Out Online: Pandemic can't stop Pride party

Sixteen years ago, Jeremy Stuthard rode in the very first (official) Fayetteville Pride Parade. These days, he might be better known by his drag persona Taylor Madison Monroe, who has a long relationship with Northwest Arkansas Equality -- the nonprofit now hosting the parade -- and is an integral figure in Fayetteville's annual celebration of LGBTQ+ diversity, equality, achievements and legal rights won: PRIDE.

"The only sad thing is I don't get to announce the mayor this year," Stuthard says of the 2020 festivities.

June has been "officially" proclaimed Pride Month since President Bill Clinton's declaration in 1999, but the month has served as a time for important social observances since the Stonewall Riots in 1969, when members of the LGBT community fought back against police brutality. The events led to a turning point in the fight for LGBT equal rights and have subsequently been celebrated at the end of June.

Originally rescheduled for August in the hopes of avoiding furthering coronavirus concerns, the Fayetteville celebration for 2020 has moved to completely digital in a tough decision made by NWA Equality.

"I like the idea of trying something different. I'm excited that we get to do something. Something is better than nothing," Stuthard laments, but optimistically, over the change.

"It's a double-edged sword because you don't get to do it in person, but at the same time, you get to reach an infinite amount of people in the world [online]. Even if it's followed by 100 people, you know what? It was still put out. It was still broadcast. There was still a Pride."

Though he won't be the one to introduce Mayor Lioneld Jordan's proclamation this year, Stuthard -- as Taylor Madison Monroe -- will still have plenty of responsibility during the virtual festival.

"It's a lot of Taylor ... maybe too much Taylor," he quips.

On June 26, a full day of Pride events sees Taylor participate in a kids' puppet show, host the virtual Pride Parade (of video submissions), host the annual Glitterville afterparty with DJs and (virtual) dancing, and maybe even make a special appearance in the Rainbow Rideshare CARaoke -- based on the "Carpool Karaoke" video series started by "The Late Late Show" host James Corden.

"It'll be me as the driver," shares NWA Equality Director and Festival Manager Richard Gathright. "Hopefully we can get one of our local- or state-elected officials to ride along with us and we talk about the Black Lives Matter movement, LGBTQ issues in Arkansas, etc..." he trails off coyly.

The toughest part, Gathright admits, will be re-creating the feeling of being at the NWA Pride Parade. Just in his first three years with the NWA Equality nonprofit, Gathright watched the Fayetteville Pride event grow from roughly 6,000 people sequestered in the Fayetteville Town Center to more than 21,000 people lining Dickson Street for last year's parade.

"Last year, I was standing on the steps of the Walton Arts Center as I was watching the parade with 83 floats in it, and [nearly 30,000] screaming and excited and smiling people watch this Pride Parade come down Dickson Street," Stuthard remembers. "It just brought tears to my eyes. I remember it was an overwhelming, goosebumpy feeling I got."

"People are having fun with this," Gathright says of the parade video submissions he received, which were open through June 19. "No one's ever done this before, so I'm not really sure how it's going to work just yet, but we haven't had much difficulty getting folks to participate.

"I'm just thrilled about the response, not just from this area," he goes on about the growth Fayetteville Pride has seen in general. "My goal was to put Fayetteville on the map for Pride festivals and functions in this country. And I think we're doing a good job."

"I'm so proud of where we started, what we have come to, and where we're going," Stuthard adds of calling Fayetteville home for nearly two decades. "The very basis of Fayetteville is that people respect each other here. I know there's a few things that aren't perfect about this town, but Northwest Arkansas, and especially Fayetteville, is always willing to accept change, or willing to do better.

"And that's what I've always believed about this area and that's why it's best for me, is because I'm always learning and growing as an entertainer, and I'm always learning and growing as Jeremy, every day. So I believe that I belong in a city that is open to change and open-minded like that."

NWA Democrat-Gazette/CHARLIE KAIJO Parade participants carry a large pride flag, Saturday, June 16, 2018 along Dickson Street from East to University Avenue in Fayetteville. The Northwest Arkansas Pride Parade has added color and splash to downtown Fayetteville for 12 years. The annual NWA Pride Rally followed the event featuring Mayor Lioneld Jordan’s annual proclamation and speeches by grand marshals Holly Dickson of the ACLU and Cathy Campbell of PFLAG-NWA.