Organizers of the 2015 Little Rock Central Pride Fest say there will be much to celebrate this weekend after the legalization of same-sex marriage nationwide this year.
Jennifer Pierce, chair of this year’s pride, said her group hopes for close to 2,000 marchers in the parade's third year in Arkansas.
She said she believes the parade is an important ritual celebration, in part because despite recent civil rights advances, there are still problems with bullying and rural isolation in the state.
“It's really a chance for everybody to come and see how things are changing and how much the tide has turned in matter of support for them even if they're not maybe experiencing that in their daily lives," she said.
Pierce said another cause for celebration for the LGBT community were modifications of House Bill 1228 which they said would have legalized forms of discrimination in Arkansas.
According to Pierce, an interfaith service will be held in front of the Clinton Presidential Center at 10 a.m. Sunday. The parade begins at 11:45 a.m. and the celebration is scheduled to last until 6 p.m.
