Pride celebration continues in Three Rivers with June drag show
“Although we didn’t have the board capacity to put on a festival this year, we wanted to give Three Rivers some sort of celebration,” Three Rivers Pride Secretary Alexis Jacobs wrote in a statement to Watershed Voice. “So we organized this event to honor queer folks and love, show everyone that we are still here, and raise some money towards the cause.”
According to Jacobs, all tips collected during the event will be donated to Three Rivers Pride to support future initiatives. She added that the Kittens will close the evening with a “big group number” to cap off the night of celebration.
While Three Rivers Pride is not hosting its annual Pride festival this year, the organization is still planning ways to bring the community together during Pride Month.
On June 20, the Kunty Kittens will host a drag show at the Riviera Theatre and Bar in downtown Three Rivers in collaboration with Three Rivers Pride. The event will run from 6 to 8 p.m., with doors opening at 5 p.m.
“Although we didn’t have the board capacity to put on a festival this year, we wanted to give Three Rivers some sort of celebration,” Three Rivers Pride Secretary Alexis Jacobs wrote in a statement to Watershed Voice. “So we organized this event to honor queer folks and love, show everyone that we are still here, and raise some money towards the cause.”
According to Jacobs, all tips collected during the event will be donated to Three Rivers Pride to support future initiatives. She added that the Kunty Kittens will close the evening with a “big group number” to cap off the night of celebration.
In April, Three Rivers Pride announced it would not host a Pride festival this year as the organization focuses on rebuilding its capacity and strengthening its long-term sustainability. Board members said at the time they planned to spend the year growing membership, recruiting volunteers, and preparing for a return in 2027.
The organization has continued to seek opportunities to engage the local LGBTQIA+ community through smaller events and regional partnerships.
Jacobs acknowledged that the organization continues to face criticism but said that has not changed its commitment to serving the community.
“There continues to be pushback and I’m certain it won’t entirely go away, but we aren’t either,” Jacobs wrote. “Our hope is that the community effort grows and we have an overall trend of increased acceptance and impact. Some people don’t like us, they may even hate us, but others need us and we will keep showing up as best as we can.”
Pride Month traces its roots to the 1969 Stonewall uprising in New York City, a series of protests widely recognized as a catalyst for the modern LGBTQ+ rights movement. Today, Pride is observed around the world through festivals, marches and community celebrations.
“We hope that by next year we can resume our usual festival in June, but for now we are still creating space to celebrate where we can,” Jacobs wrote.
Jacobs said the board is always looking for new members. Anyone interested in joining or learning more can contact Three Rivers Pride through its Facebook page or by email at trpride1969@gmail.com.
Tickets are $15 in advance and $20 at the door. Advance tickets can be purchased through PurplePass.
Maxwell Knauer is a staff writer for Watershed Voice.
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