Haywood County’s first-ever Pride Parade took place on Main Street this weekend, and HayCo Pride was thrilled to take part in this historic moment! We arrived early to check in, equipped with coloring pages, stickers, streamers, signs, and flags. Building on a legacy rich in Pride and solidarity in Haywood County history, the atmosphere was electrifying: rainbows adorned every creature and car, bubbles floated through the air, and laughter was in abundance. The perfect day for a Pride Parade!
How Did We Get Here?
Reflecting on this time last year, there was no official talk of any sort of Pride event in Haywood. There was, as there had always been, a strong commitment to Pride and solidarity across the county, demonstrated by community-led events like the Rainbow Brunch Pride Celebrations held by the Water-N-Hole in 2021, the “Living With Pride” exhibit hosted by the Haywood County Arts Council in 2022, and the Pride and Pups event held by Misfit Mountain in 2023 and 2024.
Our mountain community has seen tremendous progress towards inclusion, visibility, and equity for our LGBTQIA+ neighbors over recent years. It was just 10 years ago that news was being published about acts of hate committed towards same sex couples in Haywood County. The love we witnessed on the streets of Waynesville this weekend is much more aligned with the community we are proud to call our home.
Hate hasn’t entirely disappeared from our hollers though. Last summer, there were vicious rumors touted about one of our trans neighbors on social media — a situation that our community responded to by showing up en masse (we’re talking hundreds!) to speak at a Waynesville Town Hall event in solidarity with our transgender neighbors’ rights to a peaceful and comfortable existence. In subsequent months, members of the community have continued to organize for the rights and visibility of LGBTQIA+ folks in Haywood County. HayCo Pride was born out of this transformative period, and we are so grateful to witness and contribute to the continued outpouring of love and solidarity in our home.
The Parade
Walking down Main Street and into Frog Level, it was a joy to bump music and dance and wave and be met with so many smiling faces lining the sidewalk, folks waving flags and cheering. We marched alongside local businesses, churches, organizations, and teams, and it was so much fun to forge connections with parade watchers as we handed out our cute little coloring page packets.
By the way, if you haven’t seen this awesome coloring page that one of our Board Members hand-drew, check this out! It’s truly iconic, featuring all of our favorite things about Haywood County. We’d love it if you colored one and posted your creation, tagging us @haycopride, and let us know if you spot anything familiar!
We felt safe, surrounded by friends and wrapped in a blanket of community. As we came down Depot Street and into the Festival, there was a sea of people exploring the vendor booths amidst a kaleidoscope of colors and a symphony of sounds. We loved seeing how each person had a unique expression for their Pride!
As we wrap up this unforgettable weekend, we carry with us not just memories of a parade and festival, but a profound sense of belonging in our community. It is a testament to what can be achieved when we come together to co-create equality and acceptance in the places we call home.
Looking Ahead
HayCo Pride is excited to continue our work of sharing resources and amplifying the diverse history of Haywood County in an effort to create a safer and more inclusive culture. In honor of Queer History Month in October, we hope you’ll come to HayCo Pride’s Queer Culture Celebration on Saturday, October 5, 2024! Centering culture, history, and connection, event highlights include:
- A Free Market that will provide critical services and support without cost – from health screenings to legal aid and notaries for name changes, to fresh produce and hot meals.
- A Community Quilt Mural Fundraiser to launch a mutual aid fund for LGBTQIA+ Haywood Countians.
- The launch of the Haywood County LGBTQIA+ Archive, with opportunities to share your own history.
- An art show, an ancestral memorial, and more!
We want you to be a part of this journey! Artists and creatives, oral history contributions, community outreach — there’s no shoes too big or small for you to fill! Fill out our volunteer form if you’re passionate about making a difference and want to contribute your time and skills to shaping a Haywood County where we can all thrive.
You can keep in touch with us and get updates about our work beyond the Queer Cultural Festival by subscribing to our HayCo Holler newsletter on the website, and by following us on social media platforms @haycopride.
Stay good, Haywood! Happy Pride!
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