Sunday, June 28, 2009

Pride Month Wraps With Las Cruces & Santa Fe

By David Stocum


Saturday June 27th marked the end of the 2009 Pride season with record setting events in Santa Fe and Las Cruces.

Nearly 2000 people enjoyed a sunny, breezy day in Pioneer Women’s Park. This years Southern New Mexico Pride included several new events making for a weekend long celebration. The celebration began Friday with Drag Bingo at the NMSU Golf Course Clubhouse and concluded with a Pool Party at the Desert Hills Pool Sunday evening. Southern New Mexico Pride has grown every year for the last five years and is the largest GLBTQ event in the southern part of the state.

Santa Fe Pride moved from the Plaza to the new Railyard Plaza which allowed for more vendors and a first time beer garden. The larger area lead to the creation of family areas and an area for adults only allowing everyone to create their own experience. Officials report the crowd was one of the largest in recent memory. Attendees report the new location was a success and they were looking forward to next year.

The weekend events also served as commemorations of the Stonewall riots which occurred 40 years ago on June 28th.

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