Region’s LGBT community shows its pride

Standing proud.

That’s how Samantha Johnson of Charlotte described her walk in Sunday’s Charlotte Pride parade, part of a weekend-long event that was expected to bring as many as 130,000 people to uptown for a celebration of the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community.

Johnson was excited to march with her wife now that they have legal status as a married couple. A ruling in June by the Supreme Court made same-sex marriage a right nationwide.

The two held one end of a banner that read “Just Married” as they walked along North Tryon Street in a procession that included an estimated 3,000 participants. The couple will celebrate their one-year anniversary in October.

“For people who are scared to come out, we want to be an advocate,” said Johnson, 37. “We couldn’t wait to come out and represent.”

The parade was a stream of vivid floats and heartfelt cheers from the sidelines as marchers moved from Ninth Street to Trade Street with the temperature climbing toward 90 degrees.

There were also protests among the cheers. “Repent or perish in hellfire” was the message on one protester’s sign.

But detractors didn’t dull the spirit of what organizers say is the largest gay pride event in the Carolinas. The high court’s ruling in favor of same-sex marriage made the 15th annual festival that much sweeter, many in the crowd said.

“I do think the decision has made people really excited about being here,” agreed Matt Comer, a board member with Charlotte Pride since 2008.

The celebration started on Saturday with a festival on Tryon Street that stretched from the intersection of Trade Street to Stonewall Street. The festival continued on Sunday with music, performances, exhibits, food and vendor booths.

It was a sharp contrast to the event’s first year, in 2001. Just a few thousand people turned out, Comer said.

A social shift has allowed more people to join in with less fear of losing their jobs or facing other retaliation, Comer said. In fact, the event now attracts major companies as sponsors, vendors or parade participants. Bank of America, Duke Energy and Aetna were among the companies represented this year.

Corporate participation may be based on practical business sense as much as goodwill. A study commissioned by the Charlotte Regional Visitors Authority estimates the total economic impact of out-of-town visitors at last year’s event was $7.75 million, including $2.49 million of additional labor income.

This story was originally published August 16, 2015 at 5:13 PM with the headline "Region’s LGBT community shows its pride."