1,000 attend Pride Fest in Iowa City

Around 1,000 people attended a parade and celebration of the gay community Saturday in Iowa City, said Kirsten Plowman, Chair of the Iowa City Pride Committee.

She said since the early 1980s, the event, which happens on the third Saturday of June each year, has been an important part of gay life in Iowa City.

The event was an opportunity for people to reflect on past struggles and discuss current political issues, and also to celebrate community. A morning parade with around 20 vehicles, as well as the Drag Kings, a musical group, and other troupes marched down Dubuque Street in Iowa City.

“I like a good party. In the long run that has something to do with it.” said Plowman, 28, of Iowa City, who grew up in Illinois. She and her organization put the event on Saturday. The 1969 Stonewall riot in New York City was seen as the start of the gay rights movement and pride festivals across the country have been a way for the community to organize politically for years. Last year the state Supreme Court said the Iowa Constitution allowed men and women equal marriage rights. This was seen as a watershed moment by many gay and civil rights supporters in Iowa, and across the country.

Plowman's group invited vendors to set up along the ped mall after the parade.

It was bustling with activity. A Christian missionary from Virginia talked to two men with their shirts off. He had crossed the event by chance on his journey across the country. The Lambda Legal Foundation passed out literature to raise awareness about the beating of a gay man in Atlanta. One local business sold some rainbow snow cones.

Plowman said as the culture has changed so has the mood of the Pride event. “It's become less of a protest and more of a celebration,” said Plowman.

State Sen. Bob Dvorsky (D-Coralville) discussed the issue of gay marriage during an address to the crowd.

“So once again the choice is simple, if you want to continue and not have discrimination in the Iowa Constitution elect Democrats. If you don't elect someone else,” said Dvorsky.

For one gay North Liberty couple deciding to get married in Iowa has not been a simple decision. Lolita Blaha and Lisa Harbit, both 45, faced it last year. Harbit said entering the legal agreement might compromise employer health benefits. She said the couple applied for a Johnson County marriage license but backed off after weighing the decision.

“You have to make sure you explore those things, if those things are important to you,” she said.