Taylor PRIDE had an opportunity to talk about its upcoming festival during a special interview downtown last Wednesday.
On June 15, the Taylor Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Committee met with Taylor PRIDE member Red Bailey during the committee’s monthly meeting at Texas Beer Company. DEI co-chairman Jason Hennington asked Bailey questions about the organization and the upcoming Taylor PRIDE event Saturday, June 25.
“We are actually having a street festival with vendors and food and a little family friendly area,” said Bailey. “There’s going to be an outdoor stage as well as things happening in the venues like last year. There’ll be as much happening last year but also more.”
The event is being held from 2 to 10 p.m. at Black Sparrow Music Parlor, Texas Beer Company, Xchange Nightlife and outside along Second Street fro Main to Vance streets and on half of a Talbot Street block north and south of Second.
Speakers will include city, county and state leaders and others. Live musical performers such as Venus Loves Mars, The Revengers, Brooke Ashley Eden, Kelly McRae, Spooky Juke, Jay Satallite, Carbon Love, Midnight Butterfly, Crystal Skulls, Worm Suicide, Marla Strange and Vestite will be in attendance.
Bailey was also asked about the possibility of protestors at the festival. Last year’s event attracted a group of people that stood on the opposite side of the majority of activities on Second Street that sang songs, read Bible verses and displayed signs of concern for the event and reasons behind it.
The Taylor Area Ministerial Alliance, a network of some local churches and ministries, announced June 15 that they had accepted an invitation from Taylor PRIDE co-founder Denise Rodgers to attend the event as they did last year. The group has expressed concern at some aspects of the event, such as a Drag Story Time.
“Even while our member congregations each have particular views on best methods for them to be faithful to Christ, all of our member congregations agree that the Bible is the infallible Word of God. Our congregations certainly have our disagreements, but we all recognize that sexual immorality and the grooming and exploitation of children is sinful and must be repented of,” said TAMA in an online statement, “and so, there will be Christians from some of our member congregations there, assailing the gates of Hell under Christ’s banner of love. They will be representing King Jesus. And, just like last year, even as our invitation to return would suggest, those Christians will be gracious and loving as they put forth the truth.”
No major disturbances were reported last year, and members of different groups were seen exchanging civil discourse throughout the day. As a precaution, the event was attended by the Parasol Patrol, an organization of people who use umbrellas to shield perceived negative impacts from protestors at events. An Austin chapter of the group will reportedly have a presence again this year.
Regardless, Bailey reiterated that PRIDE is a public event.
“We can’t keep anyone out that wants to attend,” said Bailey. “It’s their right to be here.”
To view the full interview to learn more about the festival, Bailey’s description of “pride” and effects of the event, visit https://www.facebook.com/TaylorDEICommittee.
