Exhausted and Excited

By Joshua Boschee
Staff Writer

Whew, another successful Fargo Moorhead Pride is behind us with chatter and energy already being focused on planning for next year’s community celebration. The final month leading up to Pride was a whirlwind for me and the planning committee. My advice to anyone providing leadership to a large scale community celebration: don’t transition from one job to another and break your leg two weeks prior to said community celebration. At first, several of the planning committee members were upset that I had broken my leg and would be somewhat out of commission for a full week with surgery and recovery. However, they discovered the silver lining that this could be a blessing in disguise, as they could park me at the entrance of each event and easily find me if needed. Unlike previous years, when I would end up disappearing in the crowd to socialize and network, returning to committee members that angrily had to call off the search and rescue for their precious committee chair.

While I may end up being the one that receives most of the compliments, it is important that the success of FM Pride is entirely credited to the amazing planning committee, event volunteers and community sponsors. Without the talent, time, and energy put in by the planning committee, the vision of having a community celebration that attracts LGBT people, our family, friends, and allies from throughout the upper Midwest would not have come to fruition. This year, over 75 volunteers stepped up to assist with promotion and event staffing, proving that the LGBT community and our allies have a desire to be engaged in making Fargo-Moorhead a great place for all people to live, work, learn, and play. Finally, the financial and in-kind support of local small business owners, major corporations, area colleges and universities, non-profits, and affirming places of worship allows FM Pride to remain accessible and affordable to all ages and all income levels.

The planning committee had some new members come on board this year with some great new ideas to expand FM Pride beyond a weekend celebration. Kaitlyn planned two great service projects intended to have the LGBT community engaged in giving back to the greater Fargo Moorhead community. Cory wanted to promote a healthier LGBT community and planned an amazing inaugural FM Pride 5K with over 60 people participating. Due to the hard work of these planners and the success of their events, look for them to expand and become even better next year!

The standard events continue to grow and be even more successful each year. Thursday night’s bowling and karaoke is a family and youth favorite. The Block Party at Usher’s House, planned by Lindsey and Katherine, had over 400 attendees despite a pretty wild windstorm that blew through right as the event began. The rest of the event went on without any other setbacks!  DJ Joyride is one of our local favorites and proved once again to keep the crowd entertained before and throughout the drag show. Miss Nina DiAngelo and her troupe of local and regional Kings and Queens was another crowd pleaser with the very high energy Betty Does closing out the night. Saturday brought perfect weather for Pride in the Park at Rheault Farm, planned by Kristine and Sam. The new location brought a new feel to the annual event and provides for the community favorite to continue to grow. The turnout wasn’t as expected at the FM Derby Girls and Rock City Riot bout at the Civic Center, but the after party at the Aquarium with Bad Weather Burleque and DJ’s Econ and Shiek brought in over 400 people. DJ Econ, who performed at clubs in Miami before moving up to Fargo Moorhead, claims that it was one of the best crowds he’s performed for up north. Sunday brought another gorgeous day for the InterFaith Service at the Island Park gazebo, planned by Sarah and the FM Unitarian Universalist Church.  This year’s parade was one of the largest and had an increased number of floats. Laurie did a great job of coordinating the parade and the flash mob at the end was a huge hit. My favorite event of the week is and has always been the Sunday afternoon party at Sidestreet Grille and Pub, which I refer to as Local Leftover. It’s an afternoon of rest and relaxation with some of my favorite Fargo Moorhead folks with my new favorite seven-year-old singing “I’m a Little Tea Pot” for her karaoke debut.

FM Pride continues to be one of my favorite events in Fargo Moorhead thanks to the great planning committee, amazing volunteers, and increasing number of community sponsors. If you have thoughts for next year’s Pride or would like to get involved with some aspect of planning, e-mail me at .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address). There’s always room for one more!

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