Safety is one of the main concerns for Taylor Pride this weekend as members and allies fill downtown this Saturday.
The 2023 Taylor Pride Music and Arts Festival will be held Saturday, June 24, from 2 to 9 p.m. in Heritage Square.
“Safety is always our number one priority,” said Denise Rodgers, Taylor Pride president. “Anytime you’re having a pride event, there’s always a greater risk. We also know that every single one of our events are protested unfortunately so we are just planning for that.”
Taylor Pride, a LGBTQ advocacy organization for the Taylor area, has been working with the Taylor Police Department for months leading into the festival. After controversy over participation in the annual Parade of Lights, Rodgers said the event will have more security than any other festival that is hosted in Taylor. Similar to previous years, Christian groups with opposing ideals are expected to be present during the event as well.
Although anticipating a potential protest, Rodgers describes the festival as a family friendly event for all ages. Since there will be vendors, food trucks, a splash pad, a Kids Pride area and a 21 and older VIP tent, she said there will be something for everyone at the event.
Rodgers also says that each of the six bands, three speakers and 10 drag performers have been heavily vetted to ensure that they provide ageappropriate content for all in attendance.
“They understand the expectation is family friendly, all ages content,” Rodgers said. “The only thing that will be adult only is in the VIP tent.”
Those who attended past music and arts festivals hosted by Taylor Pride should expect the setting to look different this year. Due to changes in the downtown entertainment district, the normal number of four performance stages will be reduced to just one for this year. Previously, the festival could use three different venues and the street to perform, which allowed for all types of programming to go on simultaneously. Taylor Pride had to scale back given the restrictions, but Rodgers still feels it has a stacked lineup of music performances.
The festival hired a new audiovisual events team, which Rodgers believes will increase the concert’s quality. She said listening to the six bands is going to feel like going to a music festival.
While Taylor’s Pride festivities attendance pales in comparison to similar events in metro areas, Rodgers appreciates the intimacy that the Taylor Pride Music and Arts Festival brings.
“It’s not just a Pride festival,” Rodgers said. “We focus heavily on the music and arts; you will see that element everywhere. Drag is an art form, so there will be an abundance of drag art.”
