On May 6 -8, Norman’s LGBTQ+ community gathered to celebrate Norman Pride’s annual festival. The festival featured local musicians, businesses, restaurants and drag performers. The weekend concluded with a parade down Main St. All photos were taken by Karoline Leonard.
Riding on top of an EMSSTAT vehicle, a paramedic holds a pride flag and passes out candy during Norman Pride’s parade. Photo by: Karoline LeonardListening to the music performance, a young couple shares an intimate moment at Norman Pride’s festival on Saturday. Norman Pride featured local musical artists and Drag performers for the event. Photo by: Karoline LeonardAt their booth, an artist paints a pride flag on a young boy’s face. Over the weekend, Norman’s LGBTQ+ community gathered in Andrew’s Park to celebrate Norman Pride. Photo by: Karoline LeonardKate Bierman, who is running for house district 44 representative, marches in Norman Pride’s parade to support the LGBTQ+ community. Photo by: Karoline LeonardWaving to the crowd, the crowned King of Norman Pride passes out candy during the annual Pride parade. Photo by: Karoline LeonardSticking her hand outside of a limo, a member of Norman Pride’s parade waves a pansexual flag. Photo by: Karoline LeonardDuring Norman Pride’s annual parade, a young girl gathers candy while holding a pride flag. Photo by: Karoline LeonardWhile performing at Norman Pride’s festival on Saturday, a local performer interacts with the growing crowd. Photo by: Karoline LeonardA member of the First Congregational Church of Norman waves and greets the crowd gathered for Norman Pride’s annual parade. Photo by: Karoline LeonardA paramedic rides a mechanical bull while her coworkers cheer her on during Norman Pride’s festival in Andrew’s Park. Photo by: Karoline LeonardMembers of St. Paul’s Episcopal Church gather in a float for Norman Pride’s parade on Sunday. Photo by: Karoline LeonardAt Norman Pride’s festival, vendors set up booths to sell merchandise and support the LGBTQ+ community. The Gayley is an LGBTQ+ community-focused media outlet in Oklahoma. Photo by: Karoline LeonardParamedics laugh while their coworker falls off of a mechanical bull at Norman Pride’s festival. Photo by: Karoline LeonardMembers of Norman’s LGBTQ+ community parade down Main St. as part of Norman Pride’s annual celebration. Photo by: Karoline LeonardDuring Norman Pride’s festival, a local musician sings both covers and original music to entertain the growing crowd. Photo by: Karoline LeonardThe Abbey Church leads the Norman Pride parade in downtown Norman. Multiple church congregations came out to support the local LGBTQ+ community. Photo by: Karoline LeonardAs organizers of the event, members of Norman Pride’s board and staff march in the annual parade last before heading to the afterparty at a local restaurant. Photo by: Karoline LeonardThe LGBTQ+ community in Norman gathered on Main St. over the weekend to celebrate Pride in the midst of recent targeted legislative attacks. Photo by: Karoline LeonardHolding a bisexual flag, a young girl marches alongside her friends in Norman Pride’s annual parade. Photo by: Karoline LeonardSage Chanell, a local drag queen, hosts the annual Norman Pride parade on Main St. Photo by: Karoline Leonard
On April 5, protestors gathered on the steps of the Oklahoma State Capitol to protest an emergency bill that effectively banned abortion throughout the state, now known as one of the most restrictive abortion bans in the country.
All photos were taken by Karoline Leonard for JMC 3003 at Gaylord College of Journalism and Mass Communication.
Standing on the steps of the state capitol, a young protestor joins her family to fight against the restrictive abortion bills moving through Oklahoma legislature. The bill, quickly signed by Gov. Kevin Stitt, makes the majority of abortions a felony in the state. Photo by: Karoline LeonardAs Planned Parenthood calls the rally together, a protestor creates a sign outside of the Oklahoma state capitol. Photo by: Karoline LeonardHolding a banner saying, “Bans Off Our Bodies”, protestors stand on the capitol steps to chant in unison against restrictive abortion bans in Oklahoma. Senate Bill 612 advanced on April 5 and was quickly signed into law by Gov. Kevin Stitt later that week. Photo by: Karoline LeonardKicking off the rally, Tamya Cox-Touré, executive director of the American Civil Liberties Union-Oklahoma, announces that the bill was just approved to the crowd. Cox-Touré previously worked as an attorney and lobbyist in the state, and she joined Planned Parenthood of Oklahoma to host the rally. Photo by: Karoline LeonardAs the rally comes together, an Indigenous woman gives a land acknowledgement statement before expressing her own feelings regarding the abortion bill, discussing the intersectionality for Native American rights with reproductive rights. Photo by: Karoline LeonardA female protestor lifts above the crowd her picket sign, which urges lawmakers to focus on reproductive rights and the right to privacy. Many protestor expressed their anger about the bill and others like it, especially since public testimony was not allowed. Photo by: Karoline LeonardListening to directors and nurses from Planned Parenthood speak, two members of the rally stand together, chanting “her body, her choice.” Photo by: Karoline LeonardAfter breaking for lunch, Planned Parenthood hands out shirts and banners for protestors to use outside of the state capitol. The protestors later moved inside to rally in the rotunda in protest of Oklahoma’s restrictions on public testimony for the abortion bill. Photo by: Karoline LeonardStanding amidst the crowd, a protestor holds their sign and shouts alongside other members of the rally. Photo by: Karoline LeonardOutside the Oklahoma state capitol, protestors, volunteers and students hold a “hands off our bodies,” begging for state officials to vote against Senate Bill 612. Later, organizers of the event announced the bill had passed. Photo by: Karoline Leonard
