Hundreds gather in City Park for Pride event | News, Sports, Jobs



Images by Douglass Huxley
A group of attendees obtain shade in the course of Saturday’s Pride in the Park event at Metropolis Park in Parkersburg.
PARKERSBURG — A bright array of colours and smiling faces could be identified at Parkersburg Town Park Saturday for Out MOV’s second once-a-year Satisfaction in the Park event celebrating the LGBTQIA+ group.
Booths had been set up, prizes ended up handed out and live enjoyment for the working day was presented by area musicians The Janes, Smokestack Betty, The Homosexual Agenda, and Back Porch Alibi.
“Out MOV has five booths established up these days. There is art, a spin wheel, a neat-off station and a merch store which is nearly offered out,” mentioned volunteer Casey Moore. “We experienced boxes and boxes of products for sale, but we have viewed effectively in excess of 500 people today and many stopped back again by far more than the moment.”
Out MOV performs to link local community users with products and services and companies that enrich and support their lives, so there have been data booths established up as well to supply attendees with community resources.
One of those people was Avoid WV Suicide, where by Jason Ferrebee, who is effective with Westbrook Overall health Providers as well, could be observed handing out screenings and training about 988.
Little ones perform with bubbles in front of the phase throughout Saturday’s Satisfaction in the Park event at Metropolis Park in Parkersburg.
“(The) 988 (line) will officially start in the middle of July, but it can presently be known as,” he stated.
The quantity 988 has been selected as the new a few-digit dialing code that will route callers to the Nationwide Suicide Prevention Lifeline. Ferrebee described that this has been in the functions for a even though now.
“In July 2020, the FCC adopted principles designating this new cell phone number for people today in disaster to join with suicide prevention and mental health crisis counselors,” he claimed. “In November 2021, the FCC adopted regulations to broaden accessibility to the National Suicide Avoidance Lifeline by setting up the means to textual content 988 to instantly get to the Lifeline to much better guidance at-risk communities in crisis, together with youth and people with disabilities. The changeover will final result in phone support suppliers and included text providers directing all 988 calls and texts to the present Nationwide Suicide Avoidance Lifeline by July 16, 2022.”
Till then, people can simply call 1-800-273-8255 or textual content 741741 for help.
Out MOV was started in 2019 ahead of the pandemic strike, building it more durable for it to fundraise and get out in the local community, mentioned Jeanne Peters, vice president of the group. But previous year’s inaugural function definitely assisted them unfold the word and increase, she stated.
People today could be found in teams soothing beneath trees and having fun with the enterprise and occasion through Saturday’s Delight in the Park party at Metropolis Park in Parkersburg.
“I assume with every single yr that passes, we see more individuals experience comfy to appear out and bring mates and spouse and children with them,” Peters explained. “I am happy to see absolutely everyone savoring it.”
Peters said there was of training course a tiny get worried when placing up.
“I know the believed crossed my brain ‘What if no one comes,’ but in this article we are with far more than double the folks from final 12 months,” she mentioned.
Peters mentioned that the volunteers and firm are now setting up matters for up coming year’s occasion.
“I am happy I could arrive out with all my good friends,” said Max Winter season, 14. “I believe it is amazing that we can acquire and rejoice Pride Month with each other — and feel protected to do so.”
Flags had been amongst 1 of the more well known products sold at Pleasure in the Park Saturday in Parkersburg Town Park.
Madeline Scarborough can be achieved at [email protected].
Pictures by Douglass Huxley
A crowd of attendees discover shade throughout Saturday’s Satisfaction in the Park party at City Park in Parkersburg.
A team of buddies Paul Winter, 12 Ben Almanzar, 13 Zeke Almanzar, 14 Max Wintertime, 14 Byron Hupp, 14 Myklyn Brown, 14 and Hannah Duckworth, 12, do art tasks alongside one another at the Pride in the Park event Saturday at Parkersburg Metropolis Park.
Isabelle Humphrey spins the wheel of prizes at the Out MOV tent through Parkersburg’s Satisfaction in the Park occasion Saturday at City Park.
Back Porch Alibi warms up in the course of Saturday’s Satisfaction in the Park event at Town Park in Parkersburg. Reside entertainment for the day was also offered by regional musicians The Janes, Smokestack Betty and The Homosexual Agenda.
Meg Rataiczak, of Lady Envy Tattoo in Marietta, raffled off a absolutely free tattoo through Saturday’s Pride in the Park at Metropolis Park in Parkersburg.
Sara Hess, from the United Way Alliance of the Mid-Ohio Valley, hands out stickers Saturday for the duration of Pleasure in the Park at Metropolis Park in Parkersburg.








