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Bemidji Pride Events This Saturday!

Christian Taylor-Johnson and Ben Cahill
Katie Carter
Christian Taylor-Johnson and Ben Cahill

Celebrating and Supporting Bemidji's LGBTQ+ Community

I love when people can be genuinely themselves and not feel like they have to wear a mask or hide who they genuinely are. I think it's it makes life easier for everybody when you can just be yourself…I just want to be myself, just unapologetically who I am, and this is who I am. Christian Taylor-Johnson

Rail River Folk School in Bemidji will host Bemidji Pride in celebration of all things LGBTQ+. Family-friendly events begin at 1pm and include speakers, vendors, food, kids activities and loads of fun. Saturday night Foxby will entertain at 7pm and the drag show begins at 8pm! After the drag show, a late night dance party will top the night off.

Ben Cahill and Christian Taylor-Johnson are part of the organizing team behind Bemidji Pride. In this Area Voices segment, they share very different personal experiences growing up and coming out, the positive power of occasions like Pride events, and advice for parents on how to best support their LGBTQ+ children.

It's really interesting how a lot of people think. Oh, well, you can do something to change it… A lot of people try to change before they even tell anyone… But, eventually you learn to accept it. I just came out to my mother last year, and the funny thing is… she knew she already knew…but, in her case, she didn’t want me to tell her… Ben Cahill

If you have an inkling…have open and honest communication with them, make them feel loved… I love you. I support you. And this is okay…you're a human being and…I love you… just support and love your children. Don't make them feel unaccepted…Parents are their number one support system in the world and they need you, especially in confusing moments like that, not necessarily knowing whether they’re gay or lesbian or bi or trans…these confusing emotions that are happening inside young children. – Christian Taylor-Johnson

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Katie Carter started at Northern Community Radio in 2008 as Managing Editor of the station's grant-funded, online news experiment Northern Community Internet. She returned for a second stint in 2016-23. She produced Area Voices showcasing the arts, culture, and history stories of northern Minnesota.