Erin Bailey, who organized the first Pride event in Columbus, Indiana, called the turnout "crazy."
The first Pride festival in Mike Pence’s hometown exceeded organizers’ expectations.
Erin Bailey, a high schooler in Columbus, Indiana, planned the city’s inaugural LGBT event as her senior project. The April 14 event spanned two blocks and featured 24 vendors, a drag show, and Pence impersonator “Mike Hot-Pence” posing for photos and taking donations for LGBT charities.
Most exciting for Bailey, though, was the turnout: Despite gloomy weather, more than 2,000 people showed up. Not bad for a town of some 47,000 people.
“It’s crazy. It’s awesome,” she told Indianapolis Star about the turnout.
Becky Gipson, who attended the festival with her wife, called the parade “an opportunity to send a message to Pence.” (She hopes to hold a similar event in her hometown of Lafayette, Indiana.) The vice president didn’t attend the festival himself, but a spokesperson claimed he was proud of Bailey.