Hampton Roads Area Pride Events Multiply in 2011

There are some who argue that Pride events should be a thing of the past - e.g., fellow Bilerico contributor Anthony Carter is an example. Indeed, he suggests that all 2011 events should be cancelled and energies redirected to support LGBT youth. Here's a portion of his thoughts:
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We can not demand equal rights without consideration of what we are teaching and sharing with younger generations. Protests of all kinds are needed.
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Where is the marching and demanding that young people have health care and ways to sustain themselves should their family of origin not great them respectfully when they come out ? I grew up in constant fear of being found out. I grew up with the fear that I would be at a severe loss financially if I was found out and then of course excommunicated from my family.
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I understand young people's need for safety, self expression and the unrelenting fear of being "put out" and left to fend for themselves. Pride festivals with their gigantic budgets have yet to take seriously the needs of our young members.
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There's obvious merit to his argument, but it seems more appropriate in areas where LGBT citizens are more visible in their communities and where the LGBT business community is likewise more known to the younger elements of our community. Here in Hampton Roads, the very fact that these Pride events are occurring is a protest, if you will, of major proportions. Far too many members of our LGBT community are hiding deep in the closet and in my view first need to receive a message that (i) they are not alone, (ii) that there are indeed many of us, and (iii) that there are a solid number of LGBT owned and LGB friendly businesses and religious denominations in this region - inspite of the toxic influence of Pat Robertson, Regent University and Bible thumping preachers in the region. Others besides members of the LGBT community likewise need to get these messages, including some of the major players in the business community.

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Getting this message out is something I hope the three (3) area pride events will accomplish. In Norfolk on Sunday, June 5, 2011, for the first time ever the Hampton Roads Pride event will be held in Town Point Park in downtown Norfolk. In the past, this Pride event has been hidden away it remote Chesapeake City Park and prior to that in an obscure section of Norfolk's Lafayette Park invisible from the street. All of this is changing this year and with the high profile venue, one can only hope that there will be an increased blending of the various segments of the LGBT community. There is much more to our community than the bar scene and drag shows, yet most residents in the region would never know it due to the lingering invisibility of so many in our community. Perhaps I'm hoping for too much, but before the Hampton Roads LGBT community can approach the issues addressed in Anthony's piece, we need to collective admit that we're here, we're not going away, and that we are an important segment of Hampton Roads - this latter message needs to likewise sink in with the larger business community.

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But Norfolk is not the only city with a Pride event this year. On Saturday June 11, 2011, the City of Hampton will host its second Diversity and Pride event which hopefully will attract those on the Peninsula who don't want to travelt to Norfolk or who are disinclined to attend a large and highly visible event in Norfolk. The Hampton event is important because it is tangible evidence that the City of Hampton is waking up to the existence and importance of the LGBT community. Because of this, we as a community need to support that event and again send the message to others still cowering in the closet that they are not alone.

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The third Pride event is OBXPridefest which runs from June 34-25, 3011, in Nags Head, North Carolina - an extension of sorts of Hampton Roads. As I have written before, the Bible beaters are in a major funk over the event. The good news, however, is that the local business community is getting on board with the event as are the local politicians. As a tourism destination, it is far past time that the Outer Banks market to and accept the LGBT community. This event has the opportunity to educate many business owners to the fact that tolerance and acceptance are good for business.

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I hope that one day this regions LGBT community will be more visible and more united and that we can address more of the issues that Anthony Carter talks about. But first, we need to be galvanized into a true community and not just a scattering of organizations and gay bars. We have a long way to go.