Chattanooga Pride Week ends with celebrations on Sunday

CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF) — Rainbows took over Downtown Chattanooga as Pride weekend was celebrated from October 7-8.

People of all ages participated in a parade earlier on Sunday followed by more festivities at the Chattanooga Convention Center.

Community liaison with the Chattanooga Pride Board, Arnold Ruelas previewed the event by saying, “We’re just honestly are expecting to just create a safe space for people of all walks of life. Whatever gender, race, sexuality, it does not matter. We just want a safe space. We want people to just show up, meet other people in the community, and just have a great time.”

In light of recent Tennessee legislation, some concerns were raised about policies at events like this.

However, people still gathered from all around to celebrate pride.

“Pride isn’t necessarily a celebration of being gay, or LGBTQ, it is a celebration of how far we’ve come. How  much progress has been made. Less than sixty years ago in this country, it was absolutely legal to execute someone on the street. Now, we are still having to fight for healthcare, we’re having to fight for just rights to exist, rights to be married. A lot of people don’t realize that if you are gay, you can be denied healthcare now,” Pride advocate Johnathon Sumner said.

Chattanooga Pride Week came to a close on Sunday with a parade and festivities.

“It’s just really important for us to come together as a community. Show that we have support and we’re going to keep trying, not necessarily for better rights, just the same as everybody else,” Sumner added.

Ruelas spoke on recent drag laws in the state and how he feels they should be represented.

“At the end of the day, especially when it comes to like the drag community, and the entertainment community, and the gay community, it is all about just finding a space to create art… and finding a space where you feel included and accepted. That’s what we try to offer is a space of inclusivity,” Ruelas said.

When asking participants what ‘pride’ means to them and why they came out to the event, individuals said the following:

“I’m here because I want to be supported, and other people should be supported as well… no matter what you’re like or what you do, or how you feel. Everybody should be supported,” Zoe Difranceaco said.

“Pride means a lot to me because it’s like you’re putting all your worries aside and just focusing on the people that mean the most to you and making them happy. To see how happy all of this is, when you put it together, it makes me happy as well,” Zayla Atwater said.

“Pride means to me the freedom to be yourself, and to embrace your authentic self and be around others who love you for who you are,” Cassie Wanamaker added.

People of all ages came out to the parade Downtown and continued the celebration at the Chattanooga Convention Center.

For safety reasons and convenience, the market was held inside the center from 1-6 p.m.

Their hope is to continue the annual festivities for years to come.

“Take the time to just get to know your neighbor. Whoever that is. Get to know them without asking their sexuality, their political views, their religious views. Just get to know them as a human and love other people as humans.” Ruelas said.

While News 12 was on the scene, there was no present opposition of the event.