Twelve Copper Basin residents gathered at the Glennallen Courthouse on June 6 for an LGBT Pride walk.
Resident Lori Van Sleet, who stated she has lived here for about twelve years, said she has never seen any other expression of LGBT visibility during the time she has been here. Van Sleet said, while bringing up the rear in a flag-festooned four wheeler, “It’s important to support people in the community who are LGBT. If you don’t believe in it, that’s fine, but you don’t have to be negative.”
Organizer Cynthia Beshaw shared some words in the parking lot before the walk began. Tearing up a bit, she said, “Pride touches me. It’s special to me. I’m a supportive mother. Accepting and belonging for who we are is what’s important.”
Vibrant Haxley shared while walking that she was excited to be among supportive people, quipping, ”I get to find out who the nice people are.” I asked what it is like having an unconventional appearance in this community. Haxley, who spent much of her childhood here, shared, “I spent a lot of years not being me. I don’t know what I was waiting for.”
Smiling a little, she added, “It hasn’t been too bad. It’s not the most progressive place on Earth but there’s only one way to change that.” I asked, “By being yourself?” and she said, “Yup!” continuing, “You live despite things until one day you don’t have to.” She expressed the hope that as people choose to live in the open, others will feel safe to live openly as they are, and a hope that the community will get used to it. “That’s what Pride is- it’s being visible.”
On being a trans person in Glennallen, Haxley said it is easier than she had expected, although it is “still hard.” She continued, “I guess I expected worse from people.”
The group stopped across from the IGA, waving little rainbow flags. A couple of drivers made “thumbs down” signs (literally thumbs down, not the other hand signal.). The vast majority drove on by or gave a friendly honk and wave.
Several attendees expressed relief that there were not more negative responses, and that there were no confrontations. One person pulled over and gave everyone a popsicle.
I asked Kristy Johns, who has roots in the Copper Basin and currently lives in Glennallen, how she was feeling. “I was nervous at first, but now I’m excited,” she said, continuing, “People need to realize it’s about love. We’re not pushing an agenda, we’re just celebrating who we are. I don’t understand the hatred.”
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