Wichita Pride will host its annual Unity March on Saturday.
The march falls on the 50th anniversary of the Stonewall Riots, which marked the beginning of the gay rights movement in the United States.
The march will begin at 10 a.m. in Old Town Square and end with a picnic in Hyde Park, near Douglas and Greenwood.
To attend the picnic, participants must have a $5 Pride button.
Lynn Rogers, the lieutenant governor of Kansas, will be the keynote speaker at the march.
“Governor (Laura) Kelly and I want every member of the LGBTQ community – especially the young members – to know we see you, you matter, and your voices are important to the future of our state,” Rogers said in a news release.
Rogers previously represented Wichita as a state senator.
Other planned events include a double feature at the Orpheum Theatre at 6 p.m.
The Orpheum will show the documentary “After Stonewall” and the feature film “Love, Simon,” in partnership with Wichita Pride, Equality Kansas and GLSEN-Kansas.
“We have had film festivals before,” said Thomas Witt, executive director of Equality Kansas. “We haven’t had one since, I believe, 2012 as part of Pride events, and this year we’re going back to that.”
Admission to the screening is $10 and includes a Pride button. VIP packages are $25 and include a backstage tour of the Orpheum and snacks from Bonefish Grill.
Other events are planned for September to continue the celebration of Pride and the anniversary of the Stonewall Riots. The buttons purchased for this month’s events can also be used for September events.
Kylie Cameron is an intern in the KMUW News Lab.