Tulsa Pride Parade Celebrates 25 Years In October

The Tulsa Pride Parade, originally held in June, will now be celebrated on October 13th during LGBT History Month.

The festivities begin on National Coming Out Day, October 11th, with Pride in the Park, followed by some epic performances and a Rainbow Run.

Lollie Moore Emig from the Equality Center visited the Arca Continental Coca-Cola Southwest Beverages Porch to share the details of the 25th anniversary. 

Image Provided By: Dan Rocky

How has the celebration evolved since it began?

It began as a yearly picnic in the 1970s and became a festival in 1982. The first Tulsa Pride Parade, as we know it now, was in 1999. The event has continued to grow, adding the Rainbow Run, kids zone and, of course, the iconic parade.

Please tell us about the 2024 Pride Parade. What can attendees expect this year?

There are a few changes this year for the Pride Parade. First, the weather! We are moving the festivities to October, which is LGBTQ history month. Many cities have made the move to safely make this event more accessible, inclusive and enjoyable. Our parade route is still downtown, but this year, we are hosting a Sunday Pride Parade to wrap up the weekend.

What do parade organizers need to ensure that this year's Pride Parade is a great success?

Something we're doing a bit differently is a bit more wrangling of the parade participants to group similar-sized organizations together and keep the energy high! 

How can the community best support the event?

There are a few great ways the community can support the parade. We would love to see your business or organization walk with us. You can also sponsor the Pride Parade with a sponsorship. And of course, on the day of, we want to see everyone's shiny, happy faces out to cheer & support our community!

Why do you believe celebrating Pride Parade is so important?

The Pride Parade allows our community to come together, of course, but also to celebrate visibility and our community support system. We come together to celebrate both the social and self-acceptance that everyone deserves.

Why was the 2024 Pride Parade elected to move from June to October?

This follows a nationwide trend of being mindful of the weather and everyone's safety while we celebrate.

Is there anything that you would like to add that hasn't been said?

OKEQ is a 501(c) 3 nonprofit. To continue our programs and services, we need the support of our community. There are great ways to get involved, including the Rainbow Run. This is a great way to involve your friends and family and raise money for OKEQ together. We are also seeking community partnerships. Visit TulsaPride.org to learn more about how you can get involved.