Sunday HoCo Pride celebration at Color Burst Park aims to be safe space for all

Alisha Tronetti remembers being the only member of her high school’s Gender Sexuality Alliance during her sophomore year, and having few places to explore her identity. Now as the CEO and co-chair of HoCo Pride, a nonprofit organization that hosts events and programs to support and advocate for LGBTQ+ youth in Howard County, Tronetti aims to “be the person” she wishes she had been when she was younger.

On Sunday at Columbia’s Color Burst Park, HoCo Pride will host a Pride celebration with a pet parade, pet costume contest, chalking, vendors, drag story time and community award announcements. Local elected officials, such as state Sen. Clarence Lam and Howard County Sheriff Marcus Harris, are expected to attend the event, which runs from 9:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.

“It’s important to be able to provide spaces for kids to really explore themselves,” Tronetti said. “Events like this are a fun way for them to just be able to explore and exist and adventure out and see who they want to be.”

The event, which takes place during Pride Month, is a way to celebrate LGBTQ+ identities before Howard County’s larger festival in October, according to Abby Hendrix, co-chair of HoCo Pride.

For Hendrix, who also serves as the nonprofit’s chief organizing officer, the event is also a way to connect with the community. Howard County is special in its support for LGBTQ+ youth, she added.

“Howard County is one of a few counties that really strives to create a safe space for all members, including the LGBTQIA community,” Hendrix said. “But we have to recognize that we are unique.”

HoCo Pride will announce the winner of the nonprofit’s student art contest on Sunday, Hendrix said. The winning design will be the nonprofit’s artwork for the year.

Sunday will also be HoCo Pride’s first pet parade and pet costume contest, Tronetti said. Bella Naughty, a drag queen in Howard County and another co-chair of HoCo Pride, will host a drag story time for attendees, according to the event’s flier.

Christopher Hefty, whose drag name is Bella Naughty, added that while they enjoy connecting with members of their community, they also see their younger self in some attendees.

“How awesome would it have been to read a book that I’m reading, that back when I was a kid in the ’90s and 2000s, did not exist?” Hefty said. “I want to give the community and the youth of this generation and the parents of the youth of this generation the opportunities that didn’t exist for me that should have.”

Three community members will also be recognized with awards for their continuous advocacy in events for LGBTQ+ people, Tronetti said.

“As a team, we often know it can be a field and a job that you do that goes unrecognized,” Tronetti said. “We just want to recognize the individuals that are putting in the time and are putting in the work and the energy.”

Local elected officials will also speak at Sunday’s event to give out citations or certificates “in support of the work of HoCo Pride,” Hendrix said.

For Hefty, Pride serves as a place to engage with their community in a comfortable environment with fun activities, and also as a space to support marginalized communities.

“Pride started out with protests,” Hefty said. “We’re continuing to protest against those that stand in the way of progress and equity and equality in our communities and within the world.”

For more information, visit howardcountypride.org.