US Vice President Mike Pence's hometown of Columbus, Indiana is set to host its first ever Pride festival, with 18-year-old local student Erin Bailey taking it upon herself to organise the event.
“I feel it is important for members of the LGBTQ community to know that Columbus is a welcoming and diverse community,” Bailey, who is openly bisexual, told Huff Post.
She continued: “Even though Mike Pence is openly anti-gay, that doesn’t mean that all of us in his hometown are.”
Bailey, a student of Columbus Signature Academy-New Tech, said that it was important for young members of the community to foster inclusion and distance themselves from Pence's conservative views.
“We are so much more than just a small town that he grew up in,” she said.
“It is important for this event to be happening now so that others know that even in this time of hatred, we don’t all agree with it. This is an opportunity to show support for an all-inclusive community."
“This is something incredibly important to me, and I want to make a difference in not only our small Indiana community but in the world as well. Gay rights are human rights.”
The event is planned for April 14.
