COCHRANE— The Pride Flag will be flying for the first time ever in Cochrane as part of the Town’s inaugural Pride Week.
The proclamation of Pride Week is an important historical moment, said Kindred Cochrane Pride Society chair Renita Bartlett.
“It’s so exciting,” Bartlett said. “It’s so amazing, it’s historic it’s never been raised here and it’s really symbolic that the Town is wanting to be an inclusive place and everyone is welcome here.”
Pride Week, taking place from Aug. 17 to 24, will be filled with exciting activities that celebrate the LGBTQ2S+ community.
“Every day there’s something new added,” Bartlett said with a laugh. “Everybody is welcome.”
The festivities kick off the a Flag raising on Aug. 17 at the Cochrane RancheHouse.
On Aug. 18 a free-ticketed family-friendly drag show will be taking place at the Community Flatbread Company.
On Aug. 21 Kindred will be showing the movie Prayers for Bobby at the Cochrane Movie House. The movie tells the story of a young man who comes out to his family only to be rejected by his mom. Bobby dies by suicide and his mom becomes an outspoken advocate for the LGBTQ2S+ community.
On Aug. 22 The Stump Tavern will be hosting a ticketed adults-only drag show.
Sync or Swim Creations has jumped on board the Pride celebrations to host a tattoo event in support of Kindred from Aug. 17 to 21. Some of the proceeds from the Pride tattoos will be in support of Kindred.
Bartlett noted that participants do not need to be members of the LGBTQ2S+ community to celebrate Pride and can come as allies to the community.“It feels so incredible we’ve come so far in such a short period time to be able to welcome Pride to Cochrane for the very first time,” Bartlett said. “We’re going to be able to celebrate Pride in the community we call home, which is really amazing— It’s going to be so much fun.”
Marni Fedeyko said the proclamation of Cochrane’s first official Pride Week is a great step forward for the Town.
“Cochrane is a very kind place— But, Cochrane is behind right now,” Fedeyko said. “You look at communities all around us most communities have a rainbow crosswalk and they do a ton of stuff.”
Fedeyko said a Cochrane Pride Week has been a long time in the making and is a welcomed addition to the community.
She added it was important to see support from leadership in the community to ensure the entire Town could be involved. It is an important message to send, Fedeyko said, because it changes the dialogue and shows that leadership in Town is behind the LGBTQ2S+ community.
She noted smaller events have been held by groups like Cochrane Rainbows and Kindred Cochrane Pride that included a cake day celebration.“It was really on the down-low and because those two groups were really just starting it was kind of within the groups and a couple other people,” Fedeyko said, adding that she is a Public at Large member with Kindred.
The Pride Week serves as one step on the journey to building an inclusive community because it helps to get information out there, Fedeyko said, while creating the opportunity to openly support the LGBTQ2S+ community.
“People who have chosen to come here as a lesbian or gay couple and set up their home in Cochrane, I think that they’ve come here because Cochrane is a very warm and welcoming community,” Fedeyko said.
It can be challenging being a minority in the community, and often and it can create a feeling of being on the outside of the culture.
By proclaiming Pride Week the Town is showing the LGBTQ2S+ community is valued in the community, she said, while ensuring everyone is a welcomed part of the community.
“Cochrane together means we are inclusive, welcoming community for all,” Fedeyko said. “I’m excited.”
She cautioned that discrimination still exists in the community, and this is a chance to show it is unacceptable. Fedeyko added that the proclamation sends an important message to youth that we as a community are talking about LGBTQ2S+ issues while showing the community is supported
Fedeyko said she hopes to see the entire community come out and support Pride Week.
“It would be great to see a whole bunch of people come out, show their support and have some fun,” Fedeyko said.”They’re going to have a great time.”
