People of PrideFest: Thousands flock to Brown’s Island for Pride
From Left, Michelle Livigne, Godfrey’s Angels, Miss Godfrey’s Monet Dupree, Nairobi Chanel Ova Snow, and Ongina take their bows before Betty Who comes onstage. Photo by Liza Hazelwood
Hannah Eason, News Editor
Thousands of people went to Brown’s Island on Saturday for PrideFest. The day included many vendors, drag shows and members of the LBGTQ community from all over Virginia.
“You have your blood relatives, but your ‘chosen family’ is a common term used in the gay community as someone that you either came out to first, or things like that,” Peaches Emery said. “It’s kind of like a family that you build with your friends and everything. It’s just such a beautiful thing.”
“I love attending Prides. I’ve been to so many, but it’s different when you get to be the person that makes people smile when they walk in,” Vidhi Phadumdeo said. “I love when people are like, ‘Oh my god, hey, welcome.'”
“At the very bare minimum, the business community overall is one that’s usually diverse,” Natasha Crosby said. “Say, we want to make sure that all businesses have the same access to the resources and the things that are available here in Richmond.”
“I’ve been more involved with [Stonewall Sports] for about a year, and it’s been awesome because I don’t do the whole night club dancing scene,” William Granger said. “I’m not a big drinker. So being able to find my community somewhere that is not like drinking, dancing-related has been really awesome for me.”
“That’s literally the only month they’re supportive, where they put out all this merchandise that’s rainbow, but none of it goes back to the actual community,” MOSAIC member Na’kia Hughes said. “So really they’re just using us as a way to, you know, get more money.”
“It’s all about being happy with who you are and being accepted for who you are,” Charlie Carr said. “That we need more of, and we need more of that in the general public. So also as a bisexual man, I just wanted to show some love for the movement itself.”
