MISSION

Hopkins Pride is a non profit (501c3) organization whose mission is to continuously cultivate inclusive, safe, and sustainable community events for LGBTQIA+ and Hopkins community members in an effort to build a stronger community as a whole. Hopkins Pride continues to be a family-friendly organization which focuses on providing awareness of the Hopkins LGBTQIA+ community, and connecting ALL Hopkins community members with Resources that will enrich and support their mental, social, and creative well-being.

Hello!  My name is West Kokesh, and I am the Director of Hopkins Pride. The idea to pursue efforts to create a Hopkins Pride Event initiated in the summer of 2022, after I personally experienced an act of hate directed toward our LGBTQI+ community during Pride month. I had been creating a mural in Downtown Hopkins, celebrating the LGBTQIA+ community, to walk out one morning and find it was destroyed. It was at that moment that I decided we needed a Pride event in Hopkins to create awareness around the LGBTQIA+ community and help everyone feel welcome and safe.

Our inaugural Pride celebration in Hopkins took place on June 17th, 2023 and we were humbled by how successful the event was. It was amazing seeing the community show up to support. We are all looking forward to upcoming events and continuing our support for our Hopkins community members.