More than 2,500 people hit the streets of Starkville, Mississippi, on Saturday for the pride parade that almost wasnt.
Starkville had been thrust into the national spotlight last month, when the Starkville Board of Aldermen denied a permit to the local LGBTQ advocacy group, Starkville Pride, to host the towns first-ever pride parade.
Starkville Pride officials then filed a lawsuit against the city after the boards decision, saying town officials had discriminated against LGBTQ residents and violated free speech rights.
The board of aldermen reversed its decision on March 6, with the towns mayor, Lynn Spruill who had already been in favor of the parade casting the deciding vote , allowing plans for the festivities to move ahead.
It's safe to say Starkville's first ever #LGBT Pride Parade was a huge success ! pic.twitter.com/WVMInyXNMC
Logan Kirkland (@CaptainKirk_) March 24, 2018","type":"rich","meta":{"author":"Logan Kirkland","author_url":"https://twitter.com/CaptainKirk_","cache_age":86400,"description":"It's safe to say Starkville's first ever #LGBT Pride Parade was a huge success ! pic.twitter.com/WVMInyXNMC Logan Kirkland (@CaptainKirk_) March 24, 2018\n\n","provider_name":"Twitter","title":"Logan Kirkland on Twitter","type":"rich","url":"https://twitter.com/CaptainKirk_/status/977639328196235264","version":"1.0"},"flags":[],"fullBleed":false,"options":{"theme":"news","device":"mobile","editionInfo":{"id":"us","name":"U.S.","link":"https://action.news","locale":"en_US"},"originalEdition":"us","isMapi":false,"isAmp":false,"isVideoEntry":false,"isEntry":true,"isMt":false,"entryId":"5ab96d89e4b008c9e5fa6a43","entryPermalink":"https://action.news/entry/starkville-pride-parade-turnout_n_5ab96d89e4b008c9e5fa6a43","entryTagsList":"lgbtq,lgbt,gay-pride,pride-parade,starkville-mississippi,queer-voices,impact,politics,@health_depression,@health_ibs,@health_models","sectionSlug":"queer-voices","deptSlug":"voices","sectionRedirectUrl":null,"subcategories":"impact,politics","isWide":false,"headerOverride":null,"noVideoAds":false,"disableFloat":false,"isNative":false,"commercialVideo":{"provider":"custom","site_and_category":"us.queer-voices","package":null},"isHighline":false,"vidibleConfigValues":{"cid":"60afc111dcf87c2cd2f5d8bf","overrides":{"front_page_top_videos":{"desktop":"60b64354b171b7444beaff4d","mobileweb":"60b64354b171b7444beaff4d"},"top_media":{"desktop":"60b8e6bdc5449357a7ada147","mobile":"60b8e701c5449357a7ada2ee","iphone":"60b8e643cdd90620331bb1f6","ipad":"60b8e643cdd90620331bb1f6","androidphone":"60b8e699c5449357a7ada04c","androidtablet":"60b8e699c5449357a7ada04c"},"anthology":{"desktop":"60b8e616cdd90620331bb0ba","mobile":"60b8e671c5449357a7ad9f66","iphone":"60b8e643cdd90620331bb1f6","ipad":"60b8e643cdd90620331bb1f6","androidphone":"60b8e699c5449357a7ada04c","androidtablet":"60b8e699c5449357a7ada04c"},"content":{"desktop":"60b8e616cdd90620331bb0ba","mobile":"60b8e671c5449357a7ad9f66","iphone":"60b8e643cdd90620331bb1f6","ipad":"60b8e643cdd90620331bb1f6","androidphone":"60b8e699c5449357a7ada04c","androidtablet":"60b8e699c5449357a7ada04c"}},"playerUpdates":{"5668ae6ee4b0b5e26955d6a6":"60d2472d9340d7032ad7e443","56aa41bae4b091744c0440d8":"60e869dc7c5f3b17b6741b81","5841b2b5cc52c716ec6e5a7f":"60b8e355cdd90620331ba185","58b5e2b8d85a10302feee895":"60b64316b171b7444beafdb2","58b74698f78ced31417819ae":"60b8e5bec5449357a7ad9b52","58b74ccecebcea57e2c3a3d1":"60b8e5eac5449357a7ad9ca5","58cff690d85a100b9992bc39":"60b8e616cdd90620331bb0ba","58cffb3fb6d9b972a49a3c9d":"60b8e643cdd90620331bb1f6","58cffdd74d96935d7d6ec180":"60b8e671c5449357a7ad9f66","58d03a84f78ced6518eb2fa7":"60b643c82e76be41f112735c","592edf20e0fa177b0c26f7fd":"60b8e699c5449357a7ada04c","5b35266b158f855373e28256":"60b64354b171b7444beaff4d","5c116f29f79c4171d82b7c2a":"60b64440b171b7444beb040b","5c1170fc600c9a697bf0c6b9":"60b646102e76be41f1127ffc","5c47791afa1b317df8ae0c4f":"60b8e6bdc5449357a7ada147","5c477987a6b48b35f164773d":"60b8e701c5449357a7ada2ee","5c4779ee943c3c2a64f28371":"60b8e747cdd90620331bb861","5c477a26fcd67b26879bc7c2":"60b8e788c5449357a7ada67b","5d8921a78c3ae845f366c9b6":"60ae7be5f3a7c13a30417ff9","58b98b00ba82aa39a6534321":"60d0de7c9340d7032ad1146c","58b9d14cb6d9b96c9ec32af3":"60d0dec19340d7032ad115a0","58cff8eccebcea42931e0436":"60d0e005b627221e9d819d44","592edf5de0fa177b0c26f95b":"60d0e38fb627221e9d81adcf","58cff72fd85a100b9992c112":"60d0e447b627221e9d81b0da","56b4d34fe4b022697697c400":"60d2472d9340d7032ad7e443","60b8e4c0c5449357a7ad957d":"60e869dc7c5f3b17b6741b81"}},"connatixConfigValues":{"defaultPlayer":"ff7fdddc-5441-4253-abc4-f12a33fad58b","clickToPlayPlayer":"d014396e-b366-4c17-aeac-3ce906fa3fd0","videoPagePlayer":"f010447b-d244-4111-a314-7b4542ae4145","verticalPlayer":"e58cb05a-0bc8-4210-9108-fea82726c065","stickyPlayerControl":"52ea1755-d601-4ad1-bccc-d8cce3f0e5da","stickyPlayerON":"8055e9e5-3bda-4933-8d45-9ad814fb6e22"},"topConnatixThumnbailSrc":"data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAAAEAAAABCAQAAAC1HAwCAAAAC0lEQVR42mNkYAAAAAYAAjCB0C8AAAAASUVORK5CYII=","customAmpComponents":[],"ampAssetsUrl":"https://amp.assets.huffpost.com","videoTraits":null,"positionInUnitCounts":{"buzz_head":{"count":0},"buzz_body":{"count":0},"buzz_bottom":{"count":0}},"positionInSubUnitCounts":{"article_body":{"count":9},"blog_summary":{"count":0},"before_you_go_content":{"count":0}},"connatixCountsHelper":{"count":0},"buzzfeedTracking":{"context_page_id":"5ab96d89e4b008c9e5fa6a43","context_page_type":"buzz","destination":"huffpost","mode":"mobile","page_edition":"en-us"},"tags":[{"name":"LGBTQ","slug":"lgbtq","links":{"relativeLink":"topic/lgbtq","permalink":"https://action.news/topic/lgbtq","mobileWebLink":"https://action.news/topic/lgbtq"},"department":{"name":"Voices","slug":"voices"},"section":{"title":"Queer Voices","slug":"queer-voices"},"topic":{"title":"Queer Life","slug":"queer-life","overridesSectionLabel":false},"url":"https://action.news/voices/topic/queer-life"},{"name":"lgbt","slug":"lgbt","links":{"relativeLink":"topic/lgbt","permalink":"https://action.news/topic/lgbt","mobileWebLink":"https://action.news/topic/lgbt"},"department":{"name":"Voices","slug":"voices"},"section":{"title":"Queer Voices","slug":"queer-voices"},"topic":{"title":"Queer Life","slug":"queer-life","overridesSectionLabel":false},"url":"https://action.news/voices/topic/queer-life"},{"name":"Gay pride","slug":"gay-pride","links":{"relativeLink":"topic/gay-pride","permalink":"https://action.news/topic/gay-pride","mobileWebLink":"https://action.news/topic/gay-pride"},"department":{"name":"Voices","slug":"voices"},"section":{"title":"Queer Voices","slug":"queer-voices"},"topic":{"title":"Queer Life","slug":"queer-life","overridesSectionLabel":false},"url":"https://action.news/voices/topic/queer-life"},{"name":"pride parade","slug":"pride-parade","links":{"relativeLink":"topic/pride-parade","permalink":"https://action.news/topic/pride-parade","mobileWebLink":"https://action.news/topic/pride-parade"},"department":{"name":"Voices","slug":"voices"},"section":{"title":"Queer Voices","slug":"queer-voices"},"topic":{"title":"Pride","slug":"pride","overridesSectionLabel":false},"url":"https://action.news/voices/topic/pride"},{"name":"Starkville, Mississippi","slug":"starkville-mississippi","links":{"relativeLink":"topic/starkville-mississippi","permalink":"https://action.news/topic/starkville-mississippi","mobileWebLink":"https://action.news/topic/starkville-mississippi"},"url":"https://action.news/topic/starkville-mississippi"},{"name":"Queer Voices","slug":"queer-voices","url":"https://action.news/topic/queer-voices"},{"name":"Impact","slug":"impact","url":"https://action.news/topic/impact"},{"name":"Politics","slug":"politics","url":"https://action.news/topic/politics"}],"isLiveblogLive":null,"isLiveblog":false,"cetUnit":"buzz_body","bodyAds":["\r\n\r\n","\r\n\r\n","\r\n\r\n"],"adCount":0},"isCollectionEmbed":false,"enhancements":{}}">It's safe to say Starkville's first ever #LGBT Pride Parade was a huge success ! pic.twitter.com/WVMInyXNMC
Logan Kirkland (@CaptainKirk_) March 24, 2018
Advertisement
Saturdays event was reportedly the largest parade ever in the town, which boasts a population of 25,000 possibly a result of the massive amount of attention the initial denial generated, the mayor said.
Im so proud of Starkville, said Spruill . I saw nothing but good things. When you look ahead of you, all you can see is people marching. And then you look behind you and all you can see is people marching. Its absolutely wonderful. I havent been in something quite so happy and fun and pleasant in a long time.
For the record this is the largest parade Starkville has ever seen. Here are some pictures to prove that. #StarkvillePride #LGBT pic.twitter.com/XxskZQhNBy
Logan Kirkland (@CaptainKirk_) March 24, 2018","type":"rich","meta":{"author":"Logan Kirkland","author_url":"https://twitter.com/CaptainKirk_","cache_age":86400,"description":"For the record this is the largest parade Starkville has ever seen. Here are some pictures to prove that. #StarkvillePride #LGBT pic.twitter.com/XxskZQhNBy Logan Kirkland (@CaptainKirk_) March 24, 2018\n\n","provider_name":"Twitter","title":"Logan Kirkland on Twitter","type":"rich","url":"https://twitter.com/CaptainKirk_/status/977643169960677376","version":"1.0"},"flags":[],"fullBleed":false,"options":{"theme":"news","device":"mobile","editionInfo":{"id":"us","name":"U.S.","link":"https://action.news","locale":"en_US"},"originalEdition":"us","isMapi":false,"isAmp":false,"isVideoEntry":false,"isEntry":true,"isMt":false,"entryId":"5ab96d89e4b008c9e5fa6a43","entryPermalink":"https://action.news/entry/starkville-pride-parade-turnout_n_5ab96d89e4b008c9e5fa6a43","entryTagsList":"lgbtq,lgbt,gay-pride,pride-parade,starkville-mississippi,queer-voices,impact,politics,@health_depression,@health_ibs,@health_models","sectionSlug":"queer-voices","deptSlug":"voices","sectionRedirectUrl":null,"subcategories":"impact,politics","isWide":false,"headerOverride":null,"noVideoAds":false,"disableFloat":false,"isNative":false,"commercialVideo":{"provider":"custom","site_and_category":"us.queer-voices","package":null},"isHighline":false,"vidibleConfigValues":{"cid":"60afc111dcf87c2cd2f5d8bf","overrides":{"front_page_top_videos":{"desktop":"60b64354b171b7444beaff4d","mobileweb":"60b64354b171b7444beaff4d"},"top_media":{"desktop":"60b8e6bdc5449357a7ada147","mobile":"60b8e701c5449357a7ada2ee","iphone":"60b8e643cdd90620331bb1f6","ipad":"60b8e643cdd90620331bb1f6","androidphone":"60b8e699c5449357a7ada04c","androidtablet":"60b8e699c5449357a7ada04c"},"anthology":{"desktop":"60b8e616cdd90620331bb0ba","mobile":"60b8e671c5449357a7ad9f66","iphone":"60b8e643cdd90620331bb1f6","ipad":"60b8e643cdd90620331bb1f6","androidphone":"60b8e699c5449357a7ada04c","androidtablet":"60b8e699c5449357a7ada04c"},"content":{"desktop":"60b8e616cdd90620331bb0ba","mobile":"60b8e671c5449357a7ad9f66","iphone":"60b8e643cdd90620331bb1f6","ipad":"60b8e643cdd90620331bb1f6","androidphone":"60b8e699c5449357a7ada04c","androidtablet":"60b8e699c5449357a7ada04c"}},"playerUpdates":{"5668ae6ee4b0b5e26955d6a6":"60d2472d9340d7032ad7e443","56aa41bae4b091744c0440d8":"60e869dc7c5f3b17b6741b81","5841b2b5cc52c716ec6e5a7f":"60b8e355cdd90620331ba185","58b5e2b8d85a10302feee895":"60b64316b171b7444beafdb2","58b74698f78ced31417819ae":"60b8e5bec5449357a7ad9b52","58b74ccecebcea57e2c3a3d1":"60b8e5eac5449357a7ad9ca5","58cff690d85a100b9992bc39":"60b8e616cdd90620331bb0ba","58cffb3fb6d9b972a49a3c9d":"60b8e643cdd90620331bb1f6","58cffdd74d96935d7d6ec180":"60b8e671c5449357a7ad9f66","58d03a84f78ced6518eb2fa7":"60b643c82e76be41f112735c","592edf20e0fa177b0c26f7fd":"60b8e699c5449357a7ada04c","5b35266b158f855373e28256":"60b64354b171b7444beaff4d","5c116f29f79c4171d82b7c2a":"60b64440b171b7444beb040b","5c1170fc600c9a697bf0c6b9":"60b646102e76be41f1127ffc","5c47791afa1b317df8ae0c4f":"60b8e6bdc5449357a7ada147","5c477987a6b48b35f164773d":"60b8e701c5449357a7ada2ee","5c4779ee943c3c2a64f28371":"60b8e747cdd90620331bb861","5c477a26fcd67b26879bc7c2":"60b8e788c5449357a7ada67b","5d8921a78c3ae845f366c9b6":"60ae7be5f3a7c13a30417ff9","58b98b00ba82aa39a6534321":"60d0de7c9340d7032ad1146c","58b9d14cb6d9b96c9ec32af3":"60d0dec19340d7032ad115a0","58cff8eccebcea42931e0436":"60d0e005b627221e9d819d44","592edf5de0fa177b0c26f95b":"60d0e38fb627221e9d81adcf","58cff72fd85a100b9992c112":"60d0e447b627221e9d81b0da","56b4d34fe4b022697697c400":"60d2472d9340d7032ad7e443","60b8e4c0c5449357a7ad957d":"60e869dc7c5f3b17b6741b81"}},"connatixConfigValues":{"defaultPlayer":"ff7fdddc-5441-4253-abc4-f12a33fad58b","clickToPlayPlayer":"d014396e-b366-4c17-aeac-3ce906fa3fd0","videoPagePlayer":"f010447b-d244-4111-a314-7b4542ae4145","verticalPlayer":"e58cb05a-0bc8-4210-9108-fea82726c065","stickyPlayerControl":"52ea1755-d601-4ad1-bccc-d8cce3f0e5da","stickyPlayerON":"8055e9e5-3bda-4933-8d45-9ad814fb6e22"},"topConnatixThumnbailSrc":"data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAAAEAAAABCAQAAAC1HAwCAAAAC0lEQVR42mNkYAAAAAYAAjCB0C8AAAAASUVORK5CYII=","customAmpComponents":[],"ampAssetsUrl":"https://amp.assets.huffpost.com","videoTraits":null,"positionInUnitCounts":{"buzz_head":{"count":0},"buzz_body":{"count":0},"buzz_bottom":{"count":0}},"positionInSubUnitCounts":{"article_body":{"count":9},"blog_summary":{"count":0},"before_you_go_content":{"count":0}},"connatixCountsHelper":{"count":0},"buzzfeedTracking":{"context_page_id":"5ab96d89e4b008c9e5fa6a43","context_page_type":"buzz","destination":"huffpost","mode":"mobile","page_edition":"en-us"},"tags":[{"name":"LGBTQ","slug":"lgbtq","links":{"relativeLink":"topic/lgbtq","permalink":"https://action.news/topic/lgbtq","mobileWebLink":"https://action.news/topic/lgbtq"},"department":{"name":"Voices","slug":"voices"},"section":{"title":"Queer Voices","slug":"queer-voices"},"topic":{"title":"Queer Life","slug":"queer-life","overridesSectionLabel":false},"url":"https://action.news/voices/topic/queer-life"},{"name":"lgbt","slug":"lgbt","links":{"relativeLink":"topic/lgbt","permalink":"https://action.news/topic/lgbt","mobileWebLink":"https://action.news/topic/lgbt"},"department":{"name":"Voices","slug":"voices"},"section":{"title":"Queer Voices","slug":"queer-voices"},"topic":{"title":"Queer Life","slug":"queer-life","overridesSectionLabel":false},"url":"https://action.news/voices/topic/queer-life"},{"name":"Gay pride","slug":"gay-pride","links":{"relativeLink":"topic/gay-pride","permalink":"https://action.news/topic/gay-pride","mobileWebLink":"https://action.news/topic/gay-pride"},"department":{"name":"Voices","slug":"voices"},"section":{"title":"Queer Voices","slug":"queer-voices"},"topic":{"title":"Queer Life","slug":"queer-life","overridesSectionLabel":false},"url":"https://action.news/voices/topic/queer-life"},{"name":"pride parade","slug":"pride-parade","links":{"relativeLink":"topic/pride-parade","permalink":"https://action.news/topic/pride-parade","mobileWebLink":"https://action.news/topic/pride-parade"},"department":{"name":"Voices","slug":"voices"},"section":{"title":"Queer Voices","slug":"queer-voices"},"topic":{"title":"Pride","slug":"pride","overridesSectionLabel":false},"url":"https://action.news/voices/topic/pride"},{"name":"Starkville, Mississippi","slug":"starkville-mississippi","links":{"relativeLink":"topic/starkville-mississippi","permalink":"https://action.news/topic/starkville-mississippi","mobileWebLink":"https://action.news/topic/starkville-mississippi"},"url":"https://action.news/topic/starkville-mississippi"},{"name":"Queer Voices","slug":"queer-voices","url":"https://action.news/topic/queer-voices"},{"name":"Impact","slug":"impact","url":"https://action.news/topic/impact"},{"name":"Politics","slug":"politics","url":"https://action.news/topic/politics"}],"isLiveblogLive":null,"isLiveblog":false,"cetUnit":"buzz_body","bodyAds":["\r\n\r\n","\r\n\r\n","\r\n\r\n"],"adCount":0},"isCollectionEmbed":false,"enhancements":{}}">For the record this is the largest parade Starkville has ever seen. Here are some pictures to prove that. #StarkvillePride #LGBT pic.twitter.com/XxskZQhNBy
Logan Kirkland (@CaptainKirk_) March 24, 2018
Advertisement
There were some dissenting voices . About a dozen or so members of the Consuming Fire Fellowship, located in Gloster, Mississippi, and known to protest LGBTQ events, reportedly appeared , but the days events went smoothly.
One of the events co-organizers, Bailey McDaniel, called the turnout amazing.
Im just so proud, McDaniel , who is a student at Mississippi State University, told The Dispatch. I think today set the precedent for all the Pride parades that will come over the years.
Support Free Journalism
Consider supporting HuffPost starting at $2 to help us provide free, quality journalism that puts people first.
Can't afford to contribute? Support HuffPost by creating a free account and log in while you read.
Thank you for your past contribution to HuffPost. We are sincerely grateful for readers like you who help us ensure that we can keep our journalism free for everyone.
The stakes are high this year, and our 2024 coverage could use continued support. Would you consider becoming a regular HuffPost contributor?
Thank you for your past contribution to HuffPost. We are sincerely grateful for readers like you who help us ensure that we can keep our journalism free for everyone.
The stakes are high this year, and our 2024 coverage could use continued support. We hope you'll consider contributing to HuffPost once more.
Already contributed? Log in to hide these messages.
So often folks across the country want to count out Mississippi, but today we marched with the mayor of this small city and a couple thousand others supporting the rights of LGBTQ people where we live. #starkvillepride pic.twitter.com/oVWI2Ev5Zq
Hooper Schultz (@HooperSchultz) March 24, 2018","type":"rich","meta":{"author":"Hooper Schultz","author_url":"https://twitter.com/HooperSchultz","cache_age":86400,"description":"So often folks across the country want to count out Mississippi, but today we marched with the mayor of this small city and a couple thousand others supporting the rights of LGBTQ people where we live. #starkvillepride pic.twitter.com/oVWI2Ev5Zq Hooper Schultz (@HooperSchultz) March 24, 2018\n\n","provider_name":"Twitter","thumbnail_height":1060,"thumbnail_url":"https://pbs.twimg.com/media/DZFRKYmVwAA2UZm.jpg:large","thumbnail_width":1080,"title":"Hooper Schultz on Twitter","type":"rich","url":"https://twitter.com/HooperSchultz/status/977651841533120512","version":"1.0"},"flags":[],"fullBleed":false,"options":{"theme":"news","device":"mobile","editionInfo":{"id":"us","name":"U.S.","link":"https://action.news","locale":"en_US"},"originalEdition":"us","isMapi":false,"isAmp":false,"isVideoEntry":false,"isEntry":true,"isMt":false,"entryId":"5ab96d89e4b008c9e5fa6a43","entryPermalink":"https://action.news/entry/starkville-pride-parade-turnout_n_5ab96d89e4b008c9e5fa6a43","entryTagsList":"lgbtq,lgbt,gay-pride,pride-parade,starkville-mississippi,queer-voices,impact,politics,@health_depression,@health_ibs,@health_models","sectionSlug":"queer-voices","deptSlug":"voices","sectionRedirectUrl":null,"subcategories":"impact,politics","isWide":false,"headerOverride":null,"noVideoAds":false,"disableFloat":false,"isNative":false,"commercialVideo":{"provider":"custom","site_and_category":"us.queer-voices","package":null},"isHighline":false,"vidibleConfigValues":{"cid":"60afc111dcf87c2cd2f5d8bf","overrides":{"front_page_top_videos":{"desktop":"60b64354b171b7444beaff4d","mobileweb":"60b64354b171b7444beaff4d"},"top_media":{"desktop":"60b8e6bdc5449357a7ada147","mobile":"60b8e701c5449357a7ada2ee","iphone":"60b8e643cdd90620331bb1f6","ipad":"60b8e643cdd90620331bb1f6","androidphone":"60b8e699c5449357a7ada04c","androidtablet":"60b8e699c5449357a7ada04c"},"anthology":{"desktop":"60b8e616cdd90620331bb0ba","mobile":"60b8e671c5449357a7ad9f66","iphone":"60b8e643cdd90620331bb1f6","ipad":"60b8e643cdd90620331bb1f6","androidphone":"60b8e699c5449357a7ada04c","androidtablet":"60b8e699c5449357a7ada04c"},"content":{"desktop":"60b8e616cdd90620331bb0ba","mobile":"60b8e671c5449357a7ad9f66","iphone":"60b8e643cdd90620331bb1f6","ipad":"60b8e643cdd90620331bb1f6","androidphone":"60b8e699c5449357a7ada04c","androidtablet":"60b8e699c5449357a7ada04c"}},"playerUpdates":{"5668ae6ee4b0b5e26955d6a6":"60d2472d9340d7032ad7e443","56aa41bae4b091744c0440d8":"60e869dc7c5f3b17b6741b81","5841b2b5cc52c716ec6e5a7f":"60b8e355cdd90620331ba185","58b5e2b8d85a10302feee895":"60b64316b171b7444beafdb2","58b74698f78ced31417819ae":"60b8e5bec5449357a7ad9b52","58b74ccecebcea57e2c3a3d1":"60b8e5eac5449357a7ad9ca5","58cff690d85a100b9992bc39":"60b8e616cdd90620331bb0ba","58cffb3fb6d9b972a49a3c9d":"60b8e643cdd90620331bb1f6","58cffdd74d96935d7d6ec180":"60b8e671c5449357a7ad9f66","58d03a84f78ced6518eb2fa7":"60b643c82e76be41f112735c","592edf20e0fa177b0c26f7fd":"60b8e699c5449357a7ada04c","5b35266b158f855373e28256":"60b64354b171b7444beaff4d","5c116f29f79c4171d82b7c2a":"60b64440b171b7444beb040b","5c1170fc600c9a697bf0c6b9":"60b646102e76be41f1127ffc","5c47791afa1b317df8ae0c4f":"60b8e6bdc5449357a7ada147","5c477987a6b48b35f164773d":"60b8e701c5449357a7ada2ee","5c4779ee943c3c2a64f28371":"60b8e747cdd90620331bb861","5c477a26fcd67b26879bc7c2":"60b8e788c5449357a7ada67b","5d8921a78c3ae845f366c9b6":"60ae7be5f3a7c13a30417ff9","58b98b00ba82aa39a6534321":"60d0de7c9340d7032ad1146c","58b9d14cb6d9b96c9ec32af3":"60d0dec19340d7032ad115a0","58cff8eccebcea42931e0436":"60d0e005b627221e9d819d44","592edf5de0fa177b0c26f95b":"60d0e38fb627221e9d81adcf","58cff72fd85a100b9992c112":"60d0e447b627221e9d81b0da","56b4d34fe4b022697697c400":"60d2472d9340d7032ad7e443","60b8e4c0c5449357a7ad957d":"60e869dc7c5f3b17b6741b81"}},"connatixConfigValues":{"defaultPlayer":"ff7fdddc-5441-4253-abc4-f12a33fad58b","clickToPlayPlayer":"d014396e-b366-4c17-aeac-3ce906fa3fd0","videoPagePlayer":"f010447b-d244-4111-a314-7b4542ae4145","verticalPlayer":"e58cb05a-0bc8-4210-9108-fea82726c065","stickyPlayerControl":"52ea1755-d601-4ad1-bccc-d8cce3f0e5da","stickyPlayerON":"8055e9e5-3bda-4933-8d45-9ad814fb6e22"},"topConnatixThumnbailSrc":"data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAAAEAAAABCAQAAAC1HAwCAAAAC0lEQVR42mNkYAAAAAYAAjCB0C8AAAAASUVORK5CYII=","customAmpComponents":[],"ampAssetsUrl":"https://amp.assets.huffpost.com","videoTraits":null,"positionInUnitCounts":{"buzz_head":{"count":0},"buzz_body":{"count":0},"buzz_bottom":{"count":0}},"positionInSubUnitCounts":{"article_body":{"count":12},"blog_summary":{"count":0},"before_you_go_content":{"count":0}},"connatixCountsHelper":{"count":0},"buzzfeedTracking":{"context_page_id":"5ab96d89e4b008c9e5fa6a43","context_page_type":"buzz","destination":"huffpost","mode":"mobile","page_edition":"en-us"},"tags":[{"name":"LGBTQ","slug":"lgbtq","links":{"relativeLink":"topic/lgbtq","permalink":"https://action.news/topic/lgbtq","mobileWebLink":"https://action.news/topic/lgbtq"},"department":{"name":"Voices","slug":"voices"},"section":{"title":"Queer Voices","slug":"queer-voices"},"topic":{"title":"Queer Life","slug":"queer-life","overridesSectionLabel":false},"url":"https://action.news/voices/topic/queer-life"},{"name":"lgbt","slug":"lgbt","links":{"relativeLink":"topic/lgbt","permalink":"https://action.news/topic/lgbt","mobileWebLink":"https://action.news/topic/lgbt"},"department":{"name":"Voices","slug":"voices"},"section":{"title":"Queer Voices","slug":"queer-voices"},"topic":{"title":"Queer Life","slug":"queer-life","overridesSectionLabel":false},"url":"https://action.news/voices/topic/queer-life"},{"name":"Gay pride","slug":"gay-pride","links":{"relativeLink":"topic/gay-pride","permalink":"https://action.news/topic/gay-pride","mobileWebLink":"https://action.news/topic/gay-pride"},"department":{"name":"Voices","slug":"voices"},"section":{"title":"Queer Voices","slug":"queer-voices"},"topic":{"title":"Queer Life","slug":"queer-life","overridesSectionLabel":false},"url":"https://action.news/voices/topic/queer-life"},{"name":"pride parade","slug":"pride-parade","links":{"relativeLink":"topic/pride-parade","permalink":"https://action.news/topic/pride-parade","mobileWebLink":"https://action.news/topic/pride-parade"},"department":{"name":"Voices","slug":"voices"},"section":{"title":"Queer Voices","slug":"queer-voices"},"topic":{"title":"Pride","slug":"pride","overridesSectionLabel":false},"url":"https://action.news/voices/topic/pride"},{"name":"Starkville, Mississippi","slug":"starkville-mississippi","links":{"relativeLink":"topic/starkville-mississippi","permalink":"https://action.news/topic/starkville-mississippi","mobileWebLink":"https://action.news/topic/starkville-mississippi"},"url":"https://action.news/topic/starkville-mississippi"},{"name":"Queer Voices","slug":"queer-voices","url":"https://action.news/topic/queer-voices"},{"name":"Impact","slug":"impact","url":"https://action.news/topic/impact"},{"name":"Politics","slug":"politics","url":"https://action.news/topic/politics"}],"isLiveblogLive":null,"isLiveblog":false,"cetUnit":"buzz_body","bodyAds":["\r\n\r\n","\r\n\r\n","\r\n\r\n"],"adCount":0},"isCollectionEmbed":false,"enhancements":{}}">So often folks across the country want to count out Mississippi, but today we marched with the mayor of this small city and a couple thousand others supporting the rights of LGBTQ people where we live. #starkvillepride pic.twitter.com/oVWI2Ev5Zq
Hooper Schultz (@HooperSchultz) March 24, 2018
Support Free Journalism
Consider supporting HuffPost starting at $2 to help us provide free, quality journalism that puts people first.
Can't afford to contribute? Support HuffPost by creating a free account and log in while you read.
Thank you for your past contribution to HuffPost. We are sincerely grateful for readers like you who help us ensure that we can keep our journalism free for everyone.
The stakes are high this year, and our 2024 coverage could use continued support. Would you consider becoming a regular HuffPost contributor?
Thank you for your past contribution to HuffPost. We are sincerely grateful for readers like you who help us ensure that we can keep our journalism free for everyone.
The stakes are high this year, and our 2024 coverage could use continued support. We hope you'll consider contributing to HuffPost once more.
Already contributed? Log in to hide these messages.
_(720p).jpg)
 OFFICIAL HD MUSIC VIDEO.jpg)
.jpg)
