Thousands attended the Greensboro Pride Festival Saturday, and some in the crowd said they wanted to support the local LGBTQ+ community.
The festival was held in downtown Greensboro, with the main stage at LeBauer Park. Vendors set up tents along North Davie Street, East Friendly Avenue and North Church Street.
Food vendors placed their trucks and trailers in a parking lot between East Friendly Avenue and East Market Street.
Organizers staged shows with drag queens. People danced in the streets, many attired in red, orange, yellow, green, blue and purple.
Greensboro Mayor Nancy Vaughan told the audience at LeBauer Park that she was thrilled to attend the festival.
During her time as an elected official, Vaughn said she has learned about the LGBTQ community and the issues it faces, “and what we as government can do to make it better.”
“I am so pleased and so proud to stand with you today,” Vaughn said. “I know it’s going to be a lot of fun.”
The Triad Pride Cultural Arts Choir and Sir Stone Parque, who also performed in June at the Pride Winston-Salem event, were among the festival’s performers.
After his performance, Parque said to the crowd, “We have people in Washington trying to take away our rights. Greensboro Pride, how are we doing?”
Liz Campbell of Greensboro said this was her first Pride event.
“I’ve been to Pride events in other cities, and I really enjoyed them,” Campbell said, “It’s going to get warm out here. That’s why we got an early start today.”
William Scheckel, of Mount Olive in Duplin County, agreed with Parque’s views about the political climate in the nation’s capital.
“There is a lot of anti-trans rhetoric going on in Washington,” Scheckel said. “There is a small subset of people who have those views.”
“Once the Trump administration goes away, many people will change their attitudes,” Scheckel said.
Devinny Brown of Charlotte said she traveled to the Greensboro Pride Festival because “I like inclusion for everybody.”
“There are people who want to take away our rights,” Brown said.
Matthew Neal of Jamestown said he attended Saturday’s event to help his well-being.
“I was depressed when I woke up this morning,” Neal said, “I wanted to get out and be around people in a safe space.”
Mattie Bynum of Siler City in Chatham County promoted the “Power Beyond Pride: Queer Changemaking Podcast” from a tent on North Davie Street.
“We want to keep the local community vigilant,” Bynum said, “and spread our message to the community.”
jhinton@wsjournal.com
336-727-7299
@jhintonWSJ
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