Three downtown businesses are leading the effort to celebrate Pride this June. On Saturday, June 28 from noon to 4 p.m. K’s Place, The Outsiders on Main, and the Hanout will be hosting Chanute’s first-ever Pride celebration.
“It stemmed from a shared desire to celebrate and uplift the people we call friends, and for many of us – chosen family,” said Jacob Vande Linde, a K’s Place employee. “Pride gives us the opportunity to create a space where everyone feels seen, supported, and celebrated for exactly who they are. It’s about community, love, and standing together in solidarity.
Vande Linde said that Pride is also a time to remember historical struggles within the LGBTQ community.
“The freedoms enjoyed today were hard-won and the fight for equality is ongoing,” Vande Linde said. “It serves as a platform for education, advocacy, and raising awareness about the challenges LGBTQ people still face, including discrimination, violence, and legal inequality. Beyond activism, Pride is also a celebration of joy, love, and resilience.”
Chanute has ties to notable LGBTQ figures, such as Gilbert Baker, who was born in Chanute and grew up in Parsons. Baker created the original pride flag.
Event organizers said they are in contact with the Gilbert Baker Foundation to collaborate on an exhibit.
“If successful, these materials will be displayed at the Pride event to educate attendees and pay tribute to Baker’s contributions to the LGBTQ movement and to our town’s history,” Vande Linde said.
Organizers said the event is family-friendly and will feature music, karaoke, food, drinks, drawings, and a pub crawl. A kids’ corner at the Chanute Public Library will be held during the celebration as well.
Other event sponsors and partners include: Steve Faulkner Ford, Roxy Movie Theater, Taco Johns, Poor Boys, Talk of the Town Floral Boutique, Eleven Eleven Fresherie, JM’s Barbershop, Pink Lens Photography, Chanute Party Wagon, Conoco, Lyssa’s Sweets and Treats and Equality Kansas.
“With community support and a welcoming atmosphere, the event aims to celebrate love, identity, and unity in a way that is meaningful and memorable for everyone involved,” Vande Linde said.
He said he hopes the community will feature more Pride events in the future.
“This year’s celebration is just the beginning, and we’re excited about building on it for years to come,” Vande Linde said. “Funds raised from the raffle drawings will not only help support the planning of next year’s event but a portion will also be donated to a local charity, allowing us to give back to the community while continuing to grow and improve our Pride celebrations.”
Vande Linde said the event is looking for volunteers and those interested can reach out to any of the hosting businesses.
