Reflecting on how far we have already come together in just a few short months, we can’t help but feel proud of this beautiful community that is coming together. The first meetings to discuss the possibility of HayCo Pride took place right after celebrating the New Year of 2024. Then, we incorporated our nonprofit in May and showed up for our community in Hendersonville Pride and Pride on Main in June. Not to mention, our Volunteer Kick-Off Party was a stellar success in July, featuring an altar in honor of the New Moon in Cancer and a Queer Pool Takeover. Of course, it didn’t stop there — as we prepare for our Queer Culture Celebration in October, we all gathered together this past weekend to make handmade signs that will be used at the event, breaking bread and meeting new neighbors.
One thing that resonated with all of us at the Volunteer Kick-Off and this most recent event is the importance of returning to our roots. When it comes to Pride events, it’s easy to get caught up in the vibrant parades and commercial sponsorships that we see in the big cities. Charlotte Pride, for example, recorded nearly 300,000 participants and $8 million in revenue in 2022.
At Haywood County Pride, we take a different approach: our focus is on authenticity, community, and a deep respect for our history and culture.
HONORING OUR past
HayCo Pride holds a deep appreciation for our connections and roots in Appalachia as LGBTQIA+ folks — we are keenly aware of the unique history and intersectional experiences of our kinfolk. We recognize that understanding such history is crucial to building a future where everyone can thrive, and we’re all too familiar with the challenges imposed by the generations of our history being stolen, erased, and co-opted.
The origins of the Pride Movement — much like the stories of our Appalachian ancestors — are rooted in acts of defiance and resistance. After all, the first “Pride March” was actually the “Christopher Street Liberation Day March,” commemorating the first anniversary of the Stonewall Riots. That first anniversary event marked the legacy of riots that were led predominantly by Black, Latine, and other Trans Women of Color — including Marsha P. Johnson and Sylvia Rivera — who bravely resisted police brutality by actively fighting back against police raids and rallying the LGBTQIA+ community to demand freedom from state-sanctioned violence.
reclaimING THE PRESENT
Over five decades have passed since the first Liberation March, and while some may say that we have made significant strides in terms of rights and protections, the hearts and hands behind HayCo Pride came together because of the challenges that remain present from the federal level to our local community. Recent years have seen an alarming increase in anti-LGBTQ legislation across the country, attacking gender-affirming care, media representation, public education, and civil rights. This trend hasn’t let up in 2024, and even Democratic President Joe Biden’s administration has spoken out publicly against gender affirming procedures for youth.
Haywood County Pride emerged as a response to these challenges, striving to nurture community where we can reclaim our right to live freely and authentically. Our goal is to foster a safe and inclusive environment for our local LGBTQIA+ community, where our voices and stories are heard.
what makes hayco pride different?
When we sat down for our first open meetings at the beginning of this year, we asked each other and the folks who joined us, “Why would we want to bring HayCo Pride to life? What difference would it make?”
Our discussion highlighted the fact that, while many modern-day Pride events boast impressive attendance numbers and significant commercial backing, these factors can often create barriers for poor and working-class Queer and Trans individuals, as well as Autistic and Neurodiverse LGBTQA+ folks. The average cost to host a large-scale Pride event can range from tens of thousands up to millions of dollars, depending on the city and scale. For example, New York City’s Pride event, one of the largest in the world, has a budget exceeding $2 million, with attendance reaching up to 4 million people.
Such events often cater to existing structures of power and privilege, with a focus on corporate sponsorships and VIP experiences — without necessarily centering (or even recognizing) the most vulnerable members of the very same LGBTQIA+ community that they proclaim to represent. This emphasis can further ostracize the exact folks that Pride originally sought to uplift, creating an environment that feels exclusive rather than inclusive.
Our commitment at Haywood County Pride is to strive for an inclusive and accessible community for all of our neighbors. We don’t consider ourselves the experts, which is why we need your input and contributions to help co-create this reality. Our intention is to design events and programming to be welcoming and supportive, with a focus on community-driven activities that do not require significant (if any) financial investment. We aim to provide spaces where everyone can celebrate their identity and find a sense of belonging regardless of economic status, race, different abilities, sensory needs, housing status, transportation access, cultural background, religion, etc.
BREAKING BARRIERS AT THE QUEER CULTURE CELEBRATION
Join us on October 5th at HART Theatre in Waynesville for our Queer Culture Celebration, where we’ll be immersing ourselves in cultural activities and artivisim, breaking down barriers around class, and honoring our ancestors across the past and the future with a range of inclusive and engaging programs:
- Community Quilt Mural: Co-create a mural that represents the intersection of cultural identities for Appalachian LGBTQIA2S+ folks. Sensory-friendly hours before noon ensure everyone can participate.
- Free Market & Resource: Access gender and sexuality-affirming services and material goods without cost barriers: legal services including notaries, cosmetic services including haircuts, health services including screenings and more.
- History Archive Experience: Immerse yourself in the launch of our Haywood County LGBTQ History Archive.
- Ancestral Memorial: Honor and venerate our LGBTQIA2S+ ancestors in honor of Queer History Month and Dia de los Muertos traditions.
- Live Music, Queer Art Show, Kids’ Activities, and more!
If you’re looking for a Pride celebration that goes beyond the surface, join us at Haywood County Pride. Here, we honor our history, embrace our present, and work towards a future where everyone can thrive. Let’s celebrate our identities, culture, and connections together, and make 2024 a year of true liberation and joy for all.
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