GA Voice

No One Does Pride Like the South

- Katie Burkholder

Happy Pride month! While Atlanta Pride is still months away, there are plenty of Pride festivals and celebratio­ns happening across Georgia and the Southeast. So, pack your bags, head out of the city, and wave that rainbow flag! hosting their first-ever Athens Pride Parade on June 12 in Downtown Athens at 1:30pm! The parade route will begin near Creature Comforts on Hancock, make a right on Hull, a left on Clayton, a left on College Avenue, and ends at Thomas Lay Park. At the end of the parade, there will be a BBQueer at the park featuring bands, activities, and barbecue (with vegan options!). Learn more and register for the parade at athensprid­e.org. church service, and more! Learn more on page 14 and online at romegaprid­e.com.

Birmingham, AL

Central Alabama Pride has a whopping twelve days of Pride events happening this year, spanning everything from Pride skate night on June 7 to the Royal Pride Prom for LGBTQ youth on June 10. The festivitie­s conclude with a nighttime Mardis Gras-style Pride parade on June 11 at 8pm, stepping off from 32nd Street South, and PRIDEFEST on June 12 at 11am at Linn Park. Learn more at centralala­bamapride.org.

Key West, FL

Key West Pride weekend is chock full of events like drag shows, pool parties, and tea dances from early morning to late night. The official Pride Street Fair will be held on Saturday from 10am to 5pm on Duval Street, and the parade will be held at 5pm on Sunday. Find the full line-up of events and learn more at gaykeywest­fl.com/pride.

Columbia, SC

Outfest Columbia will feature “RuPaul’s

Drag Race” season 14 winner Willow Pill, plus a lineup of other performers and vendors at The Vista, all starting at 1pm. Learn more at scpride.org.

Jackson, MS

While MS Capital City Pride’s official Pride weekend isn’t until September, they’re hosting a Pride Month Block Party on Duling Street. Learn more at mscapitalc­itypride.org.

Nashville, TN

The two-day Nashville Pride festival will begin at 11am each day at Bicentenni­al Capitol Mall State Park. The festival will feature live entertainm­ent across three stages, a kids and family zone, youth area, community art, and over 225 vendors. The parade kicks off on Saturday at 10am at Broadway/8th Ave. Learn more at nashvillep­ride.org.

Raleigh, NC

Out! Raleigh Pride, organized by the LGBTQ Center of Raleigh, will feature speakers, performers, and vendors in downtown Raleigh’s Fayettevil­le St. district. Learn more at outraleigh.com.

 ?? PHOTO VIA FACEBOOK ?? Bob the Drag Queen performed in 2021 at Outfest Columbia in Columbia, South Carolina.
PHOTO VIA FACEBOOK Bob the Drag Queen performed in 2021 at Outfest Columbia in Columbia, South Carolina.

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