N GO I E N D I A TH F PR E E M
Charlotte Pride Postpones Multiple Events Amid Rising COVID-19 Rates
Readers explain what Charlotte Pride means to them in the age of the NDO BY KARIE SIMMONS
What does Pride mean to you? It’s a question that holds more weight this season for Charlotte’s LGBTQIA+ community. In part because of the return to in-person celebrations cancelled last year due to COVID-19. Also for the first time, we’re not looking at a Charlotte Pride weekend, but an entire season with events ranging from August until November*. More importantly, though, it’s special because of the recent expansion of the city’s nondiscrimination ordinance. On Aug. 9, Charlotte City Council voted unanimously to amend Charlotte ordinances to include familial status, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, veteran status, pregnancy and natural hairstyle as classes protected against discrimination. The vote was the city’s third go at a new NDO, and the second to be approved by council. The one approved by council in 2016 was infamously canceled out by the passage of HB2 in the state legislature shortly thereafter. The new updates go into effect on Oct. 1 — right as Pride Season gets ready to kick off — with the same protections applying to employment starting Jan. 1, 2022. It was a big and long-awaited win, so we asked leaders in the LGBTQIA+ community, as well as our readers, to weigh in on what this year’s Pride means to them. *Shortly before this issue went to print, Charlotte Pride announced the postponement of some events scheduled for this season. See sidebar for more information and visit charlottepride.org for updates on reschedulings.
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Brian DuBois
What he’s looking forward to about this year’s celebrations: As with many activities, virtual just One Voice Chorus doesn’t build community. I am excited to be back East Charlotte; He/Him together again so we can feel the energy that exists What Pride means to him: in a celebration like this. Pride means having a relationship to a larger community (both local and abroad) and supporting that relationship in every way possible. This is our time to show up and show out for that community so we can bond together.
BRIAN DUBOIS
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How the NDO passing makes this Pride special: Just like with the passage of gay marriage, this Pride is a special time to celebrate. We have a long overdue victory. It is also a time to thank those that fought for those protections.
SCOTT LINDSLEY (LEFT) AND HUSBAND JOEY HEWELL
Charlotte Pride announced on Aug. 23 that the organization will postpone certain events and celebrations scheduled for its upcoming Pride Season due to low vaccination rates and heightened testpositivity rates of COVID-19 and the Delta variant. The postponed events include the Charlotte Pride Drag Pageant, Charlotte Pride Interfaith Celebration, and the Charlotte Pride Festival & Concert. Originally scheduled for dates in September, each of the events have been rescheduled for October. The Charlotte Pride Drag Pageant will now be part of the concert and festival, rescheduled for Oct. 16 at the AvidXchange Music Factory Festival Grounds. The Charlotte Pride Interfaith Celebration will now take place on Oct. 17 at 4 p.m. at St. Luke Missionary Baptist Church. The parade will take place on Sunday, October 24 as originally scheduled in Uptown Charlotte. Visit charlottepride.org for more updates moving forward.
Scott Lindsley
NoDa Company Store Uptown Charlotte; He/Him What Pride means to him: Showing how broad and diverse the LGBTQ community is and giving space for everyone to express themself. How the NDO passing makes this Pride special: I think it not only provides the protections needed, but is an open expression by the city to those here and those watching us that we are an open and inclusive place. What he’s looking forward to about inperson celebrations: The parade!
