Wake Forest, North Carolina – WAKE FOREST, N.C. (AP) — Thousands turned out Saturday in this Baptist seminary town to celebrate the LGBTQ+ community, but the current political climate was never far from their thoughts.
“If we pay attention, we see what can happen,” said Amanda Cottrell, co-chair of the Wake Forest Pride Festival. “History repeats itself, which is why it is so important for us to learn and celebrate history.”
This year’s event coincided with National Coming Out Day. This also came at a time when President Donald Trump’s administration seeks to ban transgender people from serving in the military and issue orders regarding biological sex and gender.
Police watched from the top of the city hall and patrolled the streets with dogs, while people dressed in rainbow outfits confronted a group who came to chant hymns and wave banners calling on them to repent. There was applause and tears in the crowd when author, activist and former youth pastor John Pavlovitz spoke from the stage.
“We’re going through it now, but we’re going through it together,” Pavlovitz said as he walked through the square wearing brightly colored sneakers. “We will not allow ourselves or the people we care about to be dehumanized, mistreated or erased. We will not stand idly by.”
Phoenix Bilodeau, who is transgender, said she always worries about violence when attending such public events.
“They have already labeled trans people as terrorists,” Bilodeau said. “So, maybe then they’ll say, like, we’re enemies of the state. I don’t know. And so it’s scary, because you don’t even know what’s going to happen.”
Wake Forest, located just north of the state capital, is home to Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary.
In front of the municipal building, people beat drums and chanted as the group sang hymns and waved signs. Local farmer Will Arterburn, who organized the sing-along, lamented the attempts to drown them.
He added: “This particular event is in direct conflict with the scriptures and teachings of the Bible.” “Sexual immorality is on display in the public arena. We wanted to be here as Nour’s presence, to oppose the UAE and the authorities displayed here.”
Nikki Lyons, whose family moved here from California about a year and a half ago, laughed when she watched her 2-year-old daughter, Maeve, use a miniature Pride flag to compete with an exploding man. Lyons said events like this are more important than ever.
“We have to come together and stand against this administration,” Lyons said, choking with emotion and hugging her daughter. “Because we all deserve to be loved.”