THE GROWTH AND POWER OF RURAL PRIDE EVENTS IN SMALL-TOWN AMERICA

When most people think of Pride, they picture city parades, big-name sponsors, and rainbow-soaked streets. But a quieter revolution is unfolding across the rural US—from Pikeville, Kentucky to small towns in Arizona—where LGBTQ+ communities are claiming space, visibility, and belonging in powerful ways. In this episode, Dr Michael Duignan speaks with Dr Beck Banks, whose research explores the rise and impact of small-town Pride festivals. Together, they uncover how these grassroots gatherings challenge metronormativity, resist far-right hostility, and build lasting community infrastructure—from youth programs to food drives. With stories of drag, danger, and deep resilience, Beck shows how rural prides disrupt tired stereotypes and remind us that queer life exists—and thrives—far beyond city limits. This conversation is a celebration of queer courage in unexpected places and a call to action for allies, funders, and organisers to support LGBTQ+ communities where they’re most overlooked, yet most needed.

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