Welcoming attitude attracts businesses, talent, City says
COVINGTON, Ky. – In the city where “Y’all means all,” this is the week to show up, wear your colors, walk, and wave that rainbow flag with PRIDE, because the annual NKY Pride is back with a full schedule of family-friendly events that will attract thousands of people.
NKY Pride 2023 officially kicked off in The Cov on Tuesday with a youth event at the NKY Pride Center and culminates Sunday with a parade, a festival, and a celebratory after-party drag show.
The City of Covington is the presenting sponsor of the week because, as Economic Development Director Tom West said (with facts to back up his assertion), “Covington’s welcoming spirit of ‘Y’all Really Means All’ has been cited by numerous companies and residents as a reason they chose to move and/or locate their businesses here.”
Other sponsors of this year’s events range from meetNKY to Equitas Health, Aetna, CVG (the Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport), Anthem Medicaid, U.S. Bank, Braxton Brewing Co., and Hotel Covington, plus altafiber, Florence Christian Church, Pivot Realty, New Riff, Scooter Media, Celanese, Cincinnati Pride, and Bluegrass Care Navigators.
Organizers say the timing of this year’s celebration is critical.
“At a time when the rights of LGBTQA+ individuals are under attack across the nation and within the Commonwealth of Kentucky, it is more important than ever for our community to come together and be seen,” said Dr. Bonnie Meyer, president of the NKY Pride Center. “Pride is an opportunity to celebrate, but also to advocate for equity and inclusion for all LGBTQA+ members of the Northern Kentucky community.”
The City, as it has in past years, will have a float, vehicles, and an array of staff participating in Sunday’s parade, to show support for the LGBTQ community.
“Covington has always been a place that welcomes everyone, and the NKY Pride festivities are a great way to express our values to the rest of the world,” West said. “Even when it wasn’t popular, we assured that basic civil rights were guaranteed for members of the LGBTQ community, primarily because it was the right thing to do as compassionate humans.”
Mayor Joe Meyer said officials from other cities in Northern Kentucky have reached out to him to see how they too can participate, with several of them planning to march in the parade. “It’s reassuring to see the support for the LGBTQ community grow, and it’s worth noting that nine other cities in Campbell and Boone counties have joined Covington in adopting the Fairness Ordinance that bans discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity,” Meyer said.
Pride events in The Cov:
Today: Pride Rooftop Drag Show & Watermelon Raddler Release at Braxton Brewing Company from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m., featuring the release of Braxton’s new Pride Watermelon Raddler and a drag show emceed by Molly Mormen. (Take note: this is a 21+ event.)
Friday, June 2: Queers with Gears 2023 – Ride for ALL is a group bike ride hosted by Lil’s Kitchen, Roebling Books & Coffee, and NKY Pride Center from 5:30 p.m. to 7 p.m., starting at Roebling Books in Covington and ending at Darkness Brewing in Bellevue.
Saturday, June 3: NKY Pride Pop-Up Shop, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at NKY Pride Center at 230 W. Pike St., where you can purchase your Pride swag a day early.
Sunday, June 4:
- NKY PrideFest from Noon to 5 p.m. at Goebel Park, managed by Covington Parks & Rec.
- NKY Pride Parade from 1 p.m. to 2 p.m. It launches from Madison Avenue at the Covington riverfront, heads south on Madison, west on West Seventh, west on Pike, west on 9th, north on Main, and west on West 6th, ending at Goebel Park.
- NKY Pride Official After Party at Hotel Covington from 5 p.m. to 8:30 p.m., featuring a show hosted by Mirelle Jane Divine.
All event proceeds help the NKY Pride Center.
Welcoming
Recently, the Kentucky chapter of the American Planning Association gave Covington its Special Merit Award for Diversity, Equity & Inclusion. See “More leadership awards in The Cov.”
To learn more about the steps taken by the City of Covington to make itself welcoming, see the Inclusive webpage.
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