HUNTSVILLE, Ala. — It was all about Pride today in the Rocket City! Many of you may have made it out to the Orion Amphitheater to celebrate LGBT History Month
But about thirty minutes south was another celebration. The families we spoke with there say it had to happen. It's over accusations of transphobic views that cross political lines at the Orion Pridefest.
In less than 24 hours, a picnic was planned by the community, hoping that all who came would feel welcome, no matter who they are. This group initially set on participating at Rocket City Pride Fest at the Orion Amphitheater decided not to attend at all after finding out that a brand of the Log Cabin Republicans would be there..
The Huntsville chapter of this national conservative LGBT group was established earlier this year. Its chapter president, Andy Blalock, shared posts like this about trans youth, upsetting a lot of people. We spoke to Blalock about the group and what he says they stand for.
Scroll down to see our interview with the Huntsville chapter of the Log Cabin Republicans.
Rocket City Pride issued this statement on Saturday, outlining the requirements for all political organizations participating at Pridefest and stating that if groups did not follow them, they would be asked to leave and their invitation rescinded.
Some some, like Briar Wolf, this was not enough. She said, "The statement was not satisfactory because for us, satisfactory would have been disinviting this group and never allowing them at any pride events ever again."
Her wife Deanna agreed. "Pride is about the people. It's about every single letter in the LGBTQIA plus. And we won't drop any letters."
Briar continued, ""Having a group that openly has hate, trans hate, specifically at a pride event where there's going to be everybody, including trans youth, who need to be protected at all costs, especially now, that's not pride and that was wrong."
The couple celebrated their 12th wedding anniversary at the Ditto Landing event today. When asked what's next, Deanna said, "We're going to find out what the need is and then we're going to find out what needs to be done to fill it. Clearly, we're capable of doing that."
