The towns of Carrboro, Chapel Hill and Hillsborough are all celebrating and commemorating Pride Month this June with several events and public displays of support.

The towns of Carrboro and Chapel Hill are collaborating to show LGBTQ Pride with a mix of in-person and virtual events as a part of “Small Town Pride.”

Small Town Pride will be held throughout the month of June to “promote equality and celebrate diversity and acceptance in Carrboro and Chapel Hill.” The goal is to ensure all residents, regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity, are treated with respect and dignity.

This year, Small Town Pride events will include Pride Month proclamations, the raising of Pride flags in both downtowns, social media campaigns to highlight LGBTQ history and several events.

On Thursday, June 24, the Town of Carrboro will host a Pride Food Truck Rodeo and Dance Party at its Town Commons on West Main Street from 5 to 8 p.m.

“It will have some dance music and again just be an opportunity to come out and support our local food trucks and to be able to gather in the spirit of good ol’ Carrboro community and celebrate Pride,” said Carrboro Mayor Lydia Lavelle.

In addition to the food truck rodeo, on Monday, June 28, the Pride Book Club will meet virtually from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m.

Lavelle said being able to host events in conjunction with Chapel Hill is a welcome change as pandemic restrictions are lifted – especially as, this time last June, COVID-19 limited the kinds of events the towns could put on.

“I think it’s a perfect time for this to be happening – where we can all be outdoors and enjoying activity again in a safe manner,” Lavelle said. “It’s just all really kind of exciting.”

Chapel Hill and Carrboro aren’t the only Orange County governments raising awareness for Pride. Over in Hillsborough, the town is flying rainbow flags for the first time.

“They are up and down King Street, Churton and over in west Hillsborough on Nash Street and they look absolutely gorgeous,” said Hillsborough Mayor Jenn Weaver. “The response today has been overwhelming and overwhelmingly positive.”

While LGBTQ Pride Month was first declared in Hillsborough in 2019, Weaver said this more public display of support was a long time coming.

“I know for other communities that have been flying the Pride flags for many years, this might be an old hat, but for us it does feel overdue,” Weaver said. “I’m so glad that we’ve taken this step because today has made it so clear how meaningful it is to many, many people in our community.”

While Pride Month is celebrated nationally and locally each year during the month of June, the origins of Pride stem back to the Stonewall Riots. In June of 1969, attendees of the Stonewall Inn, a safe haven for New York City’s gay, lesbian and transgender community, clashed with anti-LGBTQ police as they roughly hauled employees and patrons out of the bar during a raid.

According to the towns, the purpose of celebrating Pride is to promote the equality of the LGBTQ communities, as well as increase visibility, challenge anti-LGBTQ legislation, and bring awareness to other LGBTQ issues.

Lead photo via Town of Carrboro.

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