Forsyth hosts another successful Pride Festival
Photo courtesy of Savannah Pride Facebook
On Sept. 12, 2015, Savannah’s Pride Festival not only commemorated the large LGBT community of Savannah, but its large group of allies as well.
“I saw my fair share of moms and dads supporting their child, which I thought was incredible,” said fourth-year motion media design major Meghann Kennedy from Huntsville, Alabama. “To see that the large demographic represented made me feel like I was amongst family.”
In addition to Kennedy’s enrollment here at SCAD, she also acts as a mentor for the members of SCAD Queers and Allies Tumblr. The student-run club represented the SCAD community by taking the initiative of renting their own booth for the event.
“I think it was a fair representation of both LGBT people and allies, said faculty adviser for SCAD Queers and Allies, Krista Harberson. “What was most gratifying to me was seeing a good range of ages being represented. You saw people bringing their children of all ages and you also saw a lot of older folks.”
From 11 a.m. until 8 p.m., thousands of guests enjoyed live musical performers, vendors, VIP opportunities and an array of additional activities. Like previous years, drag performers took the stage, initiating enthusiasm and igniting a great energy across the crowd.
“I thought the performances were good, but I felt like the crowd responded best when the drag performers took the stage, said Harberson. “I personally loved seeing a greater range of drag performers this year primarily because in previous years the drag performances were almost exclusively pageant drag. That’s fine, but there’s always room for greater variety and inclusion,” said Harberson.
For $5, each citizen and visitor was welcomed into the event. With thanks to the willing attendees and various business partners who helped to sponsor the event, this nonprofit held event with a volunteer-based-board directing hosted yet another successful function.
Numerous well-known sponsors include Club One, Creative Approach, Kroger, Wells Fargo and Barefoot Wine & Bubbly.
“The people that put on Pride are such hard working, caring individuals, and if $5 is all they ask, I’m more than willing to give that much,” said Kennedy. “It helps pay for a lot of things that we wouldn’t have been able to experience if the event were free. I see no problem with that.”
Though it is inevitable that different attendees will prefer their various tastes in music and entertainment, it has been said that the Club One queens, House of Gunt and Spikey van Dikey were well selected representatives of the many performers available.
“Different members of the audience appreciated different performers, but that’s to be expected with a large group of people with various tastes in drag. I personally loved the House of Gunt the most but I am biased [Laughs]. But personally I thought all the performers were fantastic!” said fourth-year fashion design major Ryan B. Workman from Louisville, Kentucky who is also the president of SCAD Queers and Allies and an active member of the House of Gunt himself.
SCAD Queers and Allies agreed that despite the evident success, it did fall short of attention regarding those who identify not only as gay or lesbian, but genderqueer, trans, or intersex.
“I’d like to see more representation for trans people, asexual, aromantic, and non-binary folks,” said Harberson. “This could happen through either a greater variety of vendors or a broader range of performances. Also, given that the elections are coming next year, I would have liked to see a voter registration booth, might have been one I didn’t see, and a booth representing Bernie sanders.”
For more information regarding past festivals, this last event or future functions, you can contact them via email.
