#FIRST GAY PRIDE PARADE IN U SERIES#
From its origins, this day presents a series of events culminating in a parade featuring colorful protesters and floats from the LGBTQ community and their supporters. Let’s get to know this day a little better with 10 curiosities about Gay Pride Day that you may not know.ġ0 curiosities about Gay Pride Day that you may not knowĪlso called LGBT pride o LGBTQ, Gay Pride Day was created to commemorate the Stonewall riots of June 1969, after a police raid on the Stonewall Inn bar in New York. Gay Pride 2021 will not be the big party that was expected, but unlike last year, it will be celebrated even with smaller acts. There will also be food trucks, face painting and COVID-19 vaccines available.Tomorrow, June 28, Gay Pride Day is celebrated, a day that despite being of joy and celebration for many people, the truth is that in some way, it will be “affected” again by the Covid-19 pandemic. The parade will run through downtown Sylva and then move to Bridge Park for educational tables, music and a family-friendly drag show. “I hope that by the time he is starting to have these bigger conversations that all of these things will be place because we have already done the work here,” said Setzer, who now lives in Canton. Setzer says her 2 and half year-old son is her reason for wanting to join the group. She went to Smoky Mountain High School with Harr. “We just wanted to be able to provide unique program to provide support for students, families, friends and other support too,” said Harr.Īnother member of the group is Katie Setzer. The group hopes to work with local families to provide education and support about LGBTQ+ issues. “Just growing up here we didn’t really have a supportive space for queer folks and I had friends that had really rough time coming out as well,” said Harr.
Volunteers paint the new mural over the faded rainbow on Dixie Mae, a vintage market in downtown Sylva. She’s a social worker and a member of the Sylva Queer Support and Education. The committee is made up of local leaders and community members.Ī number of local organizations will also take part in the celebration from Jackson County Health Department, The Summit and Harrah’s Cherokee Casino to grassroots groups like Tranzmission, Nudale Adantedi, WNC Aids Project and Sylva Queer Support and Education. “And so you don't have as much of an impact as you can have in little towns like this, where you actually are constantly intermingling with people who might not actually share your same views.”Īlthough Pride celebrations usually take place in June, because of the pandemic the committee scheduled the parade for Labor Day Weekend. “In a big city, you don't really have much of a connection to your community,” said Sarah. Sarah’s family used to visit Franklin in the summers before they moving to the area. “I think this mural is just a part of just trying to tell whoever visits here, wherever they come from, that this town is a town of acceptance, generally.”įor the LaRoses, the chance to be a part of a supportive community was one of the reasons they moved to Jackson County last year from Dallas, Texas. “The reason why we chose 'you belong here' is because first of all, it applies to anyone,” said Sarah. The pair have been married for just over a month. Both are part of the Sylva Pride Committee that has been planning Sylva’s first Pride parade, which takes place on Saturday, September 4th. She’s an artist who designed the new Sylva Pride mural with her wife Sarah.
“Sarah always helps me now with my design projects these days. On the side of an antique shop in downtown Sylva, the message on the rainbow mural now says “You Belong Here.” The mural is the opening act for the town’s first Pride parade. If you drive through downtown Sylva, you might see a new mural.