By Jeff March, President of South Carolina Pride Movement.

On Friday and Saturday, Oct. 4-5, Famously Hot South Carolina Pride will be celebrating 30 years of Pride in the Palmetto State. Currently, the parade and festival features over 80,000 people showcasing their support for the LGBT community – but 30 years ago the scene down Main Street was much different.

At a gay and lesbian community picnic held on Dreher Island in the fall of 1989, PFLAG parent Harriet Hancock worked the small crowd with a clipboard, asking if folks would be willing to march down Columbia’s Main Street in a gay march – for things like equal opportunity in employment, equal treatment in the military, the right to adopt children + the monitoring of hate crimes by law enforcement.

About 2,000 people marched down Main Street to the state capitol, spontaneously rushing up the capitol steps for an enormous group photo.

Rally at the State House in 1990. Photo provided.

25th celebration of the Stonewall Riots as N.C. and S.C. marched together in June of 1994. Photo provided.

Since that first march, South Carolina Pride has worked to create a more accepting and inclusive state for everyone to work, live, and pursue their dreams.

Over the past 10 years, new organizations across South Carolina have started to lead the pride movement to the Upstate, Charleston, and Augusta area. In 2014, marriage equality came to South Carolina following a federal court ruling – and soon after in 2015, the whole nation.

Famously Hot South Carolina Pride Week Events

Sept. 29-Oct. 6 is this year’s Famously Hot South Carolina Pride Week leading up to what has become the signature Pride Weekend. On Oct. 4, the signature nighttime parade returns to Main Street at 7 p.m. Following the parade, the street party begins with a concert by Berlin featuring Terri Nunn.

The party continues Saturday, Oct. 5 on Main Street covering multiple blocks with performances by local and national entertainers. All are invited to the Pride Festival to welcome Sheena Easton, Lorrie Morgan, Deborah Cox, and the stars of RuPaul’s Drag Race to our Smirnoff Main Stage.

After the sun goes down, the celebration continues at The Senate for Aftermath – the Official SC Pride After Party where the queens Phoenix, Mariah, Detox, Kimora, & Roxxxy rock the stage. In addition to a weekend full of events, there are several additional events scheduled during the week.

For details on each event, head to the SC Pride website. The Famously Hot South Carolina Pride Week invites all to join in celebrating 30 years of Pride and festivities next week.

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