2023 Pride Guide

OFFICIAL GUIDE TO FM PRIDE

2023

AUGUST 10-13

WELCOME!

The FM Pride Planning Committee is excited to welcome you to our 2023 Summer Pride events! Over the past 20+ years, FM Pride has been a testament to the progress towards inclusivity and equality that can be made when people come together and stand up for what is fair, and what is right. We know that the work is not complete. After a fun weekend together, take the energy from our time together and commit to a renewed sense of urgency to ensure discrimination is no longer lawful.

Our entire volunteer committee hopes you enjoy all that the weekend has to offer. Whether you are taking part in the 5K fun run or walk, spending the afternoon at Pride in the Park, or cheering at the Pride Parade, we hope you are able to meet new people and most importantly feel comfortable being yourself. We are excited for several changes this year including a new venue for Pride in the Park and the Parade.

As you celebrate, be sure to thank FM Pride’s growing number of sponsors, vendors, venues and volunteers who continue to ensure that each year is a memorable one.

Happy Pride!

Chelsea Diederich

2023

FM Pride Planning Committee Chair chair@fmpride.com

2023 PROUD SPONSORS

MARCHING TOWARDS

HOPE BY FAYE SEIDLER

2023 PRIDE PARADE

GRAND MARSHAL

GREETINGS FROM THE RED RIVER RAINBOW SENIORS

PRIDE PARADE ROUTE

AT LAST EXHIBIT COMMEMORATES

HISTORIC MN MARRIAGE EQUALITY

PRIDE BLOCK PARTY ENTERTAINMENT

2023 PRIDE PLANNING COMMITTEE COMMUNITY SUPPORT

Happy Pride!

FRIENDS OF PRIDE

MARCHING TOWARDS HOPE

BY FAYE SEIDLER, 2023 PRIDE PARADE GRAND MARSHAL

My name is Faye Seidler and I have the enormous honor of being selected as the 2023 Grand Marshal for the Pride Parade. I’m a suicide prevention advocate that has dedicated my life to improving outcomes in North Dakota. And even with everything happening locally or nationally, I want people to know there is hope and there are many great reasons to have hope.

For one, our LGBTQ+ youth have never had a better chance to grow up with supportive, loving parents. There have also never been more resources, education, or access to queer topics. And whether it is a lesbian taking her high school crush to their first dance, a trans girl who got to fully experience a happy childhood, or a queer youth who’ve you worried about for years turning their tassel at graduation, there is so much hope, beauty, and joy in this world that didn’t exist for my generation or the ones the came before.

I’m not saying there aren’t struggles too. I’m the LGBTQ+ data and outcome expert for North Dakota and a big part of my work is understanding those struggles. It isn’t just data or stories to me either, I’m a queer woman who was born and grew up in Fargo-Moorhead. I’m a survivor of suicide and a ton of other awful statistics. I know what it’s like to carry

forward not really living as much as just hanging on for as long as you can.

And while I know this, I also know there are so many phenomenal advocates and allies across every sector and in every community fighting for a better world. I cannot even begin to explain how truly amazing and incredible our LGBTQ+ leaders in this state are. Especially when you know how tough the work can be, what criticism they hear, the personal struggles they don’t talk about, and burn out all while they still keep the lights on, smile, and push forward.

Whenever I feel hopeless, I think about all of that. I think about how we’re a community and our work together is way more important than any of our individual contributions. I think about all of the elders who fought their entire life to get us to today. The defining center of my work has always been about connecting and supporting others.

I’m proud to say that the culmination of almost a decade of this effort resulted in the North Dakota LGBTQ+ Healthcare and Community Directory, a resource I created through my work as a project manager with Harbor Health Initiative, that shows

every affirming doctor and LGBTQ+ community organization throughout the state.

It’s sort of funny because in 2015, I was at the FM Pride Parade shouting to a reporter over the roar of the crowd celebrating marriage equality and talking about how the next big push in LGBTQ+ equity would be trans healthcare.

What I didn’t know then was I’d be the one to help start the first informed consent clinic for hormone therapy in the region or that the work there would blossom into North Dakota’s first LGBTQ+ health center, Canopy Medical Clinic. And I never in my life thought I’d step on stage as the Grand Marshal eight years later, but that’s because for seven years I refused a nomination from anyone who asked me.

I refused because I felt scared, not of public speaking, but of letting people down. I felt like as long as I wasn’t too important, then it was okay to be imperfect. And part of me felt like there

had to be a real hero out there who would show up one day and figure this all out. What really changed for me was the 2023 legislative session.

Since the start of this year, my waking and working hours have been the same. During the legislative session I submitted 41 pieces of testimony, accounting for 32,800 words. I made hundreds of social media posts, sent thousands of emails, sat on countless meetings, developed bill tracking and voting resources,

wrote to every paper, connected everyone working in healthcare, and I even begged for and got the date the North Dakota Senate heard the anti-trans laws moved, because it coincidentally fell on Transgender Day of Visibility and I just wanted to give everyone one warm day of positivity and hope before everything really sunk in.

I worked around the clock to be a beacon of hope. I knew a lot of my effort wouldn’t change the outcome of the bills, but I knew I could change the outcome of the community.

I knew if people saw me working as hard as I did, they wouldn’t feel as hopeless. And after spending seven years avoiding being a leader and waiting for a hero, I had to step up. And what I thought about was what I’d say to myself as a kid. And I don’t think she would benefit from my excuses. I don’t think she’d care that I wasn’t perfect. I think she would be happy that I tried. So, I did. The truth is that the world isn’t full of heroes, but it is full of people who should try

anyway. It’s a lesson I learned from my favorite author, Terry Pratchett, along with the knowledge that hope is something we create.

As we celebrate 2023’s Fargo Moorhead Pride, I want people to think about all of the ways we can create hope for ourselves and each other. That we create space and lift up underrepresented voices in the queer community, whether that is BIPOC, transgender, youth, or disabled folks to name a few. Remember that whether it’s through joy or love, the simple act of being happy as a LGBTQ+ person is a radical protest to societal effort to shove us back into the closet.

As we march into the pride parade and subsequently the future, I will always be leading with hope. Anyone can reach out to me looking for or wanting to share resources, connection to community, directions on getting involved, and otherwise taking the call to make the world a better place. You don’t have to be a hero, you just need to be a person who tries.

GREETINGS FROM THE RED RIVER RAINBOW SENIORS

BY MARG NELSON

The Red River Rainbow Seniors are celebrating Pride! Covid disrupted our group for a good two years and introduced us to Zoom, which is an effective way for people to participate in our business meetings more regularly.

We have two book groups that meet monthly, usually in members’ homes; they also take advantage of Zoom, especially in bad weather.

We participate in and help fund the annual ND LGBTQ+ Summit which will be in Bismarck this year on October 20-22.

The RRRS offered four grants to local High Schools GSA/LGBTQ+ and student support groups. We also support our umbrella organization, the Pride Collective and Community Center which is located in Fargo.

We continue to work on a plan to educate and encourage long-term care facilities and providers about the needs of LGBTQ+ seniors and ways in which their lives as residents can be affirmed.

In November 2017, we began an oral history project called “Breaking Barriers: Harvesting LGBTQ+ Stories from the Northern Plains,” focusing on older LGBTQ+ people and their

allies. Over 174 people have been interviewed, and 26 interviews are pending. The original digital files and transcriptions of the oral histories will be available in the North Dakota State University archives. You can contact us about Breaking Barriers by emailing the RRRS or contacting the oral history project directly at: redriverrainboworalhistory@gmail. com or check it out on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ BreakingBarriersLGBTQ/.

There will be an exhibit commemorating the 10th anniversary of the state of Minnesota passing a same sex marriage amendment. It will be at the Hjemkomst Center in Moorhead, starting August 1, 2023, for a year.

Please stop by and chat with our members at the RRRS booth on Saturday at Pride in the Park.

Equality with Wisdom.

OFFICIAL FM PRIDE PHOTOGRAPHER

QUEER, WOMAN-OWNED PHOTOGRAPHY BUSINESS, SPECIALIZING IN BRANDING AND EVENT IMAGERY.

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Cargill is one of the largest, most diverse and most successful food companies in the world, and our purpose is to nourish the world in a safe, responsible and sustainable way W e prioritize our employees’ health and well-being, who are essential to the food supply chain Our broad scale and scope allow you to take your career anywhere you’d like; providing you with new opportunities for you to grow, develop and make an impact on the future of our business Choose Cargill and take you opportunity to thrive!

SUNDAY AUGUST 13

2PM | 28TH AVE S NEAR M STATE

Rally immediately following Parade in the green space in the North West Corner of M State Parking Lot

Parking Available on Street were permitted.

STORIESCOME IN ALL THE PODCAST

At Tellwell, we believe story is the most powerful way to introduce your brand, educate and engage your customers, and remind them why they love you.

wetellwell.com

Building on the heartwarming success of Tellwell’s Pride Stories video series, we’re creating a platform for even more voices to share their journeys of self-discovery, resilience, and authenticity.

We are now welcoming submissions for the first season of Pride Stories: The Podcast!

wetellwell.com/pride-stories-podcast

AT LAST EXHIBIT COMMEMORATES HISTORIC MN MARRIAGE EQUALITY

The Historical and Cultural Society of Clay County opened a new exhibit Aug. 1 at the Hjemkomst Center to commemorate the momentous legislation that made marriage equality a reality in MN

friends, and many of the eighteen couples who married at midnight in the Clay County Courthouse Aug. 1, 2013. Historical context, quotations, and images of the many people involved make up

MUSEUM HOURS

Mon - Sat: 9am - 5pm

Tue - 5pm-8pm (FREE)

Sun - Noon - 5pm

ADMISSION

Adults (Ages 18-54): $12

Seniors (Ages 55+): $11

College Students: $9

Youth (Ages 5-17): $8

LOCATION

Hjemkomst Center

202 1st Avenue North Moorhead, MN 56560

(218) 299-5511

hcscconline.org

just ten years ago. At Last: 10th Anniversary of Marriage Equality in Minnesota was developed out of Interviews conducted by the Red River Rainbow Seniors with witnesses, judges, family and

Children (Ages 4-): Free

Active Military & HCSCC Members: Free

Tuesday Nights 5-8pm FREE for all!

this colorful exhibit which will run through August. 20, 2024 in order to be included in Pride 2024 activities. Visit hcscconline.org for more details.

WE’RE PROUD OF WHO YOU ARE.

Affinity Plus is a credit union made for everyone, and we are proud to support our LGBT+ members and employees. Join today at affinityplus.org/invest-in-you.

INSPIRED TO BE YOUR AUTHENTIC SELF

Eide Bailly is proud to support FM Pride and the LGBTQ community. We strive to be a workplace that is representative of the communities we serve and where our people feel free to be their authentic selves. Learn more about our inclusion and diversity initiative on our website.

eidebailly.com/diversity

Insured by NCUA

Aaron & Jake, Affinity Plus Members

A'keria C. Davenport

A’keria Chanel Davenport (born March 1, 1988) is the stage name of Gregory D’Wayne, an American drag queen best known for competing on the eleventh season of RuPaul’s Drag Race (2019) and the sixth season of RuPaul’s Drag Race All Stars (2021). As a professional entertainer, she has won several national titles in drag pageantry systems, including Miss Black Universe in 2017. Davenport was recognized by Dallas Voice as a Texan of the Year in 2019.

Nina DiAngelo

Nina has become a mainstay for the FM Pride Block party. She’s been quoted saying that it’s her favorite “gig” and one she always looks forward to. A 25 year veteran In the industry and coming from Minneapolis, Nina has spent the last few years working on opening Roxy’s Cabaret, a new performance venue in downtown Minneapolis which opened Summer 2022. If you find yourself in the Twin Cities, be sure to check it out!

Maxi

In 1997 Maxi began her drag career at Club Metro, quickly scooping up local bar titles: Miss Club Metro, Miss City of the Lakes and Miss Gay 90’s. Shortly after she joined the illustrious cast of LaFemme alongside such greats as Roxy Marquis, Cece Russel and Nina Diangelo. Maxi has been featured recently in Simply Sewing Magazine for her love of costume making. You can catch her at various venues in Minneapolis including Roxy’s Cabaret! Find her on Instagram @maxi_drag

DJ Joyride

DJ Joyride has become a staple for Fargo-Moorhead Pride! Returning for his 18th year spinning the tunes at the Pride Block Party! We will celebrate love in all its forms, sing along to great anthems and then get wild when the drag show begins.

Pursue Your Passion

At MSUM, every Dragon has the freedom to be their authentic self. We are fiercely proud of our LGBTQ+ students and want to create a community where you are supported and celebrated.

Access our resources to be an advocate and ally:

▸ Rainbow Dragon Learning Community

▸ The LGBTQ+ Rainbow Scholarship

▸ Safe Zone Peer Educator Program

▸ SPECTRUM student organization

▸ Rainbow Dragon Center ▸ Preferred name procedure

COMMUNITY SUPPORT

These local community organizations are working for LGBTQ+ people in our area and in our communities, so that we can grow and continue to be a safe, welcoming place for all!

We urge you to support these organizations in a way that is meaningful for you; volunteerism, attending events, financial donations, or simply following and sharing their messages on social media!

We have made every effort to try and showcase our local community groups in these pages, but if there is an LGBTQ+ organization that should be added, please contact us!