Nevada County Shows Its Pride
By Leo Murrell
Since the first Pride parade was held on June 28th, 1970 in New York City, cities across the nation have supported the queer community through joyous celebrations and events. Rural America has often been left out of these festivals, which are not only impactful but crucial for the LGBTQ+ community to find visibility and inclusivity. At the beginning of 2024, queer community leaders in my touristy mountain town of Truckee set a goal to host the town’s first-ever Pride celebration from June 3rd through 9th, which included 27 free events throughout the region in efforts to empower the town’s queer community. These events were made possible by generous donors from across the community and through the passionate leadership and organization of coordinators like David Mack. As one of the fun-filled events featured, youth leaders Eliot Lowe and I organized Truckee’s first annual Punk Pride Show hosted by The Aspen Collective (a 501(c)(3) non-profit), welcoming people of all ages in Truckee to celebrate Pride with a sober, safe outdoor punk rock concert. Notably, at Punk Pride we raised over $2,500 to send a local teen to queer summer leadership camp in the summer of 2025. Growing up in Truckee as a trans teenager has felt very isolating; however, after being able to represent and include teens like myself at last year's Truckee Pride Week, I am truly inspired to continue being the voice for queer youth in my rural town.
