Grand Strand Pride will bring its Summer Pride celebration to Myrtle Beach on June 20, inviting community members and allies to gather for an afternoon of entertainment, resources and LGBTQ+ visibility.
The free event runs from 1 to 6 p.m. and will feature music from DJ Trevor D, spotlight entertainment and LGBTQ+ resource exhibitors. Attendees can also enjoy food and beverages from nearby restaurants surrounding the park.
The celebration comes just weeks after the Myrtle Beach City Government presented Grand Strand Pride with a proclamation recognizing June as Pride Month. In a statement shared on social media, the organization thanked city leaders for their support and emphasized that Pride is about more than a single month of celebration.
“While Pride is always a celebration, it’s also about the year-round infrastructure of advocacy, education and creating safe spaces where everyone can live openly,” the organization wrote.
The recognition reflects how much Grand Strand Pride has grown in a relatively short time. The group’s first event took place in 2021, to celebrate Myrtle Beach’s first-ever Pride Month proclamation and raise awareness about LGBTQ+ issues along South Carolina’s Grand Strand.
Today, Grand Strand Pride is a coalition member of South Carolina United for Justice & Equality, a statewide network that advocates for LGBTQ+ rights and works on issues including racial justice, reproductive justice, voting rights and healthcare access.
The organization’s focus on community building is also reflected in its approach to future Pride celebrations. Because of limited space at Nance Plaza, organizers said exhibitor space this year was reserved primarily for nonprofit organizations that advocate for or provide services to LGBTQ+ community members. At the same time, Grand Strand Pride is encouraging LGBTQ+ owned and ally owned businesses to begin building relationships now in hope of expanding participation in future events.
For organizers, Pride is not only about celebrating LGBTQ+ people today, but also creating a stronger and more connected community for years to come.
For more details visit https://grandstrandpride.com/.
