(Fremont County, WY) – Wind River Pride continues 2024 June Pride events in Lander and Riverton during the last two weeks of June. Both events hear from the community of Two Spirit, Lesbian, Gay, Trans, Queer, Intersex, Asexual and beyond people. Queers with Quills in Lander opens the floor to 2SLGBTQIA+ writers of all levels and ages to read works in-progress or completed. Riverton’s event offers timely documentary films with post-screening moderated discussion. The films examine the challenges for families and communities embracing and understanding their community diversity and depth.
Writers will gather at Lander Art Center Tuesday, June 18, with Queers with Quills starting at 6 PM. In collaboration with the Literary Rug, Wind River Pride is hosting this June Pride 2024 event. Come share and/or listen to your community members’ poetry and writings of reflection, wit, and engagement.
“Join us for queer poetry! While hate speech will not be allowed, anyone in the 2SLQBTQIA+ is welcome to share anything they’ve written. All you have to do is put your name (in) the hat and share from our threaded stage. I encourage allies to come supportively witness these writers,” said Annelise, Queers with Quills Host.
Wednesday, June 26, two award-winning documentary films, Mama Bears and There Are Things To Do, will be presented in the Community Room, Riverton Branch, Fremont County Public Library, starting at 6 PM to conclude at 9 PM, which will include small group moderated discussions.
“The films were selected by Wind River Pride to expand understanding and support issues in the communities of Wind River Country. WRP is delighted to partner with PFLAG Lander for this event and the moderated discussion,” said Vikkilyn Frank-Robelado.
Mama Bears follows insights from a 40,000 member and growing community of mothers in America — many from conservative, Christian backgrounds — who fully accept their LGBTQ+ children. This 90-minute documentary shares the journey with mothers and their children.
There Are Things To Do looks at the legacy of Urvashi Vaid, an outspoken immigrant, lesbian and woman of color who was an LGBTQ+ leader and helped shape the modern day gay rights movement. This 18-minute documentary reveals Vaid’s key approaches from the ‘80’s to 90’s during the time that gay and lesbian rights expanded to more orientations and gender identities.
“Concerned people in Wyoming have been pulling on the long arc of the moral universe to help bend it closer toward justice. In 1999, as response to the murder of Matthew Shepard, we used Vaid’s ‘Equality Begins At Home’ to gather people in Fremont County and Wind River Reservation with Wind River Country Initiative for Youth, the Wyoming Grassroots Project, and United Gays and Lesbians of Wyoming (now Wyoming Equality). There are parallels with and expansions of the work 25 years ago to the actions of Wind River Pride today,” said Debra East, founder in 1999 of Wind River Country Initiative for Youth and now WRP member.