At Pride Fest, Cedar Rapids celebrates diversity

CEDAR RAPIDS – In a year that has seen heated political debate over the issue of same-sex marriage, the annual Cedar Rapids Pride Fest, where rainbow-striped pride flags seemed to wave from every corner of Green Square Park, went off without a hitch, its organizers said.

The event, organized by Cedar Rapids Unity, formerly known as the Gay and Lesbian Resource Center of Cedar Rapids, was organized to celebrate diversity in the community, its organizers said. It has drawn small groups of protesters in the past, but none were present on Saturday afternoon, said Trish Varnum, president of the group.

The festival wasn't a political event, said Matty Smith, a regional organizer for the gay rights advocacy group One Iowa. It was more “like a giant high school get together.”

“It definitely brings the community together – especially in a close-knit community like Cedar Rapids,” he said.

Varnum put it even more simply:  “It was an opportunity for everyone to come out and just be themselves.”

Varnum, who along with her wife, Kate Varnum, was a lead plaintiff in the 2009 Iowa Supreme Court case that legalized gay marriage, said that some political rhetoric was tough to bear this year – especially when it came to squabbles over judicial retention.

“That was a disappointment in the way that came about,” she said. But, she added, “As always, we're going to be optimistic.”

Varnum said she hopes that Iowans' “Midwestern open-mindedness,” will help ensure that the state will continue to recognize her marriage, and those of her friends.

Perhaps that's how one might describe Rick and Vicki Smith, a married couple from Cedar Rapids, who were walking dog when they unknowingly stumbled upon the festival and began perusing the informational booths. They both said learned a lot.

“To each his own,” said Rick Smith, of the same-sex marriage issue. “Whatever makes you happy.”