Participants march in the Mid South Pride’s 14th annual festival Saturday. The event, which celebrated both LGBTQ and allies, was estimated to have attracted over 9,000 attendees to downtown Memphis.
An estimated 9,000 attendees, including volunteers, vendors, musicians, speakers and pets dressed in colorful clothing, swarmed Robert R. Church Park for the 14th annual “Mid-South Pride Fest†on Sept. 28.
The parade, celebrating both LGBTQ individuals and their allies, began at noon with volunteers unfurling a 50-foot rainbow flag and local police making sure each person in the parade was ready to begin. Excited yells and whistles rang out from those crowding the sidewalks or watching from patios above.
The University of Memphis’ own gay-straight alliance, the Stonewall Tigers, marched in the parade. The group works to provide a sense of community for anyone on campus, regardless of their gender identity or sexual orientation.
“Stonewall is my baby,†Rachel Crow, presdient of Stonewall Tigers, said. “I mean I pour everything into this organization. I’ve had people come to my office to talk about how they just came out and their family doesn’t accept them, or that they’re excited their family is going to meet their significant other for the first time.â€
Crow said safety is her number one concern.
“I always tell people that I’m a call or text away whenever they want to talk,†she said.
Jennifer Murry Rodley, public relations director of Mid-South Pride, has been involved with the organization since 2010.
“We want people to know it’s a safe place to feel welcome to be whoever they want to be for that day,†Rodley said.
“We want to get away from extremes,†he said. “We have a multi-faith and multi-cultural group that works year-round with these churches to bring in support. Instead of being told that something is bad or wrong, we have religious organizations coming out to affirm that you are accepted and loved.â€
Al Vansickle attended the festival for the first time this year.
“The more that we all come together and be open, the more that people see that we aren’t alone, and that they aren’t alone,†Vansickle said. “But it’s also about having fun too.â€
