By: Savanny Savath, Staff Writer

“2-4-6-8, love does not discriminate,” chanted participants during the pride march. They waved various flags such as the iconic rainbow flag, the asexual flag and the transgender pride flag. Passers-by waved and honked their cars in support while a male police officer closing off the street took pictures.

For the first time in its sixth year, the Upstate Pride march and festival ended a week of pride. Each day included an event of educational or entertainment purposes. The events ranged from a discussion about intersectionality to a bachelor and bachelorette auction. On Sept. 12 at Barnet Park, various groups such as Gender Benders and the Rainbow Support Group lined up with members from all over the community. They marched through downtown Spartanburg amid a few protestors and overcast skies.

“Upstate Pride SC started [in response] to the needs of the Upstate community. There are other organizations that have existed longer than us but there was not an organization to step up and take leadership and ownership of the Upstate pride community in general. So we formed out of a necessity. It was a grassroots sort of movement,” says Cody Owens, public relations and advertising chair for Upstate Pride.

The festival began afterwards in the park. The theme was “Peace, Love, and Pride.” Groups of rainbow colored balloons floated in all parts of the park, and in front of the Zimmerli Amphitheatre, more balloons were released into the gray air. However, drag queen and regular emcee of the festival, Patti O’Furniture, was absent due to personal health issues. He is also a Wofford alumnus.

Taking his place was fellow drag queen Delighted Tobehere, the headlining act who recently appeared on “America’s Got Talent.” Tobehere is from Greenville, S.C. and is a Clemson University alumnus. He has been a drag performer for 15 years.

“[The Upstate Pride festival] was gorgeous. Everybody was happy. We had an amazing, diverse group of performers. It was an energy of celebration. There was a 14 year old boy who had been doing drag on and off for a little bit. He came backstage and it was heartwarming to see folks being true to themselves earlier in their lives than even I was,” says Tobehere.

Various groups attended the festival. Children played in the Kids’ Fun Zone, flew kites, twirled in the hula hoops and watched stilt walkers and the drag performances. Parents attended with their older children. Straight couples cheered their support for the LGBTQ community.

“[Upstate Pride] is not flashy. It is not about the many stereotypes you see from the LGBT community. We do not have a lot of drag queens or go-go boys dancing. Not a lot of alcohol vendors. There are not dance parties. It is a family, community oriented event and it seems to be growing more like that than into a big flashy show,” says Reed Allison, education and advocacy chair for Upstate Pride.

Education is also a defining part of Upstate Pride. Owens adds,“A lot of other prides in the area like Columbia and Charlotte do a parade, which is more entertainment based, and they are wonderful, but our [pride] is more focused on education, activism and family.”

Tobehere also hoped people came out of the festival with a more positive attitude and respect toward one another. She says, “Right now, we are trying to fit everything into a black and white label or box, and quite frankly, we’re living in a world of gray right now. It is complicated, but everyone is trying to make it simple. We have differences that create nuance. You can really get to know somebody when you do not label them before you say ‘hey.’ I think that is very important. If we can do that, we are off to a good start in talking about our differences and uniqueness. Maybe we can find a place of harmony.”

To read an Old Gold and Black exclusive Q&A with Patti O’Furniture, click here!