Christine Temple

News-Leader

As they marched to Park Central Square, a large crowd clapped and pumped their fists in the air as they chanted "Be the change!"

About 250 people with rainbow flags, umbrellas and T-shirts gathered for the Greater Ozarks Pridefest Equality March on Saturday.

Stephen Adams was marching with FOCUS, a local group that supports the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community.

When asked what changes needed to be made in Springfield, Adams said, "We need to pass our nondiscrimination ordinance, and Missouri needs to get rid of its ban on same-sex marriage."

Dozens of posters held by marchers echoed Adams' sentiments, with signs using words like equality, justice and human rights.

Charles Abernathy, spokesman for event organizer Gay and Lesbian Community Center of the Ozarks, said the event's theme — be the change — is about achieving full representation of the LBGT community in Springfield.

"It's about being a participant," he said. "Standing up for human rights and dignity and equality for all."

Abernathy said the focus this year is on parts of the community that often are not heard — women, transgender people and youths.

"Oftentimes in the media you get this kind of one-dimensional representation of the LGBT plus community, and that's gay men. They become kind of the voice, but we're a community that's very broad."

One of the event's main speakers was Kristin Beck. She is known as the first openly transgender Navy SEAL. When she joined the Navy in 1990, she joined as Christopher Beck because transgender people were not allowed to serve in the military, she said.

"Still to this day transgender people are not allowed to serve. If anyone in the military right now is found out that they are transgender, that they are like this, they are unworthy and they are discharged," Beck told the News-Leader. "It's a crying shame because I served in the military, I am transgender and I'm worthy. I think I did a pretty good job in the military for 20 years."

Beck traveled from Washington D.C. She wanted to be here for Springfield's Pridefest event because there is not as much support for the LGBT community here as in other cities.

Alongside the crowd that came for Pridefest, about a dozen protesters holding crosses and signs with Bible verses were on the square.

Beck said God is not hateful, which is how she described the protesters' words.

"The hate that these religious people are yelling at you, that's not the real God. I believe in a God of love," she said. "I want you to know that everyone in the community, especially the younger generations, that we are humanity. We are all different. Celebrate your diversity, celebrate being different, it's OK."

Laura Phillips came to Pridefest with her two kids.

"I want them to be open-minded and accept people for who they are," she said.

Her daughter, Morgan Keith, 12, said her mom taught her the importance of acceptance of all people.

"It just makes me feel good in knowing that I can accept everybody and not worry about what they believe in and who they love," she said.

Kassie Thurber was hosting a booth for The Venues church. As a member of the LGBT community herself, she said it was important to come to Pridefest to show not all churches have the same ideas about the LGBT community.

"A lot of people are scared to go to church, and they don't know if it will be a welcoming environment for them," she said. "They've been surprised and they didn't know that we were friendly to just any form and don't question what they believe."

Thurber was one of about 60 vendors who had booths at Pridefest, Abernathy said.

"Some of our vendors have experienced some push back," he said. Their bravery to support dignity and equality for all unfortunately is a risk for some local businesses."

Abernathy said he was proud of how the community came together to support LGBT people.

Speaker Jamie Haskins, a chaplain at Westminster College in Fulton, gave the crowd gathered a challenge.

"As we go from here today, remember that no matter what voices you hear, no matter who might tell you something mean, you are beloved, we are beloved, we are beautiful, we are made in the image of God."