The vibrant and inclusive spirit of Raleigh will be on full display as the city gears up for the annual Out! Raleigh Pride festival, set to take place on June 22 in the heart of downtown on Fayetteville Street. This year’s event promises to be a spectacular celebration of the LGBTQ+ community, drawing thousands of attendees from across the southeast.
Out! Raleigh Pride, now in its 12th year, has become a cornerstone of the city’s cultural landscape, championing diversity, acceptance and love. Organized by the LGBT Center of Raleigh, the festival offers a welcoming and friendly environment where people of all ages and backgrounds can come together to celebrate and support the LGBTQ+ community.
History of Out! Raleigh
The annual festival started in 2011 with the idea of taking a supportive and inclusive approach to traditional pride celebrations. This meant adding activities children, crafts and performances.
“Most pride events are known for being inclusive and colorful but also highly sexualized,” reads a blog post from Out! Raleigh Pride’s 2011 event. “Out! Raleigh stands out as a festival which is safe for the little members of our families to enjoy entertainment that is geared towards them.”
The inaugural event for Out! Raleigh Pride also featured five faith-based organizations, which is something the LGBT Center of Raleigh said was important to include.
“Many of them spoke and gave their support to a community that is often excluded from spiritual and religious sects of society,” the blog post states, referring to other pride festivals. “Five churches participated in that first festival, and we were treated to a confirmation of support from Mitchell Gold of Faith in America, who encouraged the community to be themselves and spread love and kindness.”
Hundreds of thousands of people have attended Out! Raleigh Pride over the years, including many entertainers and performers who make the pride celebration the coveted event people look forward to every year.
A Day Full of Festivities
This year’s pride festival will feature an array of activities and entertainment, including live music, drag performances and engaging speakers. Among the performers are Dawn, Jorgegeous, DJ Wicked and more.
Local bands and artists will take the stage throughout the day, providing a lively soundtrack to the festivities. Some local groups performing include the Triangle Pride Band, Triangle Gay Men’s Chorus and Common Woman Chorus. Attendees can also look forward to a diverse lineup of food trucks, offering everything from classic southern fare to international cuisine.
For those attending with kids, there will be plenty to keep them occupied in the KidsZone, which will be packed with fun activities such as face painting, crafts and games. The festival will also host a variety of vendors and community organizations, offering everything from handmade crafts to information about local LGBTQ+ resources and services.
In addition to entertainment, Out! Raleigh Pride serves as an important platform for raising awareness about critical issues facing the LGBTQ+ community. This year’s event will feature several informative booths and vendors sharing information and resources on topics such as LGBTQ+ rights, healthcare and intersectionality. These discussions aim to educate attendees and foster a sense of solidarity and activism within the community.
A highlight of the day will be the grand parade, which will wind through downtown Raleigh, showcasing colorful floats, vibrant costumes and spirited participants. The parade is always a crowd favorite, embodying the joy and resilience of the LGBTQ+ community.
A Few Words From Some of the Planning Committee Members
Kori Hennessey (they/them) is the Director of Education and Programs at the LGBT Center of Raleigh and is the head of the Out! Raleigh planning committee. This year marks their sixth year planning the pride festival.
“Every year leaves me in awe of how incredible our community can be, especially since the last few years have been tumultuous for queer and trans folks,” Hennessey said. “This year marks the 55th anniversary of the Stonewall Uprising. Pride is not only a time for celebration, but also a time to remember and honor those that paved the way for us to celebrate.”
Cotie San (she/they) is the new Development Manager for the LGBT Center in Raleigh, and this year marks their first year going to Out! Raleigh. She said for her, this year’s pride will be special.
“To me, Pride means celebrating our unique identities and being in community with other LGBTQ+ people and allies, and refusing to let anyone take away our joy,” San said.
Gwendolyn Love is the program coordinator for Raleigh’s LGBTQ Center. She received her Bachelor’s Degree in African and African-American Diaspora Studies with a concentration on Black Sexuality Studies and Women and Gender Studies. She said for her, Pride is freedom to be herself.
“To me, Pride means being able to live in my true authentic self without explanation or concern for what others may perceive: being able to showcase all the best parts of my identities, and never having to worry about dimming my light,” she explained.
John Hull has worked on the festival planning committee for “a number of years,” according to his biography on the Out! Raleigh Pride website. He said he continues to volunteer his time to the event as he believes it provides a safe space in a state where not every community is accepting of LGBTQ+ individuals.
“There weren’t resources for me to learn about being gay or places where I felt accepted and loved,” Hull recounted. “Out! Raleigh Pride is a safe space to celebrate our diversity and to find resources.”
Amy Cox and Bree Petrillo are with Deep South Entertainment — a Raleigh-based entertainment agency. Cox is the company’s senior vice president, while Petrillo serves as the events coordinator.
Cox said Deep South Entertainment has helped to organize Out! Raleigh Pride since its inaugural event in 2011, and she’s very glad to be a part of the process.
“When a collective of volunteers/leaders from the LGBT Center of Raleigh approached Dave Rose and myself in 2010 about doing the Out! Raleigh festival, Deep South was 100 percent on board and ready to support the efforts,” Cox said. “As an ally in the community, I have thoroughly enjoyed producing this very inclusive festival that is for everyone.”
Califonza Thompson (he/him) is also on the planning committee. He said Pride has different meanings for each person, but for Thompson, it’s about honoring those who came before him.
“Pride is about honoring ourselves and our ancestors who laid the groundwork for us to be recognized and celebrated,” he said. “It is also a time to remember that Pride started as an uprising against police brutality. Pride is our time to celebrate our culture and living … without fear or repression.”
As Raleigh prepares to celebrate Out Raleigh Pride, the anticipation and excitement are palpable. The festival not only highlights the city’s commitment to inclusivity but also serves as a reminder of the progress made and the work still needed to achieve true equality for all.
For more information about Out Raleigh Pride, including the schedule of events and volunteer opportunities, please visit the official website at https://outraleighpride.org. ::