NELA Pride

24/03/2025

Reminder: The 18+ support group meets tonight at 5:30 PM! 💙 This is a free, welcoming space—just text 318-600-5603 to register. For safety, the location will be shared upon registration.

Even if you don’t have something specific to share, your presence, solidarity, and support are just as valuable. Come build community and make connections! 🌿✨

Help us spread the word! We all need support right now, and you never know who might be looking for a space like this. Please like, share, and comment to help this reach the people who need it most. 💙

Side note: If you messaged and didn’t get a response, please check the number! We originally advertised the wrong one. The correct number to register for the adult support group (4th Mondays) or the teen hangout (2nd Mondays) is 318-600-5603.

21/03/2025

🏳️‍🌈Gather Your Squad – It’s Time to KICK IT! 🏳️‍🌈

Think you’ve got what it takes to claim Kickball Glory? Grab your friends, coworkers, or that one person who’s always a little too competitive, and sign up for the Kickin’ It with NELA Pride Kickball Tournament! 🌈🔥

💰 Only $10 to play!
👥 10-person teams – Create your own or sign up solo, and we’ll place you on a team!
🏆 Prizes for Best Team Name & Most Team Spirit – So get creative!

📅 Saturday, April 12th, 2025
📍 Chennault Park, Space 2 – Monroe, LA

💬 Tag your teammates below and start brainstorming your legendary team name! Let’s make this tournament the most fun, fabulous, and fierce kickball event ever! 🌟

21/03/2025

🚨 BOOTH APPLICATIONS NOW OPEN! 🚨

NELA Pride: The Festival 2025 is happening Saturday, June 28th, at the Monroe Civic Center—one of the only festivals in the A/C! ❄️🌈 TAG YOUR FAVORITE Maker, Creator, and Artists!!

Last year, we sold out of booth spaces, and we expect to do the same this year! Don't miss your chance to be part of NELA's biggest celebration of love, diversity, and community.

✨ Why vend at NELA Pride?
✅ Family-friendly & free to the public—meaning more money in attendees' pockets to shop with YOU!
✅ High foot traffic—thousands came through our doors last year!
✅ A welcoming, vibrant atmosphere where your business can shine!

🎪 Whether you’re an artist, crafter, nonprofit, or business, this is the perfect opportunity to showcase your work.

📍 Apply now before spots fill up! 👉 https://forms.gle/GnKsEiPuzqjLH7ya9

Tag your favorite vendors and spread the word! 💖🏳️‍🌈

20/03/2025

There are less than TWO weeks left to apply for a spot on our Leadership Team!!
Some of the questions we have gotten are:
"How much time does it take?"
(Answer: The pride planning committees meet every other week now - June. Meetings are usually an hour in the evening and most are virtual! We divide up action items to complete at different times and how it fits in our own schedules!)

"What do I have to do if I get it?"
(Answer: There are so many things that have to be done. If decorating is your passion, you can jump on that committee. If you are more of a logistical person - we work super hard to make the festival easy to navigate and safe so you can help us strategize! There is a place for all!

"What if I'm not in Monroe?"
(Answer: We are for all of Northeast Louisiana! So just apply!

Let us know what questions you have!

If you have any questions please contact [email protected]

19/03/2025

🌸🌈 Spring is HERE! 🌈🌸

The flowers are blooming, the sun is shining, and what better way to spend a beautiful spring day than Kickin’ It with NELA Pride?! ☀️⚽️

Join us for a fun-filled day of kickball, community, and creativity at our first-ever Kickin’ It with NELA Pride Kickball Tournament! Whether you're playing, cheering, or getting artsy with tie-dye, it’s the perfect way to welcome the season! 🌿✨

📅 Saturday, April 12th
📍 Chennault Park, Space 2 – Monroe, LA
💰 $10 to play | $20 for tie-dye
📝 Sign up by April 1st!

Tag your teammates, grab your sunscreen, and get ready for the ultimate spring kickoff! 🌈💖

***rSpringFling

18/03/2025

In honor of Transgender Visibility, we celebrate the remarkable contributions of trans artists who have enriched our cultural landscape. Here are a few trailblazers to inspire and uplift:​

Wendy Carlos
A pioneering composer and electronic musician, Wendy Carlos is renowned for her innovative work in electronic music and film scores, including "A Clockwork Orange" and "The Shining." ​

Shea Diamond
A soulful singer-songwriter, Shea Diamond's music reflects her experiences as a Black trans woman, with powerful songs advocating for authenticity and resilience. ​

Kim Petras
An international pop sensation, Kim Petras has broken barriers as a trans artist, delivering chart-topping hits and redefining pop music norms. ​

Let's continue to uplift and celebrate trans voices, fostering a community where everyone can express their true selves authentically.

16/03/2025

🌈👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Q***r Parent Meetup – April 5th at Forsythe Park! 👩‍👩‍👦‍👦🌈

Are you an LGBTQ+ parent or a parent of a q***r kid? Looking for support, connection, and community? Come join us for our next Q***r Parent Meetup on April 5th at Forsythe Park! 💖

This is a welcoming space to meet other parents, share experiences, and build a supportive network. Whether you're navigating parenting as an LGBTQ+ person or raising a q***r child, you’re not alone—let’s connect and grow together!

📍 Forsythe Park
📅 Friday, April 5th
⏰ 10 AM - 12 PM

Bring a chair, bring a friend, or just bring yourself—we’d love to see you there! Let’s build a strong, supportive community for ourselves and our kids. 💜

14/03/2025

Happy Holi, let the colors play their magic. Enjoy the day!

14/03/2025

Happy Purim to all who celebrate!

13/03/2025

OMG 😱 WE CAN'T CONTAIN OUR EXCITEMENT!!
💥🏳️‍🌈NELA Pride: The Festival 2025 planning is starting NOW!! 🏳️‍🌈💥

If you would like to be a part of the Leadership Team that organizes, coordinates, and plans this EPIC festival NOW is the time!

Apply Here: https://forms.gle/7JNLaQCZjAyYWt1y5

We are accepting applications ONLY through April 1st! So get your application in EARLY!

Interviews will be conducted on 04/09 (but subject to change!) Please help us spread the word by tagging your most creative allies and LGBTQ+ folks!

12/03/2025

🏳️‍🌈⚽️ ONE MONTH UNTIL KICKOFF! ⚽️🏳️‍🌈

We’re just ONE MONTH AWAY from Kickin’ It with NELA Pride sponsored by – our first-ever kickball tournament! 🌟 The teams are forming, the cleats (or heals - whichever you prefer) are ready, and the competition is about to be fierce! 🔥

💰 Only $10 to play! https://nela-pride.square.site/
👥 10-person teams – Sign up solo or with a squad!
🏆 Prizes for Best Team Name & Most Team Spirit!
📅 Game Day: Saturday, April 12th, 2025
📍 Chennault Park, Space 2 – Monroe, LA
📝 Last Day to Register: April 1st!

💬 Tag your teammates and sign up today! Who’s ready to KICK IT? 👟⚡

***rKickball

12/03/2025

🥹🥹 both of these folks are just the absolute best. Right now with funding being slashed across the country, we have had so many incredible people step in to help make sure we can raise the funds needed to pay for NELA Pride: The Festival 2025. Thank you so much Toadily Handmade and Parish Pride Apparel

10/03/2025

🌟 On This Day in LGBTQ+ History: The Birth of ACT UP 🌟

On March 10, 1987, the AIDS Coalition to Unleash Power (ACT UP) was founded in New York City in response to the devastating AIDS crisis. 🏳️‍🌈✊

With the government ignoring a public health emergency and pharmaceutical companies dragging their feet on life-saving treatments, activists came together to demand action. Through powerful protests, die-ins, and relentless advocacy, ACT UP forced the world to pay attention, paving the way for better treatments, policy changes, and increased awareness of HIV/AIDS.

💡 Their work reminds us that activism saves lives. The fight for healthcare, equality, and dignity continues, and we honor those who stood up when it mattered most.

💬 Drop a 💜 in the comments to honor the activists who fought for progress!

10/03/2025

Don't forget!!
TONIGHT is our first LGBTQ+ Teen Hangout. See Details below:

Looking for a space where your teen can feel seen, supported, and part of a real community? Community isn’t just a word—it’s belonging, connection, and a safe place to be yourself. And that’s exactly what we’re building with our FREE Teen Hangout on Monday, March 10th, at 5:30 PM!
✨ What to Expect:
✅ Fun icebreakers to get to know each other
✅ Snacks (because what’s a hangout without snacks?!)
✅ A welcoming environment where every teen is valued
We want this program to grow into exactly what these teens need—a space to support them, empower them, and help them find their people. 💜
📍 Important Details:
🔹 Must register – Call or text (318-600-5603)
🔹 Parental release required before participating
🔹 Absolutely FREE

10/03/2025

I SUPPORT TRANSGENDER RIGHTS AND EQUALITY

09/03/2025

🌈 Did you know? March is Bisexual Health Awareness Month! 💖💜💙

This month is all about highlighting the unique health disparities that bisexual individuals face and promoting well-being in the community. From mental health to access to inclusive healthcare, raising awareness helps create a healthier, more supportive world for bi+ folks.

Let’s uplift, educate, and advocate for better care and understanding! 🏳️‍🌈✨

For information and resources, you can visit bihealthmonth.org

08/03/2025

🚺🚺 Happy International Women's Day!🎉🎉

DYK: The first IWD was celebrated in 1911 in Austria, Denmark and Germany. 🤔🤔

This year's IWD theme is “For ALL Women and Girls: Rights. Equality. Empowerment"

"This is a call... for action that can unlock equal rights, power and opportunities for all and a feminist future where no one is left behind. Central to this vision is empowering the next generation—youth, particularly young women and adolescent girls—as catalysts for lasting change." (from the United Nations).

You can read more about International Women's Day here: https://www.un.org/en/observances/womens-day 📖

How are you celebrating women and women's contributions today? 🚺🚺🗣💅

08/03/2025

🌈✨ Which NELA Pride event are you MOST excited for? ✨🌈

⚽️ Kickin’ It with NELA Pride – A friendly kickball tournament full of fun & community!
🐶 RuPaw’s Drag Race – A fabulous pet drag show & fundraiser with The Pawty Bus!
💬 Small Groups – Safe, supportive spaces for teens & adults to connect!
🎉 Pride Festival in June – The BIG celebration we’ve all been waiting for!

Vote below and let us know what you’re looking forward to the most! 💖🔥