Pride Month Festivities Underway In Tulsa, Opening Doors To Support For LGBTQ Community

Several events are being held in Tulsa this month to celebrate Pride month.

One group is making sure people in the LGBTQ community have the support they need.

Dorothy Ballard is with Oklahomans for Equality and says they provide support groups, clinic services, counseling, and programs for young people.

"We seek to advocate for equal rights for people within our community and then provide provision of services and also operating the Dennis R. Neil Equality Center," Ballard said.

They host events like Pride Bingo, an Equality Business Alliance Network Mixer and Tulsa Pride for Pride month as a way to provide a safe place for people in the LGBTQ community. Ballard says Tulsa's growth has been exciting.

"My first landing in Tulsa was in 2001 and to see the growth since then has been completely amazing," Ballard says.

She says the City of Tulsa has been a great partner with them for the last five years.

"The City of Tulsa has been proactively supportive of us and all of our efforts though proclamations, ordinances, and resolutions that all support an equal and united city," Ballard said.

She wants people to remember how far they have come so they can continue making Tulsa a great place to live for everybody.

"Outside of the celebratory times here in June it's really important to always keep a mind on our community and our place within it,” Ballard said, “We too like everybody else are just Tulsans trying to live our best lives and we hope to be here in support to anybody who needs us."

Tulsa Pride 2023 Festival and Parade is Saturday, June 24.

Ballard says they have more entries than last year, and big performances scheduled.