Melanin Pride, Pride-Games set for September in Louisville

Interview with Event Founder, Desiree Carr

What is the event date?

This year the Pride Games are September 13 – 15.

September 13th – 2816 Crums Lane

September 14 – George Rogers Clark Park, 1024 Thruston Ave

September 15 – 723 south brook Street 

What are the pride games?

They are fun safe space where people of the LGBTQ community can be themselves while bringing back a child hood playfulness with different events and games. We’re having all kinds of events for all ages of the community. We do welcome everyone to be part of the fun.

When did it come to be?

We started in August of 2017 with just one day of fun. It was just a basic game of kick ball between six teams. We let each team come out and play each other to win prizes and trophies donated by local businesses who wanted to participate.

We had free food, cotton candy and snow cones for everyone the whole day. We wanted to create a day where no one had to worry about  money. All they had to do was come to the park and we had the rest, good music, vendors and fun.

Who is involved with it?

The event was conceptualized and started by Desiree Carr and Chan Ponder with a small amount of businesses participating. Now, it’s us and all kinds of sponsors wanting to be participate in what we have slowly been building the last two years.

What does the day entail?

On Sept 13 from 11 p.m. to 4 a.m., we will be having the “Melanin Pride Stuck in the 90s” party. We will have a drag show while we enjoy nice drinks and great food.  We would love for people to dress up but they don’t have too.

On Sept 14, we will have our PrideGames field day. Six teams playing six or seven different games. We will have lots of water games and more! The last two teams standing this year will play a game of kick ball to determine the winner. We will have some good food by Twin Moore, free cotton candy and snow cones. We will also provide HIV testing.

September 15 is the poetry slam where we have 10 people giving there all for a chance to win 200 dollars cash.

What do you hope to do with this event in the future?

Consistency. I want to keep everything going and have a whole weekend of fun every year. I want to add more people to the weekend too. We have so many people in the community who are so gifted, why not have everyone sit down and create a way we all can win? Because that’s the goal — to see the LGBTQ community win and give us hope and a place to say this is for us and by us and smile while saying it knowing every word is true.

Why do you think this event is important?

Because we don’t have anything for the black LGBTQ community really to call our own. I want this to be one of the places they can say, “this is a place for me.” All are welcome!