ST. PAUL - After a forced hiatus due to the pandemic, Celebrate Pride St. Paul was back in full force on Sunday afternoon.
The event happened for the first time ever in 2019, and was unable to happen in 2020 and 2021. But on June 12, Reunion Station was filled with people of all ages, and bursting with positive messages of inclusion and encouragement.
Pride St. Paul is a local group run by volunteers, and includes a number of partners and sponsors. A special art project saw participants take a seat to paint on Sunday afternoon, while handmade buttons and pronoun stickers were also handed out.
Four guest speakers took time to share their stories during the afternoon event, including Chelsea Steinhauer, John Braga, Tanya Charnohos and Jane Zelez. And snacks and a barbecue rounded up the day.
Steinhauer recalled how it is much different now than when she was growing up, "which I love." Steinhauer encouraged people to simply be themselves, although she acknowledged it took her a while to find that for herself.
"Look at us now. Out moving proudly. Showing the world how much confidence we have," said Steinhauer.
Speaking next was John Braga. Originally from the Elk Point area, Braga works as a junior high math teacher at FG Miller Jr/Sr High School.
He admits that he was pretty oblivious as a child, and remembers how everyone kept saying that once he hit puberty he would like girls. With a laugh, he noted, he went to university thinking he hadn't hit puberty yet. While completing his post-secondary education in Edmonton, he had an epiphany and realized he was gay.
Looking back, Braga says it was good timing, and gave his family space and time to process things. He says he was also so busy doing other things - such as being a university student - that he slowly slid into understanding who he was.
When an opportunity to return home for work came up, he took it. While he admits that his husband may have had a harder time adjusting to living in a small town, Braga says he does feel loved and included.
But, while many people's attitudes and actions have changed for the better over the years, there are still many covert things that are said, and Braga continues to help educate people.
Both Chornohos and Zelez spoke about how they were married for a number of years and had children before they realized they were attracted to women.
"When I realized I was attracted to women, I was very fearful," acknowledged Chonohos.
While Zelez noted, "We don't have control over who we fall in love with... We just know that we did."
