Asheville's Blue Ridge Pride shows LGBTQ+ support, as anti-LGBTQ+ legislation passes in NC
ASHEVILLE - Activists, nonprofits and community leaders paraded through downtown Asheville on a sunny Sept. 30 to celebrate Blue Ridge Pride, donning rainbow outfits and signs of support for the LGBTQ+ community.
Prior to the precession starting, Buncombe County Commissioner Jasmine Beach-Ferrara spoke to the crowd through a megaphone, recalling her first time at a Pride parade and stating that 2023's Blue Ridge Pride could be "life-changing" for the younger members of the community.
"When I was 18 years old it was life-changing for me to see Pride in Durham, North Carolina," Beach-Ferrara said. "To feel like there was a version of North Carolina that can be home to everyone."
Almost seven years ago, Beach-Ferrara made history in becoming the first openly gay Buncombe County Commissioner. Last year, Beach-Ferrara ran in the general election for the NC 11th Congressional District, losing to Chuck Edwards.
Formed in 2009, Blue Ridge Pride is a nonprofit organization that serves 23 counties in Western North Carolina. This year, the organization chose the theme of "advocate" in response to recent "bad bills, anti-drag narrative and numerous other attacks against the LGBTQ+ community," according to the Blue Ridge Pride website.
Many carried signs that protested or alluded to recent anti-LGBTQ+ bills being pushed in both state and federal bodies, with Democratic State Chair Anderson Clayton speaking against the bills during the event.
"The state general assembly that we are under right now has targeted the LGBTQ+ community this year with 12 different pieces of legislation — trying to harm trans youth in this state, trying to make people afraid to be who they are, and to love who they love," Clayton said.
"In the land of the free, that should never happen."
In June this year, the North Carolina House passed House Bill 808, which restricts certain types of gender-affirming care for transgender people under the age of 18, including puberty blockers, hormone therapy and surgical gender transition procedures. It also creates penalties for doctors who perform those treatments.
House Bill 808 was vetoed by Gov. Roy Cooper, which was overridden by the Republican supermajorities in the NC House and Senate.
In June, a Target in Asheville pulled its LGBTQ+ merchandise after national threats to staff and vandalism.
LGBTQ+ coverage last year: Macon County commissioner denounces library Pride Month display; opposes funding increase
Same sex marriages rise: Asheville same-sex marriages skyrocket as LGBTQ community braces for rollback of rights
Organizations show support, spread joy.
For drag queen Dahmit Janet, who is the president of The Beer City Sisters, Pride is a place to spread the message of her organization and to celebrate.
"We're here to expiate stigmatic guilt — guilt that it put on you for who you are — and to spread universal joy," Janet said. "Is there a better place to do that than Pride?"
The Beer City Sisters is a local nonprofit that is "dedicated to promoting and celebrating diversity, social awareness, universal joy, and the expiation of stigmatic guilt," according to Beer City Sisters website. The organization serves through "self expression and irreverent humor for advocacy, education, outreach and philanthropy."
For Janet, Pride also serves as an opportunity to provide spaces for younger members of the LGBTQ+ community.
"Seeing and knowing that there's spaces for them. Just giving them a smile and they smile back — that really warms my heart," Janet said.
Lucy Robbins, pastor at Biltmore United Methodist Church, said the congregation came to show the importance of "being a partner in ministry and loving all people." Robbins also believes it is a way to avoid misconceptions about Christians.
"We're excited to be present and to be welcoming and open as an inclusive congregation and letting people know that the story of the church is a positive one," Robbins said. "It's not always a negative emphasis that Christians have against the queer community; we believe in in all people and that God's love is for all people."
2023's Blue Ridge Pride also was supported by local sponsors Mission Health, Harrahs Cherokee Casino Resort, Wicked Weed and Explore Asheville, among others.
More: Hendersonville LGBTQ pastor criticizes Lt. Governor's 'filth' comments
More: After NC abortion bill, will Asheville Planned Parenthood close? Will DAs prosecute?
Will Hofmann is the Growth and Development Reporter for the Asheville Citizen Times, part of the USA Today Network. Got a tip? Email him at WHofmann@citizentimes.com.
This article originally appeared on Asheville Citizen Times: Blue Ridge Pride brings support from local, state leaders for LGBTQ+
