This year, Augusta’s Pride Week was packed with events from poolside fun to outdoor dance parties, all leading up to Saturday morning’s Pride Parade and Pride Festival.
The parade along Greene Street pulled in a large crowd, many wearing flashy outfits and waving rainbow flags. After the parade, the Augusta Common became a festival site, where guests enjoyed vendors, music, food and even performances from Akeria C. Davenport of RuPaul’s Drag Race as well as Eric Who from the Voice.
On allies and solidarity
“What makes [Pride] special is solidarity with my own people,” said Lilian Tyra during the festival. “There’s a lot going on in the world, and what we need right now is community immunity. Pulling together, regardless of any adversity.
Tyra said their favorite part of the festivities was seeing everyone “being able to be themselves.”
MORE: Out of the closet: the boldest looks from this year’s Pride festivities
“What we need is just more allies and more support,” said Tyra. “We need more solidarity, more people standing beside us, not necessarily in front of us to try to be our face and our shield…not behind us as if to say, ‘we support you but we’re not gonna like, really show up,’ but next to us, saying, ‘I’m with them.’”
‘Ain’t nobody else can be you’
This year’s festival was the second ever Pride event for Eden Phorbes.
“I just really want to celebrate with [my friends] and have a good time with everybody out here,” said Phorbes.
Phorbes shared advice for those in the LGBTQ+ community who have struggled with their identity.
“Be who you are for your pride,” Phorbes sang out loud, before adding: “Be who you are, because ain’t nobody else can be you. You’re the best version of yourself. So always be yourself and open with yourself.”
