From Just Us for All:
The Asheville, NC, activist group, Just Us for All, has organized in corporation with Blue Ridge Pride. On October 5, 2013 JUFA has asked community members of all races, gender identities, sexual orientations, religious backgrounds, ages, political stances, to meet and march together to the Blue Ridge Pride events. JUFA believes that the community has many areas where it is segregated and they are hoping arriving to Pride as a group will create a bond amongst us.
JUFA founder, Basil Soper, says “ There is nothing quite like a march with like minded people that helps affirm a person and a cause. I guess it’s because you and others around you are publically being supported and things like transphobia and homophobia are stemmed in social places.” Too often does the LGBTQIA community hear people say things like, “Why do they get pride? You don’t see us having a straight pride.” People forget and may not know that the origin of pride events is stemmed in the Stonewall riots. It happens annually to commemorate what happened at The Stonewall Inn as well as bring community together and leave behind hatred for just a day. The fact that anti-LGBTQIA protestors stand in front of and around the BLURP events each year show Just Us For All why we still need pride events and why solidarity is more important then ever. The LGBTQIA culture is a different culture from hetero culture and that should be supported and celebrated for what it is including it’s internal differences. We hope the march brings everyone closer.
The event will start off at “Hummingbird Park” on Starnes Avenue in Montford on October 5, 2013 at 12:30 pm
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