IDS MONDAY, JUNE 16, 2014
Local group dances to combat symptoms of Parkinson’s disease Page 10
INDIANA DAILY STUDENT | IDSNEWS.COM M
PRIDE
HALEY WARD | IDS
A participant of the Cadillac Barbie Parade waves a pride flag during Circle City Pride Festival on Saturday in Indianapolis.
Circle City IN Pride 2014 ends with parade BY BRIAN SEYMOUR briseymo@indiana.edu @briseymo
Downtown Indianapolis was vibrant this weekend with the concluding events of this year’s Circle City IN Pride eight-day extravaganza. Thousands of people took to Massachusetts Avenue Saturday morning to watch the parade march towards the American Legion Mall, where the festival began shortly after. The 90-minute parade showcased the stereotypical glitz and glamor that is often associated with the LGBTQ community as well as giving a plethora of organizations a chance to show their support for the cause of gay and transgender rights. Extravagantly clad drag kings and queens strode confidently down the streets, tossing glitter in the air and hoisting signs. “Just married,” read one sign held by Dorothy and Glinda the Good Witch of the North from the 1939 musical fantasy film “The Wizard of Oz.” Several organizations made their way into the parade as well. Among the marchers were local and national businesses, social activist groups, church groups and government hopefuls at both the state and national level. Following the parade was a grand festival in Downtown Indianapolis’ American Legion Mall. Thousands
of people flooded the outdoor war memorial to enjoy drinks, music and various booths. The festival, to many of its attendants, was symbolic of a culture coming together. “The Pride festival always has, and always will be a gathering for a community,” said Tabitha Stevens, the self-proclaimed Good Witch of the Midwest. “The gay community has always strived for equality, acceptance and respect.” Entertainment was provided throughout the day and included a popular local DJ, a drag show and country music artist Steve Grand. Grand made headlines the past summer with a controversial music video for his hit single “All-American Boy,” which features Grand skinnydipping with a man he longs to be with and a kiss between two men. “There’s just so much joy,” Grand said before the audience as he gave his explanation as to why he loved Pride. Though a lot of the people here have “taken a lot of shit,” this is an event for a community to come together and be happy, Grand said. Though the event took place in Indy, several sponsors were from neighboring cities hoping to promote LGBTQ rights and tourism, including Bloomington Pride. “We’re setting up booths at all the major Pride festivals, including Chi-
HALEY WARD | IDS
A group of Pride supporters carry a banner during the Cadillac Barbie Parade during Circle City Pride Festival on Saturday in Indianapolis.
cago and Louisville,” Bloomington Pride board chair Kelly Miller said. “By going to all these events, we hope to not only promote gay rights, but also to bring tourism to Bloomington.” Miller also said he enjoyed the opportunity to have his Bloomington Pride booth at the Circle City IN Pride festival. “It’s a great way to connect the two LGBT communities,” he said.
Miller operated the booth with his husband, Ben Warnick. Indiana’s status on gay rights has been murky since the adoption of House Joint Resolution 3 in February, the first sentence of which reads “Only a marriage between one man and one woman shall be valid or recognized as a marriage in Indiana.” SEE PRIDE, PAGE 7
Pair of pole vaulters named first team All-Americans BY MICHAEL HUGHES michhugh@indiana.edu
Five Hoosiers came to Eugene, Ore., this past weekend to compete in the NCAA Track and Field Outdoor Championships. Four left as members of an All-American team. Two Hoosiers left with the title of first team All-American, both of whom competed in the women’s pole vault. Senior Kelsie Ahbe finished second while sophomore Sydney Clute finished eighth, earning IU two AllAmerican pole vaulters for the second time in four years. Ahbe and Vera Neuenswander both earned first team All-American honors in 2009. “I think the two pole vaulters, particularly Kelise Ahbe, did really well,” IU Coach Ron Helmer said. “Sydney just getting a place and a score is a big
deal, and Kelsie had a PR and a good shot at winning.” Ahbe’s clearance of 4.40 meters was not only a personal record, but also a school record. Her secondplace finish was the highest Hoosier finish in the pole vault since Neuenswander finished second in 2009. “We’re kind of getting used to that,” Helmer said. “It’s not the first time that Coach Wiseman has had people preform like that, and I expect it won’t be the last. He’s consistently developed outstanding pole vaulters, and these are kids who were 12 footers in high school who are now 14 footers.” IU’s two other All-American performances came through senior Kyla Buckley’s 11th-place finish in the women’s shot put and junior Rorey Hunter’s ninth place finish in the men’s 1500-meter. While Buckley’s and Hunter’s
similar results earned second team All-American honors, the reactions to their finishes are very different. In Buckley’s fourth NCAA Championship appearance, Helmer said he was expecting better than an 11thplace finish. “She was quite a bit off her PR, and had she thrown her PR she’d have been right in the mix,” Helmer said. In Hunter’s second career appearance in the NCAA Championships, he ran the second fastest time of his life. Helmer said there were still areas in which Hunter could have done better, but those areas will correct themselves with experience. “I could say I wish he’d have been out a little faster, I could say I wish he positioned himself a little better,” Helmer said. “He’ll figure all those things out as he becomes more expe-
rienced, that’s the way he’s been running all year long, and up until this point it’s served him very well.” Had Hunter run nine hundredths of a second faster, he would be a first team All-American. “I think if he got out a little bit better, I think he would have improved his chances to end up in a scoring position at the end,” Helmer said. “More than anything he needs to become more experienced in running against that level of competition. If he does that he has the talent to let him be a factor in those high level races.” Another Hoosier who competed in Eugene, Ore., was freshman Matt Schwartzer. He finished 17th in the 5000-meter, earning him honorable mention All-American honors. “That was maybe one of the toughest events in the meet,” Helmer said of the 5000-meter. “It was a high level event with some high level kids
and we knew that going in. We hoped he could get close to a PR and in the top 16 and be a second team all American. He ended up 17th and was just a couple seconds off his PR.” When Helmer was asked to reflect on his team’s season, he praised those athletes who performed above perceived expectations, but also dreamt of what his team could have been. “I think we had places where we certainly had success,” Helmer said. “We’re not the team that I wish we were, and we’re not the team that I expect us to be. Certainly I don’t want to negate the positive things that have happened with some individuals who did some really good things. Overall as a team, we have some room for improvement and we need to get better.”