by Tricia Dewey | photos courtesy of Gail Stratton and Kevin Cozart
The year was 1992… maybe 30 people were present. It was organized by NOW (the National Organization for Women). I am sure we heard about it from friends and I don’t know how else it was organized. We walked from Human Services building (across from the Federal Building) to campus. My memory is that about 30 people were present. The National Guard was meeting that day and heckled us from the sidewalk.
— Gail Stratton
1992 Oxford, Mississippi Pride Parade Participant
On May 4, 2019, in downtown Oxford, Miss., even a light drizzle couldn’t dampen the spirits of the approximately 300 or so participants and the same number of soggy parade-goers who lined the route and congregated in the Square at the fourth annual Oxford Pride parade. Pride parade in Mississippi you say? Why, yes indeed – a parade that has evolved and grown every year, and some would dare say is now welcomed by the Oxford business community. Gail Stratton, leader of North Mississippi PFLAG, participated in the first Pride parade in Oxford in 1992 organized by NOW that marched a short route along 9th Street to the Ole Miss campus. But unfortunately, the tradition didn’t continue. Not until 2016 when English MFA student Matt Kessler came to the Sarah Isom Center for Women and Gender Studies at the University of Mississippi with the idea for a parade in Oxford did the current tradition begin.
Not only did Kessler generate the idea, he applied for the parade permit and returned to the Isom Center with a date certain. Jaime Harker, University of Mississippi English professor and director of the center, realized they would have to quickly teach themselves to organize a parade. Even though they were already well into parade planning, the passage in February 2016 of Mississippi HB 1523, the homophobic religious freedom law, galvanized many factions into participating in the parade and coming out to show their support for inclusivity in Oxford. “A lot of people want[ed] to show that they didn’t like that law and they wanted to stand up and so we had a number of allies crop up. Over half of the parade were allies in that first Pride parade.” And according to Harker, those percentages have stayed consistent where about half of supporters are those who don’t identify as LGBTQ.
This support is what makes Oxford Pride work in their small town with many allies involved including OutOxford, Lafayette Dems, First Regional Library staff, and the Episcopal church, which hands out bottled water labeled “God loves you” during the parade. The Saturday parade is now the centerpiece of events that begin on Thursday night with a film screening by Oxford Film Fest. Friday night is Lavender graduation, a university event honoring LGBTQ+ graduates, and a Code Pink dance party organized by OutOxford. Saturday brings the parade during the day and a drag show in the evening at the Lyric Theater. The weekend culminated this year on Sunday with Out in the Park, a barbecue and softball game, in what is a new alcohol-free event.
In their first (since 1992) Pride parade in 2016 they didn’t really know what to expect. They (had) heard there were protesters but as they turned the corner toward the Square, “there was this roar, a cheer, like they were so excited, people were all lined up, were throwing out Mardi Gras beads, candy, kids are running, they’re excited about it.
— Jamie Harker, Director of the Sarah Isom Center for Women and Gender Studies at The University of Mississippi
The parade itself starts on campus at the train depot and makes its way to the Square. Harker says, “That’s where they [spectators] load up on Mardi Gras beads and they’re on the balconies, that’s where most of the action is….We got lucky [this year] that we didn’t have a downpour until we were done, so the crowds watching were a little lower, but I was really proud of the marchers, they all showed up, they were super enthusiastic.” In their first Pride parade in 2016 they didn’t really know what to expect. They heard there were protesters but as they turned the corner toward the Square, “there was this roar, a cheer, like they were so excited, people were all lined up, were throwing out Mardi Gras beads, candy, kids are running, they’re excited about it. They like the fact that it kind of marks Oxford as a place that’s inclusive, and people are invested in it.” Enthusiasm for the event has expanded to businesses in Oxford and even to neighboring Water Valley.
According to Harker, “We’ve seen a slight but steady growth in the parade each year including groups and individuals, but the biggest growth seems to be with the rise of Prides in North Mississippi. Since our first parade in 2016, Starkville has started its own Pride parade and Delta State University has created its Okra Out Front Pride festival as well as Tupelo Pride. Pride parades are growing in North Mississippi and across the state.” That legacy is the one that she is most proud of. “I’m proudest of people saying, ‘hey, Oxford had a parade, why can’t we have one?’ You can! You should do it! Tell your friends.” Oxford Pride during Pride month has become part of Oxford life just like the Christmas parade and fall Homecoming parade. “It’s just one of the things we do.”
For the first two years, Harker led the parade with GoDiva (emcee of the drag event) in her Mini Cooper. This past year, in a nice turn of roles, the retired police chief Captain Libby Lytle rode her motorcycle as part of the two Dykes on Bikes who lead the parade. Harker shouts out to Focus readers: “Lesbians of any gender, if you ride a motorcycle and want to lead a parade, please contact me!”
For the first two years, Harker led the parade with GoDiva (emcee of the drag event) in her Mini Cooper. This past year, in a nice turn of roles, the retired police chief Captain Libby Lytle rode her motorcycle as part of the two Dykes on Bikes who lead the parade. Harker shouts out to Focus readers: “Lesbians of any gender, if you ride a motorcycle and want to lead a parade, please contact me!”
