Looks like we haven’t heard the last of the Deplorable Pride group, who support President Donald Trump. The group was blocked from participating in the Charlotte Pride parade this Sunday.
They hoped to have a float, which would have included a Melania Trump impersonator. Instead, the group is going to hold a protest march “against intolerance” to coincide with the parade, beginning half an hour before it starts and stopping along the route to stop and be seen.
The group has posted the following statement to its website:
Join us in Charlotte North Carolina on August 27th. Come and show your support for your fellow Trump supporters who are LGBT and are being persecuted by their own gay community. Help us show them that WE ALL STAND UNITED!
We will be meeting at Romare Bearden Park 300 S. Church St. Charlotte NC and walk 6 blocks to the square of Trade and Tryon. Where the Charlotte Pride parade route turns. We will walk and stand UNITED AS ONE!
We will have items for you to make signs or you can bring your own. This will be a non-confrontational peaceful demonstration showing that you stand with your fellow Trump supporters. The Charlotte Pride event in Charlotte is expected to draw 120,000 people in attendance. Please help us show that intolerance is not acceptable.
Deplorable Pride and Carolinas for Trump will be hosting this event. If you would like to speak please get in touch with Brian Talbert or Chris O’Shea to let them know you would like to say something. EVERYONE IS INCLUDED AT OUR EVENT. REGARDLESS OF YOUR POLITICAL VIEWS! WE ARE TRULY ALL INCLUSIVE. Thank you all in advance.
A Charlotte Pride spokesperson defended its decision on Friday, The Charlotte Observer reports, saying “the nonprofit has the right to exclude any group it feels does not reflect the parade’s values of welcoming groups on the fringes of American society, including undocumented immigrants.”
“In the past, we have made similar decisions to decline participation from other organizations espousing anti-LGBTQ religious or public policy stances,” Charlotte Pride said in a statement. “Charlotte Pride envisions a world in which LGBTQ people are affirmed, respected, and included in the full social and civic life of their local communities, free from fear of any discrimination, rejection, and prejudice.
Charlotte Mecklenburg Police said they are aware of the planned protest, and that it is the only one they are aware of to coincide with the parade, and that they will continue to monitor social media to see what other protesters may show up to demonstrate.
Deplorable Pride is not only upset with Charlotte Pride, but is also mad at another North Carolina entity: Gays For Trump. Deplorable Pride claims the group is trying to pretend it is the one being banned from participating in the parade in order to raise funds.
UPDATE (8/26):
Talbert is now also criticizing Gregory Angelo, the president of the conservative LGBTQ group the Log Cabin Republicans. He says in a Facebook post that he was “denied any help” and is now vowing to work to see that Angelo loses his position as the head of the Log Cabin Republicans. (This post has since been deleted.)
We have reached out to the Log Cabin Republicans for a statement in response to Talbert’s criticisms and will update again if we hear back from the organization.
UPDATE 2 (8/27):
Deplorable Pride had a small group of protesters at today’s parade.
UPDATE 3 (8/28):
Peter Boykin, who heads up Gays For Trump, has responded to Talbert.
https://twitter.com/peterboykin/status/902080045216301056
https://twitter.com/peterboykin/status/902080846148063233
This anti Trump bs is crazy hey now people going back to work he is not a racist he employees people of all color (a racist would employ people of there color ) Trump truly wants all americans to have a better shot at life dont feed in to what youre told feed into the facts he is wanting the whole country to suceed not just the swamp they are bad mouthing oure president because he is making there wallets thinner !!! If you dont think so when you get more of yore tax money back donate it to the democratic party.