In most states, a festival celebrating homosexuality wouldn't draw a lot of attention.
But for a conservative, rural state like North Dakota, it's a little different.
For the past five years, Dakota Outright, a GLBT community group, has sponsored Bismarck PRIDE Fest, a weekend outdoor festival for members of the gay and lesbian community and their supporters to celebrate being out in North Dakota.
"It's a place for people to come together and get to know each other and realize that even in the outer reaches of North Dakota, you don't have to be isolated," said Dan Tokach, one of the founders of Dakota Outright, and an organizer of the event. "That we're all here, and you're not alone."
The three-day event also drew protesters, in the form of a group of men from Zeeland, ND, a small town about 100 miles south of Bismarck. The protesters took turns reciting Bible verses to festival attendees, and warning against sin.
David Holzer, 26, said he feels it's his duty to preach about the wrath of God.
"We're out here presenting that truth to them, first of all, because God commands us to, and so we're honoring God by being faithful to his word, and secondly, we're here in hopes that people will respond to the message by getting right with God, and coming to Christ, and turning away from their sins," Holzer said.
Supporters of the event took shifts ushering people into the festival, and around the protest.
"They're so dedicated, but I think it's kind of funny that they have to push so hard for something that they believe in," said Susanna Magstadt, a supporter. "It's hate. That's all it is."
Ronnie Hildalh, co-founder of Dakota Outright, said despite the loud protests, most people in North Dakota are gay tolerant.
"They're what we call 'North Dakota nice,'" he said. "They won't say it in front of you, they won't protest, but they may feel a certain way in their heart, or they may write a letter to the editor or something."
Hildalh said the protesters themselves didn't bother him, but the lack of dialogue between the two groups was disheartening.
"It's very in-your-face, this is what you're going to say, and you can't have a conversation," he said. "And so it's pointless to engage in conversation, because you aren't going to get a fruitful conversation."
Amidst PRIDE activities such as the drag queen race and a doggy drag show, organizers also set up booths to educate attendees about the politics of being gay in North Dakota. In 2004, the state, along with 10 others, amended the state constitution and banned gay marriage.
But human rights activists say there's another, more pressing, issue they're hoping to amend.
"Another hurdle, and one that we're looking at addressing in the very near future, is that North Dakota does not address the GLBT community as a protected class, so there's no protection from housing discrimination, employment discrimination, or credit transaction discrimination," Mitch Marr, the director of the North Dakota Human Rights Coalition, said. So essentially, you can be kicked out of your apartment, you can be denied a home loan, you can lose your job, because either you're gay, or you're perceived to be gay."
Because North Dakota has the reputation of being a conservative state, the gay community is particularly tight-knit. For young gays who are just coming out, that type of support is invaluable.
Nick Kelly, 19, said the festival has given him a chance to meet others in the state who are like him.
"I get to make a wider community base than I already have," he said. "I live between two different towns, so it's nice for me to have friends in both towns where I can just go to hang out, and be myself, and do what I want to do, and not have to conform to society."
Click on the link to see a video of of Bismarck's PRIDE Fest.
http://think.mtv.com/044FDFFFF0098A10B00170099184A/