Editing Pride parade (section)

=====Rural & small-towns=====
[[File:First Pride March in Homer with dinosaur.jpg|alt=photo of Pride Parade in Homer, Alaska|thumb|First LGBTQ Pride Parade in [[Homer, Alaska]].]]
Pride festivals, celebrations of LGBTQ+ identity and community, are often associated with major metropolitan areas. However, rural and small-town America has witnessed a flourishing of pride events in recent decades.   While the exact number is difficult to pinpoint due to varying levels of promotion, estimates suggest that nearly half of all pride celebrations in the United States take place in towns with fewer than 50,000 residents.<ref name="ruralpride">{{Cite web |title=14 LGBTQ+ Pride Celebrations Held in Rural or Small-Town America |url=https://www.advocate.com/pride/2022/7/11/14-lgbtq-pride-celebrations-held-rural-or-small-town-america |access-date=2024-07-10 |website=www.advocate.com |language=en}}</ref> These rural pride festivals hold a special significance.  They provide a vital space for LGBTQ+ individuals in smaller communities to connect, celebrate their identities, and find acceptance.  In areas where isolation and discrimination can be more pronounced, pride festivals offer a sense of belonging and foster important social networks.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Publication Details: Small-Town Pride Celebrations Supporting Social Connectedness & Well-Being for LGBTQ+ Rural Residents - Rural Health Research Gateway |url=https://www.ruralhealthresearch.org/publications/1501 |access-date=2024-07-10 |website=www.ruralhealthresearch.org |language=en}}</ref>

Rural Pride festivals often possess a distinct character compared to their urban counterparts.  Events tend to be smaller in scale, fostering a closer-knit atmosphere. Local businesses and community organizations are frequently involved, lending the celebrations a personal touch.<ref name="ruralpride" /> Events may feature parades, drag performances, barbecues, potlucks, and line dancing.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Tribune |first=Erica Pearson Star |title='A total unicorn': How Pine City, Minn., became a pioneer in rural Pride |url=https://www.startribune.com/lgbtq-pride-pine-city-rural-gay-festival/600369820/ |access-date=2024-07-10 |website=Star Tribune}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Hernandez |first=Jen Hamilton |date=2022-06-23 |title=Small Town, Big Pride: A Wave of LGBTQ Celebrations Comes to Central Texas |url=https://www.texasmonthly.com/arts-entertainment/lgbtq-celebrations-central-texas/ |access-date=2024-07-10 |website=Texas Monthly |language=en}}</ref>

One rural pride event, the Borderland Pride parade, is a unique pride celebration held annually.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Stern |first=Randy |date=2022-05-19 |title=Borderland Pride {{!}} Lavender Magazine |url=https://lavendermagazine.com/featured-home-page/borderland-pride/ |access-date=2024-07-10 |language=en-US}}</ref> It takes place in [[International Falls, Minnesota]], United States, and concludes in [[Fort Frances, Ontario]], Canada, making it the only Pride march to cross an international border.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Pride Parade 2024: Pride Has No Borders – R & J Broadcasting Inc. |url=https://rjbroadcasting.com/pride-parade-2024-pride-has-no-borders/ |access-date=2024-07-10 |language=en-US}}</ref> Participants gather at Smokey Bear Park in International Falls before proceeding to the Canadian Border Services Agency office. After crossing the border, the march concludes at Rainy Lake Square in Fort Frances, where festivities including food and entertainment take place.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Pride |first=Borderland |date=2023-05-16 |title=Borderland Pride announces 2023 event line-up |url=https://www.borderlandpride.org/single-post/borderland-pride-announces-2023-event-line-up |access-date=2024-07-10 |website=borderlandpride |language=en}}</ref>