Skip to content
The Gazette. Learn something new today and every day.

More Stories

Photos: Iowa City Pride

This year marks 55th anniversary of Iowa City Pride's celebration

Elizabeth WoodElizabeth Wood

Jun. 21, 2025 3:45 pm

Iowa City Pride’s Pride Festival kicked off with the pride parade in downtown Iowa City on Saturday, June 21, 2025. This year marks the 55th anniversary of Iowa City Pride's celebration of the LGBTQ+ community, which began in 1970. (Elizabeth Wood/The Gazette)
Iowa City Pride’s Pride Festival kicked off with the pride parade in downtown Iowa City on Saturday, June 21, 2025. This year marks the 55th anniversary of Iowa City Pride's celebration of the LGBTQ+ community, which began in 1970. (Elizabeth Wood/The Gazette)
Emily Hainstock waves a pride flag during Iowa City Pride’s pride parade in downtown Iowa City on Saturday, June 21, 2025. This year marks the 55th anniversary of Iowa City Pride's celebration of the LGBTQ+ community, which began in 1970. (Elizabeth Wood/The Gazette)
Emily Hainstock waves a pride flag during Iowa City Pride’s pride parade in downtown Iowa City on Saturday, June 21, 2025. This year marks the 55th anniversary of Iowa City Pride's celebration of the LGBTQ+ community, which began in 1970. (Elizabeth Wood/The Gazette)
Cathrine Scott (left) and Gracie Shaw snap their fans open and closed as they cheer on people in the pride parade during Iowa City Pride’s Pride Festival in downtown Iowa City on Saturday, June 21, 2025. This year marks the 55th anniversary of Iowa City Pride's celebration of the LGBTQ+ community, which began in 1970. (Elizabeth Wood/The Gazette)
Cathrine Scott (left) and Gracie Shaw snap their fans open and closed as they cheer on people in the pride parade during Iowa City Pride’s Pride Festival in downtown Iowa City on Saturday, June 21, 2025. This year marks the 55th anniversary of Iowa City Pride's celebration of the LGBTQ+ community, which began in 1970. (Elizabeth Wood/The Gazette)
Will Krueger (CQ) (left) and Justice Dyer cheer on the Cedar Rapids Kennedy Cougars during Iowa City Pride’s Pride Festival in downtown Iowa City on Saturday, June 21, 2025. This year marks the 55th anniversary of Iowa City Pride's celebration of the LGBTQ+ community, which began in 1970. (Elizabeth Wood/The Gazette)
Will Krueger, (left) and Justice Dyer cheer on the Cedar Rapids Kennedy Cougars during Iowa City Pride’s Pride Festival in downtown Iowa City on Saturday, June 21, 2025. This year marks the 55th anniversary of Iowa City Pride's celebration of the LGBTQ+ community, which began in 1970. (Elizabeth Wood/The Gazette)
Jason Terrill plays the banjo while other community members attending Iowa City Pride’s Pride Festival play different instruments to drown out a protester in downtown Iowa City on Saturday, June 21, 2025. Terrill said he started bringing his banjo and recorder to Pride after he saw protesters a few years ago when he attended the festival for the first time. (Elizabeth Wood/The Gazette)
Jason Terrill plays the banjo while other community members attending Iowa City Pride’s Pride Festival play different instruments to drown out a protester in downtown Iowa City on Saturday, June 21, 2025. Terrill said he started bringing his banjo and recorder to Pride after he saw protesters a few years ago when he attended the festival for the first time. (Elizabeth Wood/The Gazette)
Barb Duder gives out ‘free mom hugs,’ pride pins and note cards with positive messages like “You are not alone” during Iowa City Pride’s Pride Festival in downtown Iowa City on Saturday, June 21, 2025. Duder said she started giving out pins, hugs, and note cards to show those in attendance that they were not alone. “You pray for a healthy baby for nine months; don’t stop loving them whenever they come out,” Duder said. (Elizabeth Wood/The Gazette)
Barb Duder gives out ‘free mom hugs,’ pride pins and note cards with positive messages like “You are not alone” during Iowa City Pride’s Pride Festival in downtown Iowa City on Saturday, June 21, 2025. Duder said she started giving out pins, hugs, and note cards to show those in attendance that they were not alone. “You pray for a healthy baby for nine months; don’t stop loving them whenever they come out,” Duder said. (Elizabeth Wood/The Gazette)
Hayden Smith makes a pride-themed bead bracelet at the Lisa Frank Lounge by Public Space One during Iowa City Pride’s Pride Festival in downtown Iowa City on Saturday, June 21, 2025. This year marks the 55th anniversary of Iowa City Pride's celebration of the LGBTQ+ community, which began in 1970. (Elizabeth Wood/The Gazette)
Hayden Smith makes a pride-themed bead bracelet at the Lisa Frank Lounge by Public Space One during Iowa City Pride’s Pride Festival in downtown Iowa City on Saturday, June 21, 2025. This year marks the 55th anniversary of Iowa City Pride's celebration of the LGBTQ+ community, which began in 1970. (Elizabeth Wood/The Gazette)
Hayden Smith looks through beads at the Lisa Frank Lounge by Public Space One during Iowa City Pride’s Pride Festival in downtown Iowa City on Saturday, June 21, 2025. This year marks the 55th anniversary of Iowa City Pride's celebration of the LGBTQ+ community, which began in 1970. (Elizabeth Wood/The Gazette)
Hayden Smith looks through beads at the Lisa Frank Lounge by Public Space One during Iowa City Pride’s Pride Festival in downtown Iowa City on Saturday, June 21, 2025. This year marks the 55th anniversary of Iowa City Pride's celebration of the LGBTQ+ community, which began in 1970. (Elizabeth Wood/The Gazette)
Emily Brown (center) dances with Ro James (left), Ashe Howl (right) and Lincoln Howl during Iowa City Pride’s Pride Festival in downtown Iowa City on Saturday, June 21, 2025. This year marks the 55th anniversary of Iowa City Pride's celebration of the LGBTQ+ community, which began in 1970. (Elizabeth Wood/The Gazette)
Emily Brown (center) dances with Ro James (left), Ashe Howl (right) and Lincoln Howl during Iowa City Pride’s Pride Festival in downtown Iowa City on Saturday, June 21, 2025. This year marks the 55th anniversary of Iowa City Pride's celebration of the LGBTQ+ community, which began in 1970. (Elizabeth Wood/The Gazette)
Lulu Newhart-Roarick laughs as she walks through the splash pad by the Pedestrian Mall during Iowa City Pride’s Pride Festival in downtown Iowa City on Saturday, June 21, 2025. Behind her, a line formed of kids and adults waiting for the chance to walk through the cold water. (Elizabeth Wood/The Gazette)
Lulu Newhart-Roarick laughs as she walks through the splash pad by the Pedestrian Mall during Iowa City Pride’s Pride Festival in downtown Iowa City on Saturday, June 21, 2025. Behind her, a line formed of kids and adults waiting for the chance to walk through the cold water. (Elizabeth Wood/The Gazette)

The Gazette offers audio versions of articles using Instaread. Some words may be mispronounced.
Date Time Location Previous Next chevron-circle-right Funeral Home Facebook Bluesky X/ Twitter Linkedin Youtube Instagram Tiktok Reddit Email Print Buy RSS Feed Opens in new tab or window PDF
Daily NewslettersDaily Newsletters

Share this article: