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Indy Pride Parade and Festival canceled; virtual celebrations planned instead

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Posted at 11:00 AM, May 08, 2020
and last updated 2020-05-08 11:01:26-04

INDIANAPOLIS — The Indy Pride Board of Directors announced that a Virtual Pride Celebration will be held in place of the annual Indy Pride Parade and Festival.

Due to COVID-19 and recommended social distancing, Indy Pride had announced in March that all Pride festivities were to be postponed. On Friday, however, the decision was made to cancel all in-person events for the year, officially.

"The Indy Pride Board of Directors has made the decision to modify the Indy Pride Festival and our traditional live Pride Month events out of concern for the health and safety of attendees, volunteers and staff," Indy Pride's updated advisory read. "Don't worry though, we are doing everything we can to ensure that Pride Month remains a time for us all to be visible, to feel embraced and to celebrate and connect with other incredible community members!"

The virtual Indy Pride Celebration is scheduled for Saturday, June 20, from 2 p.m. to 10 p.m.

Further details on the event were not initially made available, as the board and staff of Indy Pride are still engaging in conversations about how to go about that.

Other events Indy Pride typically hosts in relation to Pride Month are also in discussion for alternative plans, according to Indy Pride's statement.

"As we pivot to more virtual events to bring us all together, our hope is that our audience across the city and the state will be excited to participate in these events as a show of solidarity, optimism and, of course, Pride in our LGBTQ+ community," Chris Handberg, executive director of Indy Pride, stated.

"Pride is not just one month out of the year or a line-up of events – Pride in our community is a living, breathing thing that is most palpable during times of crisis and in times of triumph – times where we have historically only had each other to lean on," Handberg said. "I hope that all of us continue to support one another and to stay as healthy as possible as we look to the future."

Read Indy Pride's full release here.

This article will be updated with finalized details in relation to this year's virtual Indy Pride events.