MUNCIE, Ind. – Pride is an important day for many members of the LGBTQ+ community. This famous festival was made possible thanks to Muncie Outreach, which is typically held in June, during Pride Month. Since 2020, however, Outreach has been holding the event in September to ensure that Ball State students can attend.
Outreach was founded in 2012 by Laura Janney, who was on the lookout to find a safe space for not only her son, but also the Muncie community. Janney wants to ensure that students and queer youth who attend Pride have a place where they feel included and not isolated.
“My goal was that I had a gay son, and at twelve, there were no safe spaces in Muncie,” Janney stated. “We used to drive an hour to Indianapolis to go to an Indiana youth group, and he found his tribe there, so we decided Muncie needed the same thing.”
For Janney, creating a safe space was always the mission. To help grow the organization, Outreach’s Executive Director, Brett Ellison, helped plan the Muncie Pride event to bring in new members and people from other surrounding areas.
“We're not just Muncie; we also serve the county, and we serve surrounding counties as well. We just want you to know that you’re welcome,” Ellison stated.
They have been helping with Outreach since June and have continued to support the queer community since then. Muncie’s Outreach organization is a nonprofit that has not only created a fun event for people to express themselves, but they have also continued to foster a welcoming environment for LGBTQ+ youth.
Outreach member, Eclipse, stated, “I would say no matter who you are, or what you’re going through, that you are valid,” who was excited to get to be at pride and celebrate being themself with their friend Luna.
With about 50 members, Muncie Outreach is always looking to expand. If you are interested, check out their website here.
Contact Noah Lyda with comments at noah.lyda@bsu.edu
