those who perished.

In Memoriam

Stanley Almodovar III, 23

Amanda Alvear, 25

Oscar A. Aracena-Montero, 26

Rodolfo Ayala-Ayala, 33

Alejandro Barrios Martinez, 21

Martin Benitez Torres, 33

Antonio D. Brown, 30

Darryl R. Burt II, 29

Jonathan A. Camuy Vega, 24

Angel L. Candelario-Padro, 28

Simon A. Carrillo Fernandez, 31

Juan Chavez-Martinez, 25

Luis D. Conde, 39

Cory J. Connell, 21

Tevin E. Crosby, 25

Franky J. Dejesus Velazquez, 50

Deonka D. Drayton, 32

Mercedez M. Flores, 26

Peter O. Gonzalez-Cruz, 22

Juan R. Guerrero, 22

Paul T. Henry, 41

Frank Hernandez, 27

Miguel A. Honorato, 30

Javier Jorge-Reyes, 40

Jason B. Josaphat, 19

Eddie J. Justice, 30

Anthony L. Laureano Disla, 25

Christopher A. Leinonen, 32

Brenda L. Marquez McCool, 49

Jean C. Mendez Perez, 35

Akyra Monet Murray, 18

Kimberly Morris, 37

Jean C. Nieves Rodriguez, 27

Luis O. Ocasio-Capo, 20

Geraldo A. Ortiz-Jimenez, 25

Eric Ivan Ortiz-Rivera, 36

Joel Rayon Paniagua, 32

Enrique L. Rios Jr., 25

Juan P. Rivera Velazquez, 37

Yilmary Rodriguez Solivan, 24

Christopher J. Sanfeliz, 24

Xavier Emmanuel Serrano Rosado, 35

Gilberto Ramon Silva Menendez, 25

Edward Sotomayor Jr., 34

Shane E. Tomlinson, 33

Leroy Valentin Fernandez, 25

Luis S. Vielma, 22

Luis Daniel Wilson-Leon, 37

Jerald A. Wright, 31

06/11/2026

06/11/2026

When Friends of Dorothy shows up at local Pride events, we're not there to promote ourselves. Sure, we'll tell you what we're about, and have information about what we've been c̶o̶n̶s̶p̶i̶r̶i̶n̶g̶ up to. Our presence at these events is how a lot of people learn about us. But the reason we show up is to support the event. Whether in Whitley County, Noble County, Steuben County, DeKalb County, or -- for the first time this year -- in Decatur. That's why we don't sell anything and our standard wares include a variety of Pride-themed merchandise in addition to free water and sun screen.

This year, much of our operational costs have been allocated to supporting area LGBT orgs. We're proud to support so many great local organizations. But we are a relatively small organization and unfortunately unforeseen circumstances have led to significant disruptions. We could use some help purchasing items for our booths. Please DM us if you're interested in helping out!