A Floyd Pride Weekend
-The following first appeared in The Floyd Press on October 3, 2019 with a smaller selection of photos.
About 50 people holding flags and banners gathered at the Floyd post office in preparation for the annual Floyd Pride Parade, organized by Floyd PFLAG, a local chapter group that promotes advocacy, education and support for LGBTQ rights in Southwest Virginia.
Edna Whittier led the group in a song by Holly Near. “We are a justice seeking people…young and old together …. singing for our lives…” Thunder could be heard in the background, but no rain fell during the upbeat march down Main Street, which was escorted by law enforcement from the Post Office to the Village Green. More marchers joined as the colorful procession got underway. Marchers returned waves to passersby on foot and in vehicles.
“This is our 8th Pride parade. The nation’s first Pride Parade happened in New York City in 1972,” said PFLAG president Jim Best. He reported that people came from Floyd, Roanoke and Montgomery Counties, as well as from Richmond, Fredricksburg and Winston Salem, to march and participate in a weekend long, family-friendly PFLAG event, dubbed FloydPRIDE.
The weekend began Friday evening with pop-up drag storytelling and karaoke at the Blue Ridge Café. Following Saturday’s parade, participants met at the Farmers Market Pavilion to hear speakers, including novelist Samaire Provost, who spoke on why LGBT representation in media matters, and Adam Trimmer, a state advocate for Born Perfect, a national center with a goal of ending conversion therapy.
Candidate for state Senate Flo Ketner spoke and Reverend Robin Woodruff led the crowd in a blessing.
The Woman’s Resource Center had an information booth and spirited Sufi Dancing (Dances of Universal Peace) was led by Rachel Theo-Maurelli.
Saturday night’s Main Stage Drag Show, a PFLAG fundraiser at the June Bug Center, was organized by Dreama Belle, who produces drag queen shows up and down the east coast and in New York City.
Originally from Wytheville, Dreama, who is the FloydPFLAG entertainment director, performed and emceed the show with a comedic flair. In a cabaret-like atmosphere, she introduced dancers and lip sync singers from West Virginia, North Carolina and Tennessee, along with one performer from Floyd County whose stage name is Aura Borellasi.
The cast of performing artists had several glamorous costume changes. Some of the songs performed to cheers and dollar tips included Rock Around the Clock, Fever and Be Our Guest from Beauty and the Beast.
“When I saw the people, the enthusiasm, the openness and acceptance, there was no question,” Best said about presenting the show in Floyd. “It’s liberating, and the community is so rich and personal that you know you’ve connected with human rights where you are,” he continued.
Best summed up the weekend event and the mission of PFLAG. “It’s about the freedom to be the person you were created to be,” he said. -Colleen Redman
