City Of Covington | City Of Covington website
City Of Covington | City Of Covington website
COVINGTON, Ky. – NKY Pride celebrates its 15th anniversary this week, marking the milestone with a weeklong celebration of inclusivity under the theme ‘Y’all Really Means All.’ What began as a small festival in MainStrasse Village has grown significantly, reflecting the city's welcoming spirit which city leaders attribute to attracting businesses and residents.
Covington Economic Development Director Tom West shared an anecdote about a company deciding to relocate to Covington after meeting Mayor Joe Meyer during Pride Week. “We were meeting at Hotel Covington when the Mayor (Joe Meyer) happened to walk in. He introduced himself and then began talking about the Pride parade which was happening that week,” said West. “When the mayor walked away, the head of the company turned to me and said, ‘The Mayor of this city just told us he’s leading this city’s Pride parade. This is where we want to be.’ They relocated their headquarters to Covington and our inclusivity was one of the determining factors.”
NKY Pride 2024 officially commenced on Tuesday with a teen youth party at the NKY Pride Center. The events will culminate Sunday with a parade through downtown Covington, followed by a festival at Goebel Park and an after-party drag show.
Bonnie Meyer, President of the Northern Kentucky Pride Center, emphasized the importance of this year’s celebration amidst increasing intolerance. “2024 has brought an unprecedented number of legislative attacks on the rights of LGBTQA+ individuals in Kentucky, making this an incredibly important time for our community and allies to come together,” she stated. “Pride is not just about celebrating but also (about) advocating as we work toward a better future for LGBTQA+ Northern Kentuckians.”
The City of Covington is NKY Pride 2024’s presenting sponsor and will have significant participation in Sunday’s parade. “Covington has always welcomed everyone, and the NKY Pride festivities are a great way to express our values to the rest of the world,” West remarked.
Mayor Joe Meyer noted growing regional support for LGBTQ rights, highlighting that nine other cities in Campbell and Boone counties have adopted ordinances banning discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity.
Sponsors for this year's events include meetNKY, Equitas Health, Smith Law & Associates, Aetna, altafiber, Pivot, US Bank, New Riff Distilling among others.
Upcoming events include:
- Thursday: A Rooftop Drag Show at Braxton Brewing Co.
- Friday: An NKY Pride Pop-Up Shop.
- Saturday: Another session of the NKY Pride Pop-Up Shop.
- Sunday: The main day featuring:
- NKY Pride Fest from noon to 5 p.m. at Goebel Park.
- Pop-Up Parade Party starting at 11 a.m.
- The Parade starting at noon.
- Official After Party from 5 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.
Proceeds from these events will benefit the NKY Pride Center.
Recently recognized by the Kentucky chapter of American Planning Association for Diversity, Equity & Inclusion efforts with its Special Merit Award for Diversity.
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