Rainbows but also clouds as NC town hosts Pride Fest amid Trump administration’s anti-trans push
WAKE FOREST, North Carolina — WAKE FOREST, N.C. (AP) — Thousands gathered in this Baptist seminary city Saturday to celebrate the LGBTQ+ community, but the current political climate was never far from their thoughts.
“If we pay attention, we see what could happen,” said Amanda Cottrill, co-chair of the Wake Forest Pride Fest. “History repeats itself, (that’s) why it’s so important for us to learn and celebrate history.”
This year’s event coincided with National Coming Out Day. It also comes at a time when President Donald Trump’s administration is seeking to ban transgender people from serving in the military and issuing orders regarding biological sex and gender.
Police watched from atop City Hall and patrolled the streets with dogs, as people dressed in rainbow clothing confronted a group who came to sing hymns and wave signs asking them to repent. There were applause and tears from the crowd as author, activist and former youth pastor John Pavlovitz spoke from a stage.
“We’re going through it right now, but we’re going through it together,” Pavlovitz said as he paced the square in brightly colored sneakers. “We will not allow ourselves or those we care about to be dehumanized, mistreated or erased. We will not tolerate this.”
Phoenix Bilodeau, who is transgender, said they always worry about violence when attending such public events.
“They’ve already designated trans people as terrorists,” Bilodeau said. “So maybe next they’ll say we’re enemies of the state. I don’t know. And so it’s just scary, because we don’t even know what’s going to happen.”
Wake Forest, just north of the state capital, is home to Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary.
Outside city hall, people beat drums and shouted as the group sang hymns and held signs. Local farmer Will Arterburn, who organized the chants, deplored attempts to drown them out.
“This particular event is directly contrary to Scripture and the teachings of the Bible,” he said. “Sexual immorality exposed in the public square. And we wanted to be here as a presence of light, to oppose the principalities and powers exposed here.”
Nikki Lyons, whose family moved from California about a year and a half ago, laughed as she watched her 2-year-old daughter, Maeve, use a miniature Pride flag to joust with an inflatable man. Lyons said events like this are more important than ever.
“We need to come together and stand up to this administration,” Lyons said, choking up with emotion and hugging her daughter. “Because we all deserve to be loved.”
