Rock Hill Pride’s fourth year celebrates living out loud

ROCK HILL, S.C. (QUEEN CITY NEWS) — There’s happiness here at the 4th annual Rock Hill Pride Festival.

“It looks like unity and so everyone is getting together and everybody is doing their own thing and having a great time,” said festival vendor Paul Glass. He and his wife own Nicci’s Goodie Wagon.

Saturday’s festival was just one of the events a local Rock Hill business called The Mercantile hosted for the last week. This year was the biggest turnout yet — with thousands of neighbors in attendance, growing from only those who identify as queer — to more allies.

“Yeah, them growing up. I want them to be themselves. You know, that’s the most important thing. And that daddy loves them no matter what. And just spread your wings and fly,” said Andrew Coley. He came with his children.

The festival is held on the anniversary of Stonewall — a series of riots in 1969 — over police action against the Stonewall Inn, a gay bar in New York City’s Greenwich Village.

Since then, the term ‘Stonewall’ has become almost synonymous with the struggle for gay rights.

“It’s important for everybody to feel included and everybody feel like they’re a person. You know what I’m saying? Because people like to dehumanize people for any kind of reason and it’s just a good time around,” Alex Mobley said.

Lamar Atkins, or Iamlamarmusic, was one of the many performances highlighting the spirit and unity of the LGBTQ+ community.

He says his message to those who participated in the festival was love.

“The “You Are Loved” tour is simply about that spreading love spreading the idea of just the simple words of you are loved. One thing that stuck out was just how vibrant the community here is and how much it’s growing, just to see people strutting down the street and not be scared, because I come from a time where you didn’t do that. You really have to be cautious about what streets you would go on, what areas you would be in, and everything like that. And so it was really heartwarming to see just such a robust community starting to grow here thanks to the Rock Hill pride,” Atkins said.

There will be a drag brunch on Sunday. 

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