Photos: Iowa City Pride 2021

Gazette Visuals

Oct. 3, 2021 10:04 am, Updated: Oct. 3, 2021 3:12 pm

Dozens of people gathered Saturday in downtown Iowa City to mark the 50th anniversary of Iowa City Pride. The milestone was celebrated virtually in 2020, with all in-person gatherings postponed because the COVID-19 pandemic. Saturday’s celebrations kicked off with a unity march instead of the event’s usual parade.

Drag queen Alexandra St. James welcomes participants in a unity march to the Iowa City Pride Festival on Saturday, October 2, 2021. The festival was rescheduled to October because of the Covid-19 pandemic.

Kirkwood Unity members Justice Nucano, Nico Brown, Fiona Holmes, Erin Malcom and Cole Eckhardt march in a Unity Parade during the Iowa City Pride Festival on Saturday, October 2, 2021. Eckhardt, who is president of the student group, said that Pride and other spaces like it are important to make people feel welcome and comfortable with their identity, and that Pride “provided a safe space for me until I felt comfortable coming out.”

Iowa City Mayor Bruce Teague speaks Saturday during the Iowa City Pride Festival. Teague spoke about the history of Pride and LBGTQ spaces in Iowa City and reflected on the history of activism in the community.

Iowa City Mayor Bruce Teague speaks during the Iowa City Pride Festival on Saturday, October 2, 2021. (Nick Rohlman/Freelance)

Participants in a Unity March wave flags and umbrellas on Iowa Avenue during the Iowa City Pride Festival on Saturday, October 2, 2021. The festival was rescheduled to October because of the pandemic. (Nick Rohlman/Freelance)

Participants in a Unity March arrive Saturday at the Iowa City Pride Festival. The festival, normally held in June, was postponed because of the pandemic.

Iowa City Pride President Tony Sivanthaphanith leads a Unity March during the Iowa City Pride Festival on Saturday, October 2, 2021.

Participants in a Unity March are seen on Dubuque Street during the Iowa City Pride Festival on Saturday, October 2, 2021.

Drag queen Alexandra St. James speaks during the Iowa City Pride Festival on Saturday, October 2, 2021.

Big Gay Candle Co. founder James Walters sells candlers during the Iowa City Pride Festival on Saturday, October 2, 2021. Walters, a musician by trade, started the company as a result of a lack of work during the pandemic.

Buttons commemorating the 50th anniversary of the Stonewall Riots and in support of LGBTQ rights are avilable for sale during the Pride celebration on Saturday in Iowa City.

Kirkwood Unity members Justice Nucano and Cole Eckhardt march alongside Iowa City Pride President Tony Sivanthaphanith during a Unity March at the Iowa City Pride Festival on Saturday, October 2, 2021.

Marchers and a dog carry rainbow flags during a Unity March at the Iowa City Pride Festival on Saturday, October 2, 2021.

Community members participate in a Unity March during the Iowa City Pride Festival on Saturday, October 2, 2021.

Iowa City Mayor Bruce Teague speaks during the Iowa City Pride Festival on Saturday, October 2, 2021.

Iowa City Pride President Tony Sivanthaphanith speaks during the Iowa City Pride Festival on Saturday, October 2, 2021.

The Quire performs during the Iowa City Pride Festival on Saturday, October 2, 2021.