Small town Pride celebrations growing across North Carolina
Small-town Pride celebrations continue to grow across North Carolina. This June, both Hendersonville and Morganton are preparing for community-centered festivals that organizers say are about visibility, connection and creating welcoming spaces in places where LGBTQ+ people are often overlooked. The Hendersonville Pride Festival returns June 6 from noon to 5 p.m. at Jackson Park in…
Patagonia v. Pattie Gonia
On Jan. 21, the clothing company Patagonia filed a trademark lawsuit against drag performer and eco-activist Pattie Gonia. The company claimed Gonia’s use of their name and logo in her merchandise violated an agreement. On May 27, shocked by the company’s efforts to destroy her, she asked for support from her followers and fans to…
SC Pride events for Greenville and Bluffton
From South Carolina’s Upstate to the Lowcountry, this year’s Pride events reflect how local festivals have become important gathering spaces for LGBTQ+ people and their families living outside larger metropolitan areas. In Greenville, the Pridefest Collaborative will return June 6 with their 6th Pridefest at Hampton Station from noon to 4 p.m. Organizers describe the…
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