Proud party: Southern New Mexico Pride celebrates the LGBTQ+ community in Las Cruces

Sep. 26—June is Pride Month, a month dedicated to celebrating LGBTQ+ communities across the country.

For the Southern New Mexico Pride organization, Pride festivities continue into the fall with the SNMP's Celebration.

"Down here in southern New Mexico, we understand that traditionally, Pride is celebrated in June," said Brian Kraft, a volunteer at the festival. "However, it's a little hot down here during that time, so we pushed it off and decided to celebrate in October."

For over a week, SNMP will host various LGBTQ+ events across Las Cruces. The celebration started on Wednesday, Sept. 25, where participants gathered at local restaurants to enjoy the evening with dinner. On Friday, Sept. 27, guests are invited to the Glitter Ball, an event where participants can wear a costume based on various themes and compete for a prize. Guests are also invited to perform at the Glitter Ball. The event will be hosted by local drag queens.

Popular local drag queen Ivonna Bump will host the Pride Kickoff Drag Show at 8 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 28. Tickets are $10 per person.

Other events like Gaymer Night, a night for queer gamers to relax and play video games together; Pride Karaoke; a special showing of "Kinky Boots" for the Pride Movie night; and the Pride Family Picnic will occur during the week, leading up to the biggest celebration on Saturday, Oct. 5, where thousands of people will gather to watch 25 parade floats drive down the streets of Las Cruces for the second annual pride parade.

The parade will begin at the Rotunda at 4 p.m. and end at the Plaza de Las Cruces, 100 N. Main St. In-between the entertainment, five different food trucks and over 50 vendors will be at the plaza for visitors to shop and eat to their hearts content. The celebration will last from 4 to 10 p.m., with entertainment throughout the night for people of all ages.

"Hopefully we continue to grow and spread our word and message for the LGBTQ+ community," Kraft said. "Silence equals deaths. So we need to be out there, we need to be heard and recognized, and this is part of that process."

This event is not just for adults, it's an evening for the entire family. The celebration includes special activities for kids including telescope viewing sponsored by the New Mexico State University Astronomy Club and other children's activities including games like cornhole and meeting adoptable pets from PetSmart.

The event is open to all, not just people from the LGBTQ+ community.

"We welcome all friends, allies, the curious, all of the Borderland to come out and find out who we are and be with us," Kraft said.

Kraft added that the festival is a great opportunity to connect with the community, who has open arms for all who want to attend and learn more.

"Coming from someone from northern Minnesota, this has been one of the most welcoming LGBTQIA+ communities that I've ever been part of," Kraft said. "We've been welcomed with open arms into this community and it's been a fantastic experience. I just can't get over how welcoming for all races, creeds, colors, belief systems that this community has been. And, we welcome everyone at our Pride community (celebration)."