Submitted Photo Magic City Equality, a local organization committed to supporting the local LGBTQ2S+ community, is bringing Pride Month festivities to Minot with its three-day event, which starts Friday.

In observance of June as Pride Month, Magic City Equality, a local nonprofit dedicated to supporting the local LGBTQ2S+ community, is bringing the worldwide celebration to Minot with its three-day schedule of events starting Friday.

Magic City Equality was established by Pride Minot and works to provide support and education to the local LGBTQ2S+ (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer and/or questioning, Two Spirit plus) community and its allies. It works to break down barriers, ease community tension and advocate for the equality of all people in northwestern and north-central North Dakota.

“During pride month or pride events, it’s about acceptance. It’s about equality. It’s about celebrating the work of the LGBTQ2S+ people. It’s about educating the LGBTQ2S+ people about our history. It’s about raising awareness on issues affecting our community and the communities around us as well too. It’s really important to showcase that people in the community have a place to go, have a safe space for them to feel connected but also feel supported at the same time,” said Jorden Laducer, executive board officer and treasurer for Magic City Equality.

Laducer said during the era of COVID-19, other pride organizations needed assistance and guidance with their events and outreach, so Magic City Equality has partnered with organizations across the state to better support LGBTQ2S+ education across North Dakota. Magic City Equality has donated funds across the state for grant opportunities and scholarships.

“It’s about community outreach through and through. Our belief at Magic City Equality is that everyone is welcome to the table. For far too long a lot of people were left outside the table, including the LGBTQ2S+ communities. Magic City Equality thought, ‘Let’s create a new way of thinking,’ while also partnering with businesses and community members all through the Minot area – but across North Dakota so we have a platform to stand on,” Laducer said.

Magic City Equality also offers programs to support and educate LGBTQ2S+ individuals and allies. TransAction is a peer support group aimed at local and regional members of the transgender, nonbinary and gender non-confoming communities, and Y.O.U. (Youth Outreach and Upreach) is a support group designed for LGBTQ2S+ youth more than 20 years of age.

“We know that people within the community right now are not feeling that safe. So it’s important for Magic City Equality to be visible and other pride organizations to be visible to show people that we are here. We’re not going anywhere and we’re here to help educate and support the community at large,” Laducer said.

The three-day pride festivities start Friday with the 21+ Rainbow Bar Pub Crawl at 7 p.m. On Saturday, June 8, the celebration moves downtown for Pride in the Streets, an all-age family event open to everyone of all ages. Vendors, art, entertainment, food and crafts will be available.

Laducer said Pride in the Streets is “Magic City Equality’s way to give back to the community that supports them.”

Saturday night is the Pride Drag Show, featuring a special guest Victoria Gotti from Houston, Texas, at the Sleep Inn & Suites. This event is for ages 18 and older. Sunday morning is the Drag Brunch Bingo, for ages 21 and older.

Wrapping up the celebration is one last family-friendly event, the Picnic in the Park at Moose Park, starting at 5 p.m. Families are invited to enjoy nature, food and a welcoming and inclusive environment.

“We’re really here for the community. Everything that we receive from funding we give 100% back to the community at large. We create events, we create spaces for events and we are helping educate people of the LGBT community about the barriers this community is facing and continues to face – especially being targeted right now in the times,” Laducer said. “We are here, we will advocate and we will continue to educate and spread equality across the state of North Dakota, including Minot. We just want people to feel safe, to feel accepted, to feel seen and heard.”