Queer Maker's Market celebrates Pride Month

Javon L. Harris, The Gainesville Sun
·2 min read
Shiala Narago, left, and Ike Reichenbach, middle, volunteers with the Pride Community Center of North Central Florida, talk with Hayla Corzine, right, about the next Queer Maker's Market while at the 4th Ave Food Park in Gainesville on Saturday. The next Queer Maker’s Market will be held at Heartwood Soundstage on June 26, and will be co-sponsored by the Pride Community Center of North Central Florida. “Pride Center will be expanding our open hours later this summer, and we invite everybody to the pride festival on Oct. 22,” said Faith Reidenbach, the center's volunteer coordinator.

It was a picturesque Saturday. A warm sunny day, with large oak trees offering plenty opportunity for shade, coupled with a steady breeze. With music and the smell of grilled food filling the air, some people were sitting, while others were strolling, all enjoying the environment at the 4th Ave Food Park.

Anne Bottcher, left, owner of ANNESxARTES, makes a sale to Paul Basler at 4th Ave Food Park’s Queer Maker’s Market in Gainesville on Saturday.
Anne Bottcher, left, owner of ANNESxARTES, makes a sale to Paul Basler at 4th Ave Food Park’s Queer Maker’s Market in Gainesville on Saturday.

June is Pride Month and in recognition, the 4th Ave Food Park hosted the Queer Maker’s Market Saturday, which featured Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Queer vendors offering a variety of products.

Riss Donato, an artist and member of Gainesville’s pride community, says that creating and showcasing her artwork is a way to relieve stress.

“I feel like its very therapeutic for me,” she said. “I normally just put on music and whatever song I’m listening to, I try to create something out of that. So, a lot of (my work) is music inspired and how I’m feeling day to day.”

Donato, like many others, are concerned about the potential for attacks on gender identity and sexuality, especially in light of the Supreme Court’s leaked draft opinion that’s poised to overturn Roe. v. Wade.

In addition, recent political attacks on the LGBTQ+ community in Florida — namely the controversial ‘Don’t Say Gay’ bill — have left pride activists feeling the need to show a greater sense of solidarity.

“We offer a safe space for queer people to gather,” said Faith Reidenbach, a volunteer coordinator at the Pride Community Center of North Central Florida, Gainesville’s premiere LGBTQ+ resource center.

The center serves the community by offering services that include providing meals and supplies for people with HIV/AIDS, social and educational events for LGBTQ+ family and friends and a resource library that serves as an information hub for the pride community.

All of the vendor fee proceeds from Saturday’s event were donated to the center.

Pride Month is celebrated in honor of the Stonewall Uprising that occurred in New York City in 1969. Historically, the last Sunday in June was recognized as “Gay Pride Day,” but the day soon grew to encompass a month-long series of events across the nation. Although many cities host pride parades and festivals during the month, Gainesville’s pride festival won’t be until Oct. 22 of this year.

Organizers from the food park said they were excited to hold space to uplift queer makers in our community, as well as support an organization (the Pride Community Center) that is dedicated to the well-being and visibility of LGBTQ+ people in North Central Florida.

This article originally appeared on The Gainesville Sun: 4th Ave Food Park hosted Queer Maker's Market on Saturday.