Pride festivities begin in Sioux City Thursday with a Siouxland Pride Alliance parade downtown in the evening.
In addition to the parade, there are multiple events taking place throughout the month.
Brian Meland, executive director of SUX Pride, told Siouxland Public Media on Wednesday, “The importance of pride is it’s a way to show each and every person that they belong.”
Meland added it shows a younger person questioning whether or not they belong here, that they are accepted, loved, and they do belong.
He mentioned that people from Sioux Falls, Des Moines, and Omaha come to participate in the events, getting thousands of people.
Meland said you get a sense of needing support and that both Sux Pride and Siouxland Pride Alliance work together during the weekend to provide that comfort.
Other events include a drag show hosted by the Siouxland Community Potluck Coalition on Friday at 7:30 and two pride festivals starting at 11 am on Saturday.
