From WXXI news.

This is connections.

I'm Evan Dawson.

Our connection this hour was made in 2019, in New York City with World Pride.

More than 5 million people attended the International festival's various events.

Companies like Delta Airlines, Starbucks, the NBA, among others, were corporate sponsors.

Needless to say, it was a huge event.

Fast forward to 2025, when the festival is being held this week in Washington, D.C., as reported by NPR, attendance and funding for more than 300 events are down, and organizers say it's due to policies and rhetoric from the current administration, from executive orders targeting D-I orders, banning transgender people from the military to the president's taking over the Kennedy Center board.

World pride organizers made changes to their plans and have reported that attendance has dropped from previous years.

They point to concerns that international travelers have about coming to the United States.

A singer named Zack with the Gay Men's Chorus of Washington, D.C., said that some choirs chose to stay home.

He told NPR, quote, anti-trans and Antiqua policies made a lot of people, especially those in foreign countries, feel like they were not welcome here.

End quote.

On the corporate side, as NPR reports, a recent survey found that more than a third of 200 fortune 1000 companies plan to decrease their support of pride events this year.

Much of that decision making comes from concerns about support being seen as tie dye.

Companies like target are taking a muted approach to celebrating pride this year compared to past years.

According to USA today, this month marks the 55th anniversary of the first LGBTQ Plus Pride march held in the United States.

And Rochester is going to celebrate some pride events in June.

Of course, which is officially considered Pride Month.

But Rochester's festival is in July.

Our guest this hour preview local events.

They're going to talk about how they are seeing some of these national conversations as well.

Let me welcome to the program.

Welcome back to Terrance Pleasant, director of the Moca center and community engagement at Trillium Health.

Nice to see you.

Thank you for having me.

Nathan Bence is communications director at Trillium Health.

Welcome.

Thanks for being with us.

Thank you.

Also across the table from Nathan is Karen Treadwell Collins, board member for the Rochester Women's Community Chorus.

Thank you for being here.

Thanks for having us.

And welcome to Evan Dorsch Hyde, member of the Rochester Gay Men's Chorus and it's dance troupe.

Through our chats and a member of the Rochester Women's Community Chorus.

Welcome.

Thank you for being here.

Thank you.

So the Rochester Pride is happening on July 19th.

If you want to mark your calendars parade there, it's going to begin at 11 a.m. at the intersection of South Avenue and Science Parkway, traveling north along South Avenue, ending at Highland Park and the Festival at Highland Park from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. July 19th.

Rochester pride.com is where you want to go for information there.

Terrence, let me start with you.

I'll go kind of around the table here.

You know, reading that NPR report from from Washington.

I have to say, just in talking to people last few weeks, I'm not surprised.

I talked to, a a colleague who attends a lot of pride events, and he was kind of grumbling that it was in Washington to begin with.

He's like, of all places, D.C.. but he said, you know, you're going to see some people just not go.

You're going to see some people not feel welcome.

What what do you make of of some of what's going on there?

what I make of it is, I think now more than ever, it's a time for everyone to not stay home, to get out and show their pride, to get out and be seen and be active and celebrate diversity.

Celebrate.

individuality.

Celebrate.

I'm like, it's right out of my town.

Various communities, you know, that are already suffering, thinking about the Bipoc, LGBT community, especially the trans community.

I think it's time for us to get out, understand the fear, honestly.

And and I don't even know if it's fear.

I think frustration is outweighing the fear in this case.

Like, frustrated with so many different policies, so much the rhetoric going on.

And so but yeah.

Nathan, what do you see?

Yeah, I think we see the same thing.

I mean, you were talking about the trends that we're seeing nationally, and we're seeing that here in Rochester too.

You know, our sponsorship numbers compared to last year are down.

you know, I don't have the numbers right in front of me, but I know that they are down.

number of registered parade participants, isn't what it was.

at this point last year.

so we're feeling it, you know, and we're hearing from, you know, some of the donors.

I think it's a combination of factors at play.

we're hearing from some of the, you know, the partners we've had in the past that some of it, I think, is playing into that rhetoric and concern from a, a corporate perspective of how they're being viewed in the community.

There's also we're also hearing economic too, because that's one of the issues we're dealing with as well.

A lot of companies, you know, with uncertainty with tariffs and things like that.

you know, it's the cultural side of it, but it's also just the bottom line, financial impact of people not knowing how their business is going to be impacted and are pausing, corporate sponsorships and donations.

company wide, not just for, you know, LGBTQ plus related issues.

Karen, what do you think?

We hear more from our members of, looking for that safe space and looking for that home.

And, we are hearing a lot of uncertainty from some of our members of, of they're not feeling safe out in the community or they're, not feeling secure in their futures and things like that.

And so, being a being the community that we are, we're not strictly a, just LGBTQ group.

we are made up of, of, LGBTQ folks and allies, and try to make that space a safe space and a welcoming space and a place where we can all be ourselves, who we are, in that space.

And, we're not getting hit quite as much by the corporate, because we by the, by the corporate pullback because, we really focus more on our, on the local community as well.

we, we are our donors, for fundraising and things like that.

We, we try to focus on the local businesses and locally owned businesses.

So we're not feeling that quite, quite as much.

But what we are feeling is a little bit more hesitancy of, about being public and, so we're trying to make sure that our folks feel safe and that when we and, and also speaking, saying this is who we are, it is okay to be us, and we're going to celebrate and we're going to continue to, to, to educate and continue to reach out into the community and be visible as a group and let those that maybe aren't feeling safe to be out, in the community know that you're not alone there.

There are lots of folks out, out in this community.

There are lots of folks around, that even though you're hearing so much in the news and so much negative press, about our community that you're not alone, we're still here, and there are still safe, safe places.

Okay.

Evan, what do you think?

Yeah.

personally, I'm scared and frustrated by the current political environment.

but that's why the communities that have been developed and the courses, are so important to me.

It gives me a place to go back and, be with, folks who feel the same way as I do.

And then anyone who sees themselves in me, also knows that they would belong there as well.

Well, listeners, if you want to weigh in, it's 844295 talk to toll free 84429582552636.

And if you're in Rochester 2639994 you can email the program connections at Zorg.

You can join the chat on the YouTube channel.

If you're watching on the Sexy News YouTube page, you know, to Nathan's point about, corporate and business support, I want to note a couple things.

I mean, certainly when number one, the economy's down, number two, there's a lot of uncertainty.

There may be a smaller budget to support events.

I take that point, but I also want to read a little bit of Forbes reporting on national sponsorship.

So this is on just pride events across the country Amtrak, Anheuser-Busch, Benefit Cosmetics, Boeing, Booz Allen, Hamilton City, Comcast Xfinity, Deloitte, Garnier, Goldman Sachs, Lowe's, Mastercard, meta, Nissan, Pepsi, PricewaterhouseCoopers, Sky vodka, target, visa and Walmart pulled back pride sponsorships and donations this year, and there was certainly some pressure from the administration to do that.

So, you know, I don't want you to pull back the cover on local conversations.

and I don't know how much you could say anyway, but do you have a sense locally when there is a sponsorship decline, how much of that is because, hey, you know, the economy is kind of rough.

We don't really have a budget versus like, we don't want to be a target based on what we're supporting.

And we know that there's a lot of sensitivity to that.

Do you do you have a sense for that?

I don't have a lot of insight into that.

It's really our development and foundation teams that have those conversations.

I can't say that it's I know it's a mix.

You know, I know that there are certain groups that are, you know, or at least we suspect the reason is the cultural side.

But there's others that have said, you know, straight across the board.

It's it's economic.

And, and, you know, we we aren't doing this for anything.

You know, that that if it's, and I'm not familiar with which, which companies we're talking about here, but I know in some cases it may be, I don't even know if they're based here or not.

we have a mix of national and local sponsors, but it may be a case where it's a local branch of, a national company.

And, you know, the national companies coming from headquarters saying, you know, we're just, you know, kind of like what we saw during Covid and stuff, where it's the we're doing employment freezes across the board until things stabilize or until we have a better sense of the outlook.

So, you know, I don't really have the insight into the specifics, but from what I'm hearing from our teams that are having these conversations, it's we're definitely seeing both.

So, Terrance, when you say this is the time to go out and be seen as supporting, no matter your identity, for people who are nervous, feeling anxiety, what would you say to them if they're if they're on the fence about either maybe going to pride supporting with dollars, what would you say?

I would say, you know, it's the one day of the year where everyone comes together.

people who are part of the community, allies of the community to celebrate, have a good time, be free.

I think for I think, pride, if anything, it's a celebration of freedom.

And so it's the one day of the year with over 20,000 people coming together and one shared space.

Have a good time, listen to good music, see good performances.

And so I, I would say to those people, we have worked very hard to create a safe space.

one of the highlights for me is the mocha tent, which is something.

And if you owe me a visit to them, I do this every single year.

I owe you.

If I wasn't going to end today without inviting you again to the mocha tent.

So you have to come and you have to see the ball.

July 19th, July 19th, I.

Here's my promise.

You ready for this?

Okay.

I've got I've got a child due on July 20th.

Oh, congratulations.

If he is not born okay.

By the by the 19th.

Okay, you're going to see me there.

I'm going to hold you to that.

And if he's born before, then you'll see us.

Now you're going to be you're going to be tired.

So don't worry, man, I get it.

I get it.

But, we'll see you next year.

I'll see you next year.

You know, you're right, you're right.

And, I know that sometimes it feels like everyone's got a reason, but that's the reason I wanted to ask you about why this year maybe feels like, Does it feel important to feel?

I do, I do, and so when I think about the black and brown members of the LGBT community, when I think about the trans members, those are the people who I really want to see.

I want to see everyone.

But I really want to see these these people out more because I feel like everyone's feeling it.

But the trans community is being targeted at such a higher rate in a lot of other communities under the umbrella.

But it's one day we I mean, some of us are fortunate to be who we are, in our day to day lives.

And I'm very fortunate I get to work at a place where, like, truly where I'm where I'm encouraged to come to work and be myself and, and and have that type of support in the workplace and, even outside of it with, you know, family and friends and things that I do.

But so many people don't have that.

And so we work very hard to make quite a safe space.

And so I just want everyone to come out, feel free, you know, have a good time, celebrate who you are, celebrate who you love, celebrate your individual today.

And most of all, celebrate your freedom.

What would you say let you know?

I think that it one of the things that I keep thinking about, it's changed just so much even in the last ten years, but especially under the current climate, is, you know, it's a double edged sword.

The role of social media, you know, because I think in a lot of ways, you know, especially, you know, before we kind of entered this current climate, you know, there are a lot of benefits to social media people who didn't normally have access, you know, maybe, you know, younger people who are just starting to come out or, you know, realize their own, you know, explore their own sexuality or identity.

This was a space to connect.

If they didn't have that inherent safe space at home, or if they just didn't know other people in the community.

it provided that olive branch.

But at the same time, as easy as it can work for good, the opposite is true to you.

You can't help but log on to Facebook and the other platforms, especially with the algorithms, the way they are now, and see the hate.

And I think, for a lot of people, you know, people we work with, people that are clients that we serve and people in the community they see that day in and day out.

And it really takes a toll, I think, you know, over time.

And so for me, I think that is to Terence's point, the power of being there and seeing, you know, last year we had recorded 20,000 people.

And even if we don't hit that record this year, you know, you're seeing thousands and thousands of people coming out to say, I'm either part of the community with you or I'm an ally.

I believe strongly in this.

And, you know, it's it's a day that when you're walking, I have the benefit of being able to record the parades.

I get to walk down the whole route and see all the faces, beautiful faces and beautiful messages and see that show of support and people from all walks of life from, you know, young families to, you know, there, a retirement community that came out last year and marched in the parade.

I mean, how how amazing is that?

But to be able to see that and feel that energy in person, I think, really goes a long way to embrace.

I mean, you can't completely erase the hate that always leaves a mark.

But to remind people that you there are so many people in this community who love you and support you for for who you are.

And this is a day where we can embrace that, and you can kind of forget, you know, and I realize that everyone can completely forget, but, you know, just have that moment to to let your guard down a little bit and be relaxed and be you in a safe space, in an affirming space.

Karen, you want to add to that?

Yeah.

And the, in a lot of ways, the the loudest voice is the one that's heard and the loudest voice is the one that directs the public opinion.

And, through our concerts, through our concerts, through our dmcs concerts, and through the pride events, we can be the loudest voice at that moment.

And so we can be that public opinion at that moment.

And as long and if that can carry through, you know, if the pride, if the pride of the parade and the festival, that's one day, a two days with the with the picnic.

but that's one day.

But if we are loud enough on that day, figuratively loud enough, and we speak to enough people and we share with enough people on those days that feeling can carry through.

And, that's kind of the importance, I think, of having these pride events throughout June and July.

I think there I think there's been a few small events here and there leading up to now.

our concert is on Saturday.

Our, our first our concert is this Saturday.

and so we're we are starting our pride celebration right now, and we can start being loud now.

And by carrying this through all the way through until, July 19th and beyond, we are being that voice we're celebrating.

We are we are we are enjoying and we are celebrating.

We are jubilant about being the loudest voice.

And we and that can spread heaven.

Yeah.

events like pride and our of course, concerts are important to provide that space, for people to show up as they are.

and, and relax.

and, you know, be with their peers and recharge from the day to day.

more frustrating environments.

Are you optimistic that's going to happen at pride?

Yeah, I'm counting on it.

I'll I'll make it happen for myself and my friends and my family.

but yes, let's talk about some of those events coming up here.

But first, let me grab a phone call from Frank in Greece.

Hi, Frank.

Go ahead.

Hello.

I just wanted to say I'm a straight white male, Irish Catholic, and, I know of two, possibly three businesses that are very, LGBTQ.

BI.

I can't get all the letters straight, but what I want to say is, I believe Monroe County, city of Rochester is richer because of these businesses.

And, I think it's a testament to the intelligence of everyone, everyone, everyone in this community in the Finger Lakes region that we are kind and we are open minded, and we don't shove people into boxes.

Okay.

Yeah.

let me ask our guests what they what they think.

What do you think that there, Terrance, first of all, thank you, Frank.

And I can't keep up with all the letters either.

It's.

But no, thank you for that.

And it just shows that, I know it's so cliche to say, but I think we're stronger together.

So if we continue to show up as a community, continue to support one another across to Finger Lakes, across Rochester, Monroe County will continue to show we can't be defeated and we're stronger together.

And.

Okay, Nathan.

Yeah, I think I also don't want to minimize to the wonderful organizations that are sponsoring.

We do have a number of, you know, really great community partners that are coming back.

And that's not to say that the people who may not come back this year aren't great, community partners either.

We do understand there's a lot of factors that go into it.

I also I do want to make a quick plug that we are still accepting sponsors.

So if any of those, LGBTQ plus, businesses are listening and would like to contribute, go to Rochester Pride.

Com and, we can set you up with a sponsorship package.

Every little bit helps.

but yeah, I do think that, you know, there's certainly there's going to be the naysayers, and, in any community, but I agree with Terrence.

We're better together.

And I think we are very fortunate in this community and in this state to have the level of support, from all levels of communities.

businesses, allies, to have that, really community wide support.

Karen, what would you say to Frank's phone caller?

I would say he's absolutely right.

A community is made up of all of the bits of the bits of the community.

It's made up of all of the people within it.

And the more that that community can work together and support each other, regardless of how, regardless of one's beliefs or one leanings or anything like that, the more that we can support each other, the stronger and more positive and healthier community we have.

Evan.

yeah.

It's always nice to hear from allies, who are, out supporting us.

it's, it's important because, we're not going to be able to make significant change all by ourselves.

we can show the way, but we're going to need support from the larger community.

So let me let's talk a little about a timeline coming up here.

And I think Karen mentioned got the spring concert amplifying Voices coming up on Saturday, June 7th at the Harley School, the Rochester Women's Community Chorus.

What's going on there, Karen?

So we chose this year, for this concert to, look at the voices in choral music that aren't generally as as, forefront in, in in music, historically, choral music is, the composing of choral music is dominated by white men of white men or men of, of European descent.

And that's what that holds true across the arts.

whether it's, literature, poetry, dance, even, you know, in that intellectual areas, in, academic academia and that and so what we have chosen to do for this concert is to amplify the voices of composers who are pretty much anything but straight white men.

So we've got music by, black and indigenous and people of color.

We've got, music by, women.

We've got music by, okay, at least one if not two trans composers or arrangers.

we've got music by, LGBT, LGB and B folks as well.

And each of the, each of the pieces that we chose also speaks to that social.

also has it has it has a, a a message of community support, social justice.

being yourself, one of our pieces should be familiar to much of the LGBTQ community.

or if not, where have you been?

we are going to be singing I am what I am from like ash.

And so, That's the gist of our concert is, you know, not only can we be who we are, but it's, you know, use your voice, speak your voice, be you.

and that's what we're hoping to do with these composers and also with the businesses that we're highlighting, in our, in our fundraising there at the, at the concert open to the community, absolutely open to the community.

It is on, June 7th at the Harley School over at 1981 Clover Street.

admission, $15 for general for most folks, $12 for seniors.

Children under 12 are free.

That what time you starting?

We are starting.

I believe we are starting at 8:00.

It is not written on the on my information that for you it you can find us at the RWC, dawg.

And that does have the start time on it.

I know you'd love to see the community there.

Absolutely.

We would love to sell out and have standing room only and we will make it.

We will make space for you.

We can always add chairs to the space even though you performing in that one I am.

Yes.

Okay.

What are you looking forward to most?

There?

Oh, I love the variety of the songs, that we've chosen.

All right.

So Saturday night, Saturday nights, either 730 or 8:00. and I apologize for not having the correct time on that one.

tickets can be bought online or at the door.

Cash is king.

And we've got some fantastic raffle baskets, featuring local businesses in there.

So bring cash for tickets and, go home was something memorable to take with you.

7 p.m. says the website at 7 p.m. Tesla website.

Thank you.

Don't be late.

Don't be late, Karen.

Like don't be late.

7 p.m. so that's this Saturday, June 7th.

And that's the Rochester Women's Community course.

And the Rochester Gay Men's Chorus has its concert on Saturday, July 12th.

a week before the pride of, official festival.

And that's happening at 7:30 p.m. at Hochstein.

Evan, you want to tell us about that?

Yeah.

our theme is it's a jungle out there.

that started out as, a collection of animal themed songs, but then evolved into a reflection of the current political environment and its impact on marginalized communities.

so we'll be singing songs like bat Out of how, The Lion Sleeps Tonight, and crocodile Rock, our dance troupe there, our chats will also be there.

we have a couple small groups.

the Rochester Women's Community Chorus will also be joining us that evening, as well as the Flower City Pride Band.

So a good kickoff to Pride Week in Rochester again.

That's at Hochstein.

Open to the public, open to the public.

tickets are available online at the RG, Korg.

we have a discount code for listeners today that would be even made sense for both of us.

so, yeah, check us out.

and you're doing Bat Out of Hell.

There's that.

A meatloaf for meatloaf.

You bat.

Okay.

Meatloaf?

Who passed?

I think he died of Covid.

he did.

Right?

Yeah.

Okay.

but very talented.

I always felt like, you know, very theatrical.

I.

It felt like it was just such a perfect fit for, you know, a men's chorus.

The LGBTQ chorus is out there.

This is a fun one to do.

It sure is.

Yeah.

But, yeah, some great albums back in the day there.

So that is coming up July 12th Saturday, Saturday, July 12th at Hochstein, the Rochester Gay Men's Chorus.

This Saturday, June 7th, the Rochester Women's Community Chorus at the Harley School.

You're all set for that.

When we come back from our only break, we're going to talk about what is coming up specifically on July 19th.

Rochester Pride is happening, and it's happening, as we mentioned at the outset of the backdrop of some cuts in funding, not just from corporate sponsorships, but in cities across the country.

San Francisco's budgets down $200,000, New York City down 20%, salt Lake City $400,000, or half of its budget cut this year for pride.

Washington, D.C., a quarter million dollars.

Kansas City 200,000.

Saint Louis 150,000.

I mean, budgets are down and it has not been an easy time.

That's partially why the people in this room are saying, more important than ever, that they see you and that they they would love to see big numbers.

So we're talking about why they feel that way, and we're going to come back and continue the conversation after this only break.

I'm Evan Dawson Thursday on the next connections, how often do you hear candidates for office sit down and answer questions at length?

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This is connections.

I'm Evan Dawson, Rochester Pride officially on July 19th.

So next month that is a Saturday, a parade beginning at 11 a.m. and the festival in Highland Park, 11 to 6, of course, always food, drinks, games, activities, vendor tables, live music performances.

And you can check out Rochester pride.com if you want information on what's going on there.

Trillium is here.

ESL Federal Credit Union are also the premier sponsors.

Is that correct?

Nathan?

That is correct.

Okay.

And so, Nathan and Terrence, you wanted to kind of take us through the events of the day on July 19th.

Yeah.

So it's, you know, like you said, it kicks off at 11, with a parade.

the parade starts same line up as last year.

It'll start at Science Parkway, and go north on South Avenue.

same route as the Lilac Festival parade.

if you're familiar with that.

And, ends at Highland Park.

it's, you know, like I said, a lot of great events.

we are working to address a few.

Last year was our first year, with this new parade route and festival location and we think it worked out tremendously.

but there's always improvements to be made.

So we're making a few little tweaks based on feedback that I think people will like.

one is parking, you know, parking is always a concern when you have thousands of people, you know, gather trying to get all the same place at the same time.

So, in addition to the lots adjacent to the festival site, which is already an improvement over what we were able to do in years past, we are working on creating a shuttle from, to have additional parking off site and have the shuttle bring people in to both the parade lineup area, and the festival, and then also back.

we're so finalizing the details.

So I don't want to say too much, but there will be more on that coming.

So the shuttle will be an additional, feature this year.

Also, porta potties is a big issue.

we adding porta potties to the lineup and the parade, they would also be, accessible.

So that will be, another thing.

And then, another fun thing that, as we all know, that, alt beverages have become a huge trend, with people looking for alcohol free choices.

you know, it's a huge national trend.

And we're seeing it locally, too.

So we're definitely expanding those options at all of our beverage tents this year.

So that's another, you know, just exciting addition.

other than that, it's just a lot everything that you've come to expect in years past, a reminder for us as well.

Bring cash because we're, mostly cash.

There might be a few vendors that accept credit.

but primarily, it's going to be cash.

So make sure you bring that and, to help move things along quickly.

buy tickets online ahead of time for the festival.

$5 online.

I, I have a little forecast for you.

Yes.

All of the rain that has happened is that was the whole year's rain in the last month.

It's over.

I hope it is.

You know, we've lucked out.

The last few years is my annual, pride sunburn.

Can attest, you know, change.

on our team's, account, we have our little, avatar is.

And mine is, Mr. Krabs from SpongeBob SquarePants.

It's a represent.

my real bad sunburn a few years ago.

I mean, that means it's a good day.

It is.

And even with the SPF 50, you know, it's, you can never have too much.

So bring your sunscreen to.

You had 20,000 people.

We had to.

I mean, I'm not.

They're counting.

But, you know, that's the estimate.

We.

Yeah.

Yep.

20,000 people last year, which was absolutely incredible.

What is you know, I mean, is that bursting at the seams?

Could you do it again.

No.

We can absolutely do it again.

We could do more.

you know, it's that's one of the benefits.

You know, there's always questions about why we moved it from Park Avenue and Cobbs Hill.

And, you know, while we love those locations, they were constricting in terms of, especially for the parade line up, having to keep those streets closed with, you know, the dozens and dozens and dozens of floats lining up and, you know, being able to have almost all of, you know, Science Parkway for those that you don't know, is a dead end, you know, basically corporate office park, Trillium Health has a location there.

That's not the reason we chose it, but it is an advantage.

so we can take basically closed down that entire road and not have to worry about the logistics of of making sure we can accommodate people and not have to turn people away.

You know, we can have more floats because the site is more accommodating.

and there's a lot of benefits to the festival site to one being, you know, it's a proven site for, for the Lilac Festival.

You have pads in place.

So it's a lot more, accessible to make sure that everyone can enjoy it.

Where before, you know, it was a flat lawn.

So there were some complications with that.

and it overall is a bigger site.

So it's, we can, don't worry about it being tight.

We can fit as many people who want to come out and enjoy.

What are you looking forward to most about pride this year?

Terrence?

I mean, of course I'm biased, so of course I'm going to say the mocha ball.

Tell us about the mocha ball.

Always so much fun.

I like it because, for those who are familiar with ballroom culture, it's a competition.

but not not just a competition piece.

I see creativity, I see friendship, I see community, I see family, and, you know, I see so many black and brown community members who only come out on pride to come to the mocha tent to be a part of community and to express themselves through dance, to perform.

It's through their their their costume and known as their effects.

It's it's a it's a lot it's a lot to be whole, but in a good way.

It's so much fun.

And yeah, I love it.

I got to make you do a little definition here, because some listeners might have just heard you say ballroom culture, and they go, oh, I like ballroom dancing.

No, totally opposite our, it's Daisy, it's dancing, but not the type of dancing except for Kyle.

Stephen wrote a piece for city about a year ago that really kind of went deep on this, and it was eye opening for a lot of people who haven't seen it.

So, ballroom culture.

Yes.

The proper term, not, old timey ballroom dance.

No, not all time in ballroom dance and ballroom culture.

it's a collective, it's a collective.

A community that's made up of houses, all the houses.

They everybody wants to be the best house.

The biggest house.

and so the leaders of the House are the mothers and fathers.

the history of ballroom was the leaders of the mothers and fathers.

They would literally take in, young teenagers who had been disowned by their family, literally thrown out in the streets, ballroom culture because of their identity, because of their identity where they were trans, gay.

whatever the case may be, they were literally in display stance on the mothers and fathers of the ballroom houses would take them in and hone their skills, whether it be sewing, dancing, strutting this stuff on the catwalk.

So we have that here in Rochester, in the culture, in the community, here in Rochester, it's continuing to grow.

we have five main houses here.

it's a wonderful, wonderful community leaders and house leaders that I have the wonderful opportunity to work with on the freedom House, on the I work with them so much.

We do.

We have such a wonderful relationship with them.

So to see it all come together and, the some of the houses from Syracuse to come down, some of the houses from Buffalo will come down out.

Our our pride ball has become so popular that we're even, bringing in people from as far as Saint Louis, Philadelphia, New York City.

So, you know, we're the place to be on June 19th.

Come to that July 19th, that's June 19th.

You did, July 19th.

June, June 19th is Juneteenth.

There'll be other stuff going on there.

June 19th.

I said June 19th, because our friends at Raw, will be doing the charity bingo, some Democrats and the charity for that night.

So that's why June 19th is in my mind.

So July 19th for the Pride Festival.

Got a question from a listener about the parade and the events.

said never been there.

Are they family friendly?

So let me start with this question, Nathan.

Yeah, absolutely.

Yeah.

We, every year, you know, that's one of the highlights again, to see every walk of life.

And we have young families.

We have you know, I see, I think one of the most heartwarming, images that I captured for our parade video last year was, you know, this big tough guy driving his big, you know, big, four wheel pickup truck, with a sign on the side saying Proud Dad.

And it had, you know, I think it was.

I don't know if there was multiple younger people on the back, so.

But somewhere in there was, you know, his child, you know, you see, parents with their kids on their shoulders, you know, it truly is, family friendly event.

And we see we see people again, all each other, end of the spectrum.

True.

We have people in mobility scooters and with canes and walkers and wheelchairs and, the retirement home march last year.

it's just it truly is a parade for everybody, whether you're part of the Lgbtiq, you plus community or an ally, or just, you know, or generally supportive and just want to have a good time and see what it's all about.

Well, related to the listeners question.

maybe let me let me ask you about something that we observed.

and this is reporting from the Hill with the headline Republican Attack Republicans Attacked PBS for pride post from Sesame Street.

And I'll read from their piece.

Now, a group of congressional Republicans accused PBS of grooming children after Sesame Street and Sesame Street accounts shared a social media post recognizing Pride Month with this caption on our street, everyone is welcome.

Together, let's build a world where every person and family feels loved and respected for who they are.

Happy pride month!

So that came from the official Sesame Street accounts and the R-s.c., the Republican Study Committee, which is a coalition of GOP House members, they posted and said they are asking PBS to, quote, stop grooming children.

The Sesame Street Pride Month host drew backlash from other House and Senate Republicans who are who say that that should be used to justify the administration's argument to cut funding from PBS.

Nathan, let me start with you.

What do you make of that?

I mean, it sounds like a terrible world, even where, you know, we're condemning.

We have people accepting people for who they are and wanting to have a loving environment that.

Doesn't that sound like a terrible, you know, space to be at?

Sadly, that's the the reality of, you know, the current divisive climate.

But, you know, I think that this, this is a day about love, you know, and who you are as a person.

It's not about what happens in the bedroom behind closed doors.

It's a day to just express, you know, love for one another.

And people have different preferences.

People want to spend their lives with different people.

you know, and it's a day to celebrate that, you know, if you wanted to take that argument at face value, you know, and say, you know, we shouldn't be doing any, any expressions of love.

Are we canceling Valentine's Day?

Do you know where that you could use that same logic to say, we don't want to see any public displays of affection from anybody?

you know, because we know that, you know, if if a man and woman are kissing in public, what are they doing in their bedroom?

We don't want to expose somebody to that.

You know, it's interesting that, you know, and this is speaking just as a person here, but it's you know, it's interesting how that argument turns.

It's only applied to the LGBTQ plus community.

It's not it's never applied to, you know, a straight couple.

Terrence what do you what do you make of this whole blowup over this post from Sesame Street?

In all honesty, as a parent, and do me a favor, get real close to my friend and it's a parent that's raising, a kid.

my son has two daughters.

I can honestly say we're only grooming him to be the best version of himself.

Of himself.

We're only going to have to go out and be a productive member of society.

We're grooming him to love everyone, to respect everyone, and to let people be.

So I don't think we're grooming him for anything other than to be who he is and to be the best version of himself.

Karen, what do you think?

I'm pretty much with Terrence on this.

My my wife and I have raised two children.

they're adults now, and, starting to, look at creating their own families and.

I mean, the way that that, that statement was written about about Sesame Street is it just makes it sound like, oh, no, you can't love children, you can't teach children to love.

And that just that grates on me, that, that why should children be taught to love everyone and it and that to me personally, that that mindset is what takes away children's innocence.

Not the.

By by making things like my family.

Terrence is family.

Evan's family, the the families.

By making those families the villain.

That's what takes away children's innocence.

Not teaching children to be accepting and loving of other people.

what do you think, Kevin?

I wish, I had access to a message like that from Big Bird when I was younger.

I don't think it.

I mean, I don't think I, I am myself right now.

I don't think that that would have made me any different.

It just would have helped me get here sooner.

So what?

Where do we go from here?

I say, you know, this is, it's 2025.

We are ten, 11 years since Obergefell and the Supreme Court.

There's, I remember conversations a decade ago where it was like, look, progress is never a straight line, but for the LGBTQ plus community, it felt like, you know, what felt impossible for so long felt achievable.

And not just Obergefell.

I mean, like, that's a section of it, but that's not everything.

And now, certainly Obergefell could be, reviewed and in jeopardy.

And there's different mechanisms to do that.

Some members of the Supreme Court of indicated desire to do that.

and the culture war was at the forefront of the last election.

The culture war was very powerful.

And, I we've talked to people who are on the losing side of the last election who told us on this program we didn't expect it, but we lost the culture war like we're losing right now.

you I know I'm not talking about you personally.

I'm talking about where things are.

Do you feel like there has been a a loss in the culture war, or is it does it feel surprising to me like, well, how do you assess it?

So where do we go here?

Honestly, I don't think anything surprises to me anymore.

I think I'm out of surprises when it comes to, to things of that nature.

I think where we go from here is that our community, we have always proven to be resilient community.

we've come through so much, when you think 55 years ago to stonewall, when you think about the HIV in the Aids epidemic, when you think about where we are, in terms of all the progression that has been made when legalizing gay marriage, you see so many same sex couples raising families on their own terms.

And now I think if we just hold on to that, to the idea and to that theme of resilience, that eventually we'll get through it.

Nathan, I think, like you said, it does, it ebbs and flows and, I think we are regressing, in terms of that, that progression that we had worked towards, you know, when leading up to and following, the legalization of same sex marriage, where we are, we have regressed, in recent years, I think back to, you know, well, especially everything that's happened recently, Penfield High School.

I graduated from Penfield in 2006, and I remember, you know, we had our, our yearbook senior superlatives, and we had, two young women in a same sex relationship as chosen as, one of the best couples.

And I remember the joke, you know, what's the key to your success?

the relationship.

And they both joke.

No men involved, but, you know, but this was 2006, and no one batted, and I, you know, everyone loved it.

We accepted them for who they are and love, you know, embrace that.

There was no public outcry there.

It was just great, you know, and it was what it was.

And, two decades ago.

Right.

That that's the other depressing part, 19 years.

And so, yeah, thank you for that reminder.

But but Aids in man.

but you know that.

Yeah.

That was 19 years ago.

And you know, if that were to happen now, I can only imagine we'd be I mean, the same district.

Now we're having the debate over, you know, a book in the library, which is a whole separate discussion.

But, you know, I do think, you know, it's I, I hold out hope, you know, that this understanding that these things come in cycles.

And I also think the other there's other things at play.

You know, I think that this, these issues, are being weaponized as a, you know, it's a proxy fight.

You know, this isn't the real heart that this is being used.

I think, for political purposes, to manipulate, you know, bigger cultural arguments.

And this is just, you know, people saw this as an opportunity, a low hanging fruit opportunity to to galvanize, certain people.

And I, I'm hopeful that that time will pass and that we, you know, I think the sentiments when you get outside policy, I maybe I'm being too optimistic, but I think the, the general sentiments of the average, the larger population, I think are moving in the right direction.

And, hopefully we can get back on track.

I want to get Karen and Evan on this.

I want to grab a phone call from Joe to I think it's going to build on some of those points there.

Go ahead.

Joyce and Pittsford, indeed.

Thank you so much.

That's so well stated.

you all for this program.

I think many of us who are allies have had the sheer joy of participating in pride events and celebrating these incredible victories over the decades, and it's painful for us to recognize how much pain is here now.

In fact, our LGBTQ plus community, as I think you were saying, the autocrats historically target vulnerable communities and strategize how to keep us separate and fearful.

And, that share has certainly affected the Jewish community.

given the recent horrendous events, your focus on coming together can't be stressed enough.

We need to support one another to resist the actual oppressive people's and powerless people in policy.

So onward, Joyce.

Thank you for the phone call.

Karen, what do you think?

I think that.

I think that this last election caught us off guard.

I think we were after the previous the 2016 to 20 to 2020 administration.

I think we were a little too confident coming into this last election.

And the way it went kind of caught us off guard.

And we, collect collectively.

We didn't anticipate just how far it would they would go.

but.

Yes, it's gotten worse.

I think it's going to get go.

I think it's going to drip farther for us before it gets better.

But at the same time, we've come out on top before and we're going to do it again.

We're not going to let anyone push us back into the closets.

We're not going to let anyone erase us.

We are going to stand up for our, for our brothers and sisters and siblings in, in our community, the allies, our allies are right there next to us.

we're needing to figure out how to come together successful and do this.

we have more tools at our disposal now than we did 55 years ago when.

When we really started the fight.

and so we will be back in the, in the, in the more relative safety area, safe zone.

But I do think it's going to get worse before it gets better again.

Evan, I yeah I the, the last election, I saw a lot of, political attacks against trans people.

and, I like Karen.

I'm afraid that it could get worse before it gets better.

but like our caller said, you know, working together, more rights for some of us, that's going to equate to more rights for all of us.

Let me read a couple comments that came in on the YouTube chat.

Fraser says one of my favorite things about pride is refilling my energy, about my community and the things that are so powerful and joyful about it.

I think that's part of the point.

Nathan was making the the kind of the burst of energy and joy that you see every year.

Yeah, yeah.

And into your point as well.

You know, I think it it carries on, you know, it's it's something it's not just it's the feeling of that day, but that is something it's, it's recharging those batteries to continue forward.

And carry you out until next year's pride and and also about pointing out to it's not we the pride and Pride parade and festival or one day, but there's many events happening across the year.

I do want to, you know, recognize that we have the pride, picnic on July 13th from noon to, to six.

I say we that's not a Trillium health thing, but it's a wonderful community event.

We do have a link at Rochester pride.com, and then there's many other events throughout the year throughout, you know, this month, next month and all throughout the year, where people can continue to recharge their batteries.

we don't have a link to that, but, I urge people to Google, Rochester LGBTQ plus together they have a wonderful calendar year round of events that people can use to, you know, recharge the batteries year round.

The pride picnic is the Sunday before the festival.

So July 13th, Sunday the picnic noon to six.

The 19th Saturday the festival.

What do you want to put on people's calendars?

Two turns.

Well, we have we are actually going to start it on July 18th and sorry, July 17th.

from 6 to 8 p.m. at the Moca center, the national campaign.

No hate and they're coming back to do their photo shoot, which is a lot of fun.

they're Friday.

We're doing something new this year.

on July 18th, we're going to host a pride prom.

which will be a lot of fun.

we want people to come out, have a good time, and it will definitely be an adult prom.

So we want people to come out, have a good time.

of course, the festival is on the 19th.

And on the 20th, we're going to end the weekend with the pride burlesque show.

So some new events for Moca and Trillium this year.

But, we're doing the prom in the burlesque.

So, in collaboration with Wave Women Inc. With Divina.

She was here last year.

Yeah, yeah.

So Giovanni's, company, they're putting that on Rochester pride.com for the schedule.

I'll close with this moon bird on the YouTube chat.

Says I moved to Rochester from the South last year after the election, choosing it deliberately for its support of the LGBTQ plus community and how we're enfolded into the larger community.

It's an important value that none of us are safe unless all marginalized people are safe.

I'm proud of what Rochester is working towards.

Of course, we're not there yet.

That's from over on YouTube.

Thank you for joining the chat there.

And thanks to everyone who took part here.

Terrence Pleasant, director of the Moka Center and community engagement at Trillium Health.

Thank you for being here, for having me.

Nathan Bence, nice to see you, communications director at Trillium Health.

Thanks for being here.

Thank you Evan.

Thanks as well.

To Karen Treadwell Collins, board member for the Rochester Women's Community Chorus.

Thank you for being here.

Thank you.

Evan Dawson, I'd member of the Rochester Gay Men's Chorus and his dance troupe, the Rockettes, and a member of the Rochester Women's Community Chorus.

Thank you for being here.

Thanks so much.

And from all of us.

Thanks for listening.

Thanks for watching.

And we're back with you tomorrow.

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