SPRINGFIELD, MO | September 22, 2020 – After much consideration, it is with a heavy heart that we, the Ozarks Pridefest Committee, announce the cancelation of the 2020 Ozarks Pridefest.

In the past, Ozarks Pridefest has brought thousands of LGBTQ+ community members, allies, and families to Park Central Square from at least a 4-state region. Our community’s safety and wellbeing is always paramount when creating such an event, and the coronavirus pandemic has presented new challenges. An in-person event like Ozarks Pridefest would pose significant risks to the health of the Ozarks LGBTQ+ community and beyond.

As the originally announced date of the Ozarks Pridefest 2020 is near, this news is likely expected. However, we wanted to pursue every possible avenue that would allow us to have a live or virtual Pridefest before we made the decision to cancel.

“Celebrating Pride and LGBTQ+ History Month are deeply meaningful for our community,” says Pridefest Committee co-chair Emily Lawson, “and while we cannot gather in-person, our love for our community, our commitment to equality, and our joy in celebrating all the colors of the rainbow shines through the fog of COVID-19.” During these difficult times, our thoughts extend to those struggling with isolation; especially older LGBTQ+ adults in residential facilities and those facing higher risk of infection. We have faced a devastating virus before, and can draw on what we learned in the ‘80s and ‘90s as we move forward. We mourn the loss of too many to a virus we have the power to stop. #MaskUp417.

We invite you to celebrate LGBTQ+ History Month with us by using the hashtag #OzarksPridefest, to show our community what Pride means to you. Share your song, dance, drag, art, sketch or other expression on social media – you can private message the GLO or Pridefest Facebook pages if you’d like us to share something for you anonymously. Join us in celebrating throughout LGBTQ+ History Month and also in highlighting specific parts of our community, such as:

• Bisexuality Awareness Day (Sept 23)
• Solidarity Week (Oct 5-9)
• International Lesbian Day (Oct 8)
• National Coming Out Day (Oct 11)
• Indigenous Peoples Day (Oct 12)
• Spirit Day (October 15),
• International Pronouns Day (Oct 17),
• Asexual Awareness week (Oct 20-26),
• Intersex Awareness Day (Oct 26),
• Intersex Remembrance Day (Nov 8),
• Transgender Awareness week (Nov 8-14)

As the situation improves, we hope to come back strong with Ozarks Pridefest in October 2021.