Last year, as the pandemic had canceled Pride events in Indianapolis and surrounding areas, a group of high school students stepped up to hold the first Carmel Pride. The event was so successful that it will return to Carter Green from 3 to 9 p.m. on Sunday, June 5.
The Reporter spoke to Carmel High School senior Ethan Stoehr, who was one of the founders and core organizers for both Carmel Pride 2021 and 2022.
“The first one was last year on June 27, 2021,” Stoehr said. “The pandemic was the reason we started it. I was looking to go to a Pride festival and there hadn’t been an in-person one in two years near me because Indy Pride was canceled, of course, and all the other ones were canceled. I told my friends, ‘Okay, we should see if we could organize our own here in Carmel.’ We were completely blown away by it. Despite the pandemic, people came out and we had a really good turnout.”
After only four short weeks of planning last May, Carmel Pride drew over 2,500 attendees. Stoehr called it a testament to the power of youth organizing.
“It is almost entirely organized by high schoolers,” Stoehr said. “There are couple adult helpers, but it is really about supporting not only the LGBT+ community, but young people as well. It’s about getting people involved in their community, giving us space to perform, to exhibit artwork or just to be themselves. We are really happy to have created a fun event for Carmel.”
After last year’s success, Stoehr told The Reporter the organizers are excited to repeat that this year and continue the inspiration.
“I got a ton of messages from people who said it inspired them to do this, this or this,” Stoehr said. “I think that’s really exciting to see because most of us were unaware of the effect that Carmel Pride had on people.”
Carmel City Councilmember Miles Nelson will speak on behalf of the city at the event.
“There are definitely some supporters of us in the city,” Stoehr said.
Organizers are bringing in a stage for live performances at Carter Green to be set up opposite the amphitheater. The amphitheater will be used as an artist area.
“We will have a lot of student performers but also professionals,” Stoehr said. “From 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. we’ve got a drag show with professional drag queens. That is in addition to the singing, dancing and poetry that will be going on throughout the entire event.”
According to Stoehr, no matter what one’s interest is, they are sure to find a space where they fit in at Carmel Pride, just as everyone in the LGBTQ+ community should feel in their own city.
Carmel Pride will take place from 3 to 9 p.m. on Sunday, June 5. Lear more online at CarmelPride.com and Instagram.com/carmelpride. The organizers can be reached at pridecarmel@gmail.com.