It’s Pride Month — a celebration of the LGBTQ+ community. For the first time in Jackson’s history, official rainbow flags are flying over the town square.
On Monday, members from the local group Jackson Hole Pride, a group that says it is 100% queer run, filled the seats of the town chambers as Mayor Hailey Morton Levinson read a Pride proclamation.
It’s the second time the town has had an official Pride month — but the first time it’s put money towards it. Local council members unanimously approved paying for the Pride banners.
Local advocate Grant Gallaher told the council the rainbow banners help tell the LGBTQ+ community its welcome here.
JH Pride Steering Committee Members Grant Gallaher, Cheyenne Syvertson and Karyn Chin went to the state capitol earlier this year to fight for LGBTQ+ rights. (Courtesy of Karyn Chin)
“Some people are going to see [the banners] and feel it at a really deep level. Other people, it’s just going to be in the back of their vacation pictures,” Gallaher said. “All of those things really matter in terms of the visibility of Pride in our community and the ability for people to feel safe and supported and celebrated and joyous here in Jackson.”
The move comes amid efforts nationwide to create laws that dial back LGBTQ+ rights. Wyoming recently joined twenty states in banning trans girls from playing on female sports teams.
Pride in Jackson has been bubbling up in recent years. JH Pride has launched what may be the most ambitious pride schedule in the town’s history. The group is hosting a gender diversity picnic, hikes, climbs, disc golf, a queer prom drag show and — of course — a dance party.
KHOL News Director Tyler Pratt recently sat down with JH Pride’s Gallaher and Karyn Chin, who is also a local LGBTQ+ and womens’ rights advocate and KHOL advisory board member, to discuss Pride plans and what the month means to the community.
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The following interview transcript has been edited for clarity and brevity. This conversation was recorded on May 31.
