With rainbow pride flags tied to light posts and booths set up all over Pack Square Park, the Blue Ridge Pride festival returned for its third year to celebrate the LGBTQ community. Hundreds showed up for the event that lasted from noon-6 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 1.
Yesterday, it looked like tonight’s Asheville City Council meeting would see a conflict over a proclamation recognizing the Blue Ridge Pride festival. This afternoon, however, an announcement from Blue Ridge Pride claims Mayor Terry Bellamy has agreed to sign a proclamation recognizing the event.
An e-mail exchange released by Asheville City Council member Bill Russell reveals new details about how a proclamation recognizing the Oct. 1 Blue Ridge Pride festival made it onto Council’s agenda for its Sept. 27 meeting. In the exchange, Mayor Terry Bellamy, who has not given the festival a standard mayoral proclamation, notes that she will place it on the new business portion of the agenda. Russell says he hoped for a standard proclamation instead of a contentious vote.
City proclamations aren’t typically a point of controversy, but the Asheville City Council meeting tomorrow, Sept. 27, will see an exception. A proclamation recognizing the Blue Ridge Pride festival is on the New Business portion of the agenda, as Mayor Terry Bellamy refused to endorse it.
The inaugural Gay 5K and Rainbow Fun Run takes place Saturday, June 18 at Carrier Park as part of Blue Ridge Pride’s Games in the Park.
The free festival takes place today, on N. Lexington Ave., from noon-8 p.m.
