Editor’s note: The following information was provided by Whitewater Unites Lives.

More than 225 people attended Whitewater’s first Pride Rally on October 23. Students from the Whitewater High School Gay-Straight Alliance and the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater’s PB Poorman Pride Center and IMPACT, along with the Unity Project, Studio 84, First United Methodist Church, The Book Teller, and Whitewater Unites Lives (WUL) all joined the community to celebrate, with heartfelt presentations from students, festive music by volunteer members of the Warhawk Marching Band, original songs by Felix Ramsey, “Rainbow Connection” by Christine Hayes, and drag performances by students Victorya Atwood, Kayos Mirage, and Phelonee.
Dalee Water donated water, Ginny Coburn donated rainbow-iced cookies, Pat and Mark Bromley donated granola bars, Whitewater Unites Lives donated rainbow pins, Family Equality Council donated flags and more.  The Whitewater Arts Alliance shared their electricity, tents and tables.  Studio 84 provided materials and a location to create signs on Friday. Zach Popke from Whitewater Community TV set up and ran all of our sound for the event…and the list goes on! 

Camden Harlan (she/her/hers) is an advisor for the Whitewater High School Gay-Straight Alliance. She said, “The October 23rd event was nothing short of spectacular. Our Gay-Straight Alliance student-members had the absolute best time, making memories that they will always be able to look back on, especially during those times when they need it most. I have never seen them smile so much! Their favorite part was the drag show! Several high school students had the courage to get up on stage and tell their story to people who cheered them on. And then the most amazing thing happened: suddenly other students from the middle school, high school, and college gathered up the courage to tell their stories, too. To top it all off, our club sold T-shirts and collected donations that will fund one full WHS Pride Scholarship this spring!”