Under a sea of rainbow flags, attendees at the 2023 Pride Parade were marching not just in celebration, but in resistance to a growing tide of anti-LGBTQ+ legislation.
Many attendees at the 2023 Athens Pride Parade stressed that the day - and Pride Month as a whole - was an act of resistance against nationwide anti-LGBTQ+ legislation. One of those attendees was Isacc Wood.
“Celebration is also a form of protest I feel, and it's easy to forget while hanging out at a parade that Pride started as a protest and that sort of thing -- but that’s the thing -- we should celebrate with meaning and intent,” said Wood.
In the past year, laws like Georgia’s SB 140 have outlawed gender-affirming care for transgender youth, while others like Tennessee's SB 3 banned drag performances from most public spaces. Athens Pride + Queer Collective (APQC) President Danielle Bonanno said laws like these restrict and endanger the LGBTQ+ community, talking about her own experiences as a trans woman.
“Being forced to go through puberty that didn’t align with my identity caused me a lot of harm. And I feel like it’s an overreach, it’s an overstep. And I feel like we need to stand up. Allowing our trans kids to go through puberty that doesn't align with their gender is a risk we can’t take,” Bonanno said.
While many come to the Pride Parade for a day of festivities, experiences like Bonanno’s motivate queer Athenians to fight for equality. The second annual Pride Parade, hosted by Athens Pride + Queer Collective (APQC) traveled through Downtown Athens on Saturday, June 3, ending in a festival of music, resources, and acceptance. Bonanno said the event symbolizes the LGBTQ+ community’s strength in the face of discrimination.
“Visibility is more important than it's ever been right now. And the fact that we're all out here and that we're not backing down and that we're showing the world who we are, that's the important part,” Bonanno said.
Wood adds that Pride Month is valuable in reminding queer Athenians who they can trust to support them against prejudice.
“I'm here with my church, so it was just like a really awesome time. During the year, I know that people support me, but having everyone show up and be enthusiastic about it, y'all mean when you say all are welcome here,” Wood said.
Several organizations, ranging from the Athens Community Council on Aging, the Cottage, and numerous churches tabled in support of the LGBTQ+ community. One of these participants, Alice Mohor, joined her church, St. Gregory the Great Episcopal Church, 50 years ago in its first year. She was the church’s first gay member and said she has always felt welcome.
“Some were raised in a fundamental background that wasn't welcoming, so we just want to assure them that if they look, they can find churches that are welcoming,” said Mohor.
Athens Pride + Queer Collective provides numerous resources for queer Athenians year-round, including a Trans Surgery Scholarship and several support groups.
