A first of its kind event for Spartanburg will happen this Saturday. A Gay Pride Parade will take place through downtown Spartanburg Saturday morning at 11am. Upstate Pride, a group comprised of individuals from throughout the upstate, will be putting on the event, and the group says everyone is invited and encouraged to march. Organizers are expecting about 200 marchers. The route is about a mile and will begin at the Unitarian Universalist Church on Henry Street, turn on to Church St, then on to Kennedy Street. The parade will continue down Kennedy, turning right on South Converse before turning on to Henry Street, ending back at the church. After the march, there will be a festival at the church, featuring live entertainment, speakers, food vendors, retail vendors, and non-profit and educational booths.
The group claims the mission of the parade is to "inform the general public that we have the same concerns as everyone in our community. We, and those of us who are allies, are your neighbors, your co-workers, your fellow patriots. We play with you on local baseball teams, participate in book clubs, volunteer for the PTA, and sit beside you at church. We are an important and talented sector of our community. As such, we desire equal rights, not special rights, for all".
Several groups have lined up to protest the event. One group calling itself the Truth Ministry, has scheduled a press conference preceding the march. The city has issued several permits along the route. Protesters will be allowed to shout at protesters, but not leave the sidewalk or approach the marchers. Marchers plan on bringing out large drums to drown out the protesters. The city plans on extra security at the event, some of which has been hired out by the parade organizers.
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