LGBT Pride Run took off with flying colors

Published July 24, 2015
By Gina Marie Giardina
88th Air Base Wing Public Affairs

WRIGHT-PATTERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Ohio -- If you were anywhere near Huffman Prairie on the afternoon of July 17, maybe you thought you saw rainbow-colored clouds drifting with the wind. Don't worry--this wasn't a mirage!

After days and days of rain, sunny skies finally moved into the Dayton area giving the organizers and participants of the second annual LGBT 5k Diversity Color Run a beautiful summer day for a little exercise in support of just one of the many diversity and inclusion iniatives held at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base.

Originally planned for June during LGBT Pride Month, the run still brought in nearly 80 runners--from Wright-Patt and the local community--all geared up in gleaming white t-shirts ready to be drenched with clouds of color.

At approximately 3 p.m, the runners took their mark at the starting line. Event volunteers readied the color cannons. And suddenly as plumes of colored corn starch were shot up into the sky, runners young and old[er] took off.

First across the finish line was Bill Neitzke with a time of 18:30, and following close behind was Richard Salter, Xavier Swartz, Renee Elliott and Kayla Grable.

By the end of the run, it was difficult to tell who was who because everyone was just colorful, creating a visual metaphor for the diversity and inclusion initiative at Wright-Patterson AFB.

A Sexual Assault and Prevention Response representative attended the event, as well as community sponsors OutServe and WilmerHale.