By Sarah Richardson
The newly-formed Greenbrier Valley Pride group held their first-ever annual parade and block party in downtown Lewisburg last weekend. After planning for roughly a month, nearly 500 attendees and participants came together in support of equality, self acceptance, and visibility of the LGBTQIA+ community. Pride parades also honor the 1969 Stonewall riots, an uprising against police harassment and persecution. This event is known to be a major catalyst for the LGBTQIA+ rights movement.
Starting at Lee Street and convening in front of the Greenbrier County Courthouse on Court Street for the block party, marchers cheered, played upbeat music, and waved flags and banners for the duration of the parade. At the block party, community organizations came together to both celebrate and offer resources alongside food vendors and merchants.
