It’s Pride Season! It’s a season many of us relish and wait for – looking forward to a chance to remember the accomplishments we’ve made while celebrating all of our rainbow gaiety. There’s probably no other group that can host a festival or parade with the vigor, passion and grandeur the LGBTQ+ community brings to pride.
Needless to say, the advocacy and fun wouldn’t be possible without the volunteers and behind the scenes folks that make it happen for us each and every year. In Charlotte, one of those behind the rainbow curtain organizers is John Walton-Tate.
Walton-Tate is Charlotte Pride’s Operations and Finance Manager and has passionately served the organization in multiple capacities over the years. During this interview we’re going to learn more about the man behind the spreadsheets, what drives him, what makes him happy and what gets on his last nerve.
L’Monique King: Where are you originally from? Are you a native Charlottian?
John Walton-Tate: No. I’m originally from the Charleston area of South Carolina. It’s not very far and not that different really. The type of people are the same; friendly, open and welcoming.
LMK: What brought you to Charlotte?
JWT: Around 2010 I moved to Rock Hill, South Carolina from Connecticut. I’d been living there because my ex was serving in the military there. He left the military because of ‘Don’t Ask Don’t Tell’ and we ended up in Rock Hill. When we split up around 2020, I moved to Charlotte – it was better to just leave South Carolina for a fresh start.
LMK: Do you share your home or life with anyone special? Are you partnered?
JWT: I am. I am married to Anthony Walton-Tate. We got married in April of 2022. We met online and a few weeks later met in person for dinner at a restaurant in Gastonia. At the time, I did not believe in love at first sight and then I saw them [Anthony]. My husband uses they/them pronouns. Anthony’s a firecracker, all energy. Not like anyone I’d met before. It’s hard to describe – that feeling of instant comfort, like you’ve known them all your life. We’ve been together non-stop almost from the start.
The only time I can remember being away from each other is when Anthony got COVID [before we were married]. At the time, people were advised to quarantine for 10 days. So, I drove over to his house every night with dinner, passed it through the window, went back to my car and we’d Facetime – having dinner together.
LMK: How beautifully romantic. Do you have any children, with your husband or otherwise?
JWT: Yes, I have two girls; 27 and 23 years old. I was married shortly after graduating high school when we had my first daughter. A few years later we had our second. At that time, I knew I had thoughts surrounding my orientation but I fell in love with their mom. Sometimes, life just chooses for you. We were young and very different in a lot of ways; and too young to know it. Eventually we grew apart.
Back then, being in the south, though Charleston is very progressive, there was still a lot going on to make me feel like something was wrong with me. But being stubborn as I am, that mentality only made me want to be who I am that much more.
LMK: When you think about pinnacle moments surrounding your identity, what comes to mind?
JWT: Probably walking into the first gay bar I’d ever been to. It was called The Arcade. I was in my 20s. There were a lot of things all going on at once. I remember [entering] looking to the right and seeing two guys kissing. Straight ahead Brooke Colins, a drag performer, was performing ‘Black Velvet’ in drag. It was a whole new world. I was a little nervous. Around that age I wasn’t very comfortable being in new spaces or talking to new people.
The Arcade is gone now [and] you can go into any bar in Charleston and feel comfortable. Today I also don’t care what anyone thinks. I’m just me.
LMK: As a little boy, what did you want to be when you grew up.
JWT: A funeral director <laughing>. I don’t know where it came from. It kind of just popped into my head. Maybe because it combines a few [of my] skills; like being compassionate and being able to help families in their time of need. As I grew up my interests changed but I still think about it sometimes.
LMK: You have such an easy and calm way about you, we’ve just got to ask: what, if anything infuriates you?
JWT: <Chuckles> Not much does. I’ve learned a lot of patience but the one thing I will say gets under my skin – and probably because Pride is coming up – [are] the things people sitting behind a keyboard will say and then think they can wear the title “activist.” Just sitting behind a keyboard complaining doesn’t give you that right. Get from behind the keyboard and actually do something! An activist is on the ground, showing up for people when they are needed. You’re in the room, speaking up for people, advocating, voting for candidates that support them.
LMK: Shifting gears a bit, lets talk a little bit about your livelihood. How’d you get into finance?
JWT: I was a contractor for years. I was in HR on the finance side, running policies and dealing with budgets.
LMK: So, this was experience you brought to Charlotte Pride. Is that how it all began for you?
JWT: I started volunteering with Charlotte Pride in 2017 and have taken on a lot of roles since then. A few years ago, I joined the board with my last position being Acting Treasurer. Having done that, I think they saw what I was capable of during that time and offered me the position of Operations & Finance Manager. I enjoy it and have poured my heart into it.
LMK: What’s the best thing about working with Charlotte Pride for you?
JWT: Probably the people. During festival time we always talk about our various ‘whys.’
Why do we do it? Mine change every year. Last year, there were three little girls, middle school age, and part of our community. They came to see Cassidy King perform on the main stage. They were screaming every lyric. I went and got them and brought them into the VIP section just to see their faces light up. One of them [was so happy she] cried. It’s the little things we can do for our community, making things accessible, allowing people to see themselves reflected. That’s the ‘why’ I do it. I’m very lucky to do what I do. That was last year and this year there will be another story. I’m looking forward to it. It’s a lot of hard work but these moments make it all okay. All worth it.
LMK: What’s the worst thing about the work you do with Charlotte Pride?
JWT: Dealing with opinions that were developed years ago about the organization. What I don’t like specifically is hearing the term “Charlotte Pride has always been that way.” It just doesn’t make space for the organization to grow and change if it needs to.
LMK: What should pride goers look forward to this year?
JWT: The entertainment. There’s a lot of excitement around entertainment this year. My husband is the Entertainment Coordinator and his focus has always been to make sure that his productions are diverse. I’m proud of the entertainment every year but this year feels more inclusive to me.
LMK: When you’re not working on finances and pride activities how do you spend your spare time?
JWT: I love traveling and am ready to go in a heartbeat. Fort Lauderdale, Florida has been my favorite destination so far. It gives me the feeling of being in the middle of a pride festival any time I go. It’s very comfortable, you can just be and feel like yourself. You don’t have to think about holding hands and what people might think about it.
LMK: This upcoming presidential election is monumental for numerous reasons. Share your thoughts about the election and its potential impact on the LGBTQ+ community.
JWT: To be honest, I think Biden made the right choice, it was painful watching the debate. Since then, I’ve felt more hopeful and like the energy Vice President Harris is bringing. I’d really like to see a person of color in office again and particularly a woman.
LMK: Why?
JWT: More people need to see themselves in that office and we need change. When you look at all the people who have been in office, it’s hard to see how more of the same would equal that change.
LMK: Speaking of change, many would say that our youth are our greatest asset in creating meaningful change. Before we let you go, is there anything, any words of advice you care to share with our young readers?
JWT: This isn’t a time to be scared. I know politics is scary right now and that there are some horrible voices saying some horrible things, but there are more people that support you and will be on your side than not.