Kansas City to host Trans Community Town Hall, other LGBTQ+ events ahead of PrideFest

Kansas City officials have planned a variety of events this week to honor and celebrate the LGBTQ+ community ahead of the city’s annual PrideFest.

From 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. Wednesday, city and local trans leaders will host the Kansas City Trans Community Town Hall at the Bruce R. Watkins Cultural Center to discuss actions and accountability in response to recent anti-trans legislation in Kansas and Missouri.

Monica Beverly Hillz, a trans activist and former contestant on “RuPaul’s Drag Race All Stars,” will give the keynote address, and city leaders like Mayor Quinton Lucas will also speak. Several trans leaders, including J.D. Bezares, Kendall Martinez-Wright, Kelly Nou and Treshawn Roberts, will also be honored with state and local awards.

The event is free, but organizers ask that attendees register beforehand.

Later this week, officials plan to raise the Pride progress flag at City Hall. The event was originally planned for Wednesday morning, but will be rescheduled.

A rainbow crosswalk was installed in all four directions at Broadway Boulevard and Westport Road outside of Fountain Haus. The installation also includes a Pride mural at the intersection.

KC PrideFest will last from Friday through Sunday at Theis Park, featuring performances, food, family acitivities and other entertainment. The event is open for all ages and all activities and entertainment on Sunday will be family friendly.

Tickets are $5 each day, but children 12 and younger can enter for free. Attendees can buy tickets online here or purchase with cash or credit at the gate.

The Pride parade will start at 11 a.m. Saturday at Broadway and Westport. It will continue onto Mill Creek Parkway, turn left onto Emmanuel Cleaver II Boulevard and end at Theis Park. The parade is free to attend, and a map of the route can be found here.