OKC Pride Week Goes Virtual During Pandemic

OKC Pride week starts Monday, with all major events taking place online due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Even the parade is virtual, with a collection of videos from the various organizations and individuals participating.

One organization, Factory Obscura, has changed its original plans completely.

The downtown arts collective was originally slated to host the youth night in person.

Factory Obscura will instead provide virtual tours of its exhibit, linked on the pride celebration website.

“We are offering a virtual tour of our mixtape experience for that night and then also just supporting all the other performers and artists,” Kelsey Karper with Factory Obscura said.

The collective also partnered with OKC Pride Alliance and Freedom Oklahoma to sell a pride t-shirt, with all proceeds going toward the organizations.

Karper said while it’s not the pride many participants imagined, it will still allow for celebration and education.

“You can participate from the comfort of your own home. There are so many fun activities planned online next week. I encourage everyone to just jump in and learn more about the community and the people who are celebrating here in Oklahoma City,” Karper said.