Celebration brings Summer of Pride to a close

People from all over eastern North Carolina came to the Greenville Town Common last week to help the area’s LGBTQ+ community bring its Summer of Pride to a close.

Greenville-Pitt County Summer of Pride 2024 was an event series created by local LGBTQ+ community leaders and allies with the support of Visit Greenville, NC and NAMI Pitt County. Saturday marked NAMI’s fourth annual LGBTQ+ Pride Event.

NAMI Pitt County President Tiffanie Herring said that they normally host the event in June but held it in August this year because they wanted to include some of the East Carolina University students who may not have been able to come in the past.

“I think there were some people upset that we weren’t hosting this in June during Pride Month, but why do we have to be limited to June when there should be a conversation all year long?” Herring said.

The day was jammed full of fun and entertainment with more than 60 vendors, a performance by the Greater Greenville Queer Chorus and a drag show hosted by local drag queen Michelle Michaels, featuring Emily Michaels, Jerekka Jay Michaels, Jessica Blackwell, Geena Davis, Luther Cole and Miss Gay NC America 2023 Saniya Chanel Iman.

“We have more vendors, more food trucks, more performers, and I feel like every year it just gets bigger and better,” Herring said. “We do this event because we know that a lot of people in the LGBTQ community can deal with a lot of hatred and not being included, so we just wanted to show that you belong here, and you have a community right in Greenville, N.C.”

President of the Greater Greenville Queer Chorus Joshua Dowden said that they were allowed to perform for about 30 minutes on the stage, which they have never done outside. He said that it was a great experience.

“It’s our first time at NAMI Pride; we loved everything they put together, they let us have a table here, and everyone’s been so amazing coming by wanting information and showing interest in our chorus,” Dowden said.

Crystal Robinson and Maurice J. Carter with the Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Greenville said that the church is open and affirming to all genders, religions and sexual orientations.

“We are hosting the photo booth and we’re taking people’s pictures and posting them on our Unitarian Universalist congregation wall on Facebook and Instagram, and we’re just asking people to come and help color our flag background,” Robinson said.

Carter said that he has been a member of the UUCG for more than five years and that he’s been there so long because he loves the progressivism they have and that they’re open to all people.

Greenville Mayor Pro Tem Monica Daniels said Greenville is an inclusive city and that all should feel welcome here.

“Oh my God, there is so much joy and unity out here, everyone is so friendly, people are finally able to be themselves and that’s the important thing, and my presence here lets people know that they are welcome, and that they are seen,” Daniels said.

Daniels said, being that this is a family-friendly event, the queer youth presence was also important because it takes away the fear of bullying.

“There are still some attacks on our LGBTQ youth, as well as adults, so this takes that away and lets them know that they’re not alone,” Daniels said.

The director of Emerge Gallery and Art Center Holly Garriott and her team were on site making art. Garriott said at Emerge they are all about inclusivity and representing their whole community through the arts.

“We’re a sponsor of this event, and what we are trying to do is fill the voids for our LGBTQ community,” Garriott said. “We don’t have a gay club here in Pitt County, so four times a year we’re going to be renting out the State Theater in downtown Greenville and bringing back the Paddock Club, which was North Carolina’s longest-running gay bar, and the next pop-up Paddock Club is Oct. 12, and we will have a DJ, a drag show and just community fun.”

Haley Kinsler, a researcher with the North Carolina Trans and Non-Binary Language Project and part of the Language and Life project based at NC State University, was working at the event. He said the project is looking to interview trans and non-binary folks from across the state to hear more about their experience with language and trans communities.

“It’s a project that’s open to any adult in North Carolina who lives or works here and calls it their home, and that wants to talk to us about their experiences with language in trans communities,” Kinsler said.

Ellie Edmonston, the second vice chair of the Pitt County Democratic Party, said that they are representing Democrats up and down the ballot. Edmonston said that queer issues are Democratic issues and that queer rights are on the ballot this year.

“For example, we have Mark Robinson running for governor against our Democrat Josh Stein, and Mark Robinson has said that trans kids should have to pee outside. He’s called the queer community filth, and there are serious politicians who are extreme conservatives who are threatening our rights at this point,” Edmonston said. “So, we’re here to let people in the queer community and their allies know about what’s going on in politics this year because everything is on the line.”

Edmonston is 22 and she said she would consider this election to be the most important election of her generation because she feels it will set the standard for politics going forward.

“Especially since our political awakening for Gen Z was with Donald Trump being president in 2016, and all we’ve known is extremist politics,” Edmonston said. “So, if we can set a precedent that we are for unity and not extremism going forward, I hope that we never have to worry about our rights being threatened again.”

Michelle Michaels also presented an appreciation award to Madison Alexander, who has been a huge contributor to the NAMI Pride Event. Herring wanted to make sure that she was given flowers for all her efforts.

After the event, there was a NAMI Pride after-party at 2 p.m. at Pitt Street Brewing, officially bringing Greenville-Pitt County Summer of Pride 2024 to a close. Among other highlights of the summer series was the June 29 dedication of the the Paddock Club Public Art Sculpture on Dickinson Avenue.

“I’m excited that we had the Summer of Pride,” Herring said. “We had so many different businesses and volunteers in the community come out to make that a special event and ending with this big Pride event was just the best way to celebrate an entire season of Pride.”