After all of the distractions, after all of the whining bigots, and after all of the meetings Warrensburg held its Pride Festival yesterday.

The event required tickets and all individuals and bags were swept at the entrance lobby by the very professional private security contracted for the festival.

The festival started at 11:00 a.m. with an all ages family friendly drag show, then continued with a panel discussion and speakers. Individuals browsed through the vendor area, collecting information, free swag, and making purchases.

Throughout the day drag performers greeted fans and posed for selfies with them in the vendor area. The costumes, shoes, wigs, and makeup are impressive in their quality and detail.

A panel discussion on acceptance:

State Representative Emily Weber (D) spoke on anti-LGBTQIA+ legislation this past session in the right wingnut controlled Missouri General Assembly. She also took questions from the audience and moderator.

One of the apparent leaders of the recent anti-drag show hysteria attended a portion of the Pride Festival – some individuals reportedly observed a bit of toe-tapping to the music during an all ages family friendly drag show.

The final all ages family friendly drag show started at 4:00 p.m., with a substantial crowd in the audience. And yes, the performers received tips from the audience.

After the show people browsed and shopped in the vendor area.

Throughout the Pride Festival people visited, smiled, laughed, made purchases from the vendors, collected free swag, and gathered informational materials. There was free all ages face painting in the lobby area. The sense of a safe space for all in attendance was palpable.

The award for most sarcastic parental t-shirt:

Hate had no place inside.

After eight hours we gathered up our gear, free swag, and purchases, loaded up the car, and drove home.

Previously:

Warrensburg Pride Festival – June 26, 2021 (June 26, 2021)

Local busybodies engage in pearl clutching (June 3, 2022)

“I like your Christ. I do not like your Christians, they are so unlike your Christ.” (June 4, 2022)

Pride Festival – Warrensburg, Missouri – June 4, 2022 (June 4, 2022)

The pearl clutching right wingnut bigots among us (April 19, 2023)

Always the other (April 21, 2023)

Meta – The pearl clutching right wingnut bigots among us (April 22, 2023)

Unified Field Theory of Right Wingnut Pearl Clutching, Self-Righteousness, and Victimhood (April 22, 2023)

Addressing Bigotry – Warrensburg, Missouri City Council – April 24, 2023 (April 25, 2023)

Addressing Bigotry – Warrensburg, Missouri City Council – April 24, 2023 – part 2 (April 26, 2023)

Addressing Bigotry – Warrensburg, Missouri City Council Meeting – May 8, 2023 (May 9, 2023)

Addressing Bigotry – Warrensburg, Missouri City Council Meeting – May 8, 2023 – part 2 (May 9, 2023)

Addressing Bigotry – Warrensburg, Missouri City Council Meeting – May 8, 2023 – part 3 (May 9, 2023)

Addressing Bigotry – Warrensburg, Missouri City Council Meeting – May 8, 2023 – part 4 (May 9, 2023)

Addressing Bigotry – Warrensburg, Missouri City Council Meeting – May 8, 2023 – part 5 (May 10, 2023)

Living in a self-imposed cultural vacuum (May 10, 2023)

A downward spiral…of pearl clutching (May 25, 2023)

Warrensburg Pride Festival – June 3, 2023 – Returning to Family Friendly Format (May 26, 2023)

Thoughts and… (May 27, 2023)

Everyone is here for the ratio (May 28, 2023)

All means all (May 29, 2023)

Warrenburg, Missouri Pride Festival – before the crowd – June 3, 2023 (June 3, 2023)

Warrensburg, Missouri Pride Festival – hand wringing, pearl clutching, and sign waving in the noonday sun – June 3, 2023 (June 3, 2023)