PULASKI, Tenn. — Pulaski, Tennessee, celebrated its first-ever Pride event on Sunday, and it wasn't just members of the LGBT community who were celebrating.
"Everybody's changing, the world's changing, people are coming around, slowly and surely," said Redneck 4 Rainbows Founder Shane Wood. "Guys like me are starting to change your minds about everything.
Self-proclaimed "redneck" Shane Wood has lived in Pulaski for nearly 20 years.
"I've always said if I could change one person's mind who though like me, I'm doing a great job," said Wood. "Because one person can turn into 20, 20 can turn into 100."
Wood uses the social media platform TikTok to help spread his message.
"It was just a hashtag for me to keep up videos, I started asking people to tag gay men in my, in the comments," said Wood. "If they want someone to duet them, and really duet them, and just make it a big deal, do it. And then that's how it took off, and it turned into a family, now we're a Facebook group. Now we raise money for the LGBTQ. It's just, it's just snowballed into a really good thing."
Wood's support for the community goes beyond just the internet. His "Free Dad Hugs" shirt made an appearance at Pulaski's first Pride event.
"A young lady came up to me earlier and she said, 'can I have a dad hug?' I said, 'yeah girl com on over here,' and when she put her arms around me, she started crying and I about started myself. So many kids out here, their parents turn them away just for being themselves," said Wood. "Everybody should be comfortable in their own skin. Period. No matter if you're gay, straight, what it is."
You can find Wood on TikTok under the handle @irish_wolfhound.