SPARTANBURG, S.C. — On June 19, Upstate Pride hosted it’s second annual march and festival in Spartanburg, with Mayor Junie White leading the way. Three weeks earlier, White’s LGBT Pride Day proclamation signing met with some opposition from fellow council members and conservative religious groups. However, White stated that he would not rescind the proclamation. In fact, he presented the proclamation to Upstate Pride at the festival.
Because of his courage to stand up for LGBT equality, SC Pride decided to present White the SC Pride Courage in Leadership award.
SC Pride stated, “The Committee of Current and Past-Presidents of SC Pride has unanimously decided to create a new award this year, an award for public servants and elected officials who take courageous stands and show true Leadership in the cause of LGBT equality in our state. For the amazing courage in leadership that Mayor Junie White has shown in not only supporting Upstate Pride, but in overwhelmingly and publicly endorsing it, we are pleased to award Mayor White with the first ever SC Pride Courage in Leadership award.”
The award will be presented on Sept. 4 in Columbia, S.C., at South Carolina Pride’s festival in Finlay Park.