After the parade Saturday morning, coursing through downtown from the James Brown Arena by way of Telfair and Greene Streets, the 14th annual Augusta Pride Festival kicked off at the Augusta Common.
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Jay Jeffries emceed the festivities from the Common stage before a motley crowd of hundreds of attendees. Alongside more than 80 food and merchandise vendors camped around the green, were tents emphasizing health and well-being, with the Georgia Department of Public Health offering free HIV testing, the Holly Counseling Service giving away positive affirmation and info on mental health.
Some local churches, such as Saint Francis Parish and Outreach, which meets in at Metropolitan Community Church of Our Redeemer on Greene Street, made sure to let celebrants know that they’re accepted.
“I’d rather stand before God and Him say you loved too much than you didn’t love it enough,” said Bishop Gregory Godsey with Saint Francis Parish.
Saint Paul’s Episcopal Church, on Reynold’s Street, appeared at Pride for its first time, this year, with rector Rev. Eric Biddy echoing the sentiment.
“[It’s] not the case with every church in Augusta, but in St. Paul’s, whether you’re gay, straight, trans, whatever, you’re safe to come believe and explore and serve and worship here,” said Biddy. “We thought that was an important thing to say.”
Skyler Q. Andrews is a staff reporter for The Augusta Press. Reach him at skyler@theaugustapress.com.
