The Charlottesville Pride Festival is September 16, but a week of events leading up to the festival begin this Saturday (Sept. 9). WMRA’s Marguerite Gallorini talked with the leader of the organization behind the festival.
Amy-Sarah Marshall is the founding President of the Charlottesville Pride Community Network, which is about to have its 6th annual festival. What started as informal LGBTQ community picnics of a hundred people grew into a real festival, now attracting more than 5000 people.
AMY-SARAH MARSHALL: Now we have a whole week of Pride events. It's a family-friendly event that really has a diversity of people of all ages and all kinds; it's really great to see a community that’s straight and gay alike showing up to show their support for equality. You know, I got kicked out of my house when I was 16 for being gay and that's a pretty common story for people my age, so seeing kids now get to find community, get to find other people like them, it's very emotional for many of us.
The week of events will culminate with the actual festival day on September 16 at the Sprint Pavilion.
MARSHALL: For us it's become that we can't fight for equality and rights just for LGBTQ without looking at people of color, without looking at people of different religions, without people with different abilities – every type of person who may not have the privilege to have their voices heard. It's on us to make sure that we are being as open and welcoming and inviting as possible.