Inaugural pride events set to take place this weekend

When Brandiilynne Dear was 11 years old, she had her first romantic experience with another girl. After being discovered by her parents, she turned to drugs. For years, she would struggle with her identity due to conflicts between her upbringing and sexuality.

“I participated in the Bible banging and trying to scare kids straight because I was trying to push down my own feelings about who I was,” Dear said. “When I did come out, I lost my ministry and credentials. The local newspaper, who a few days prior had called me a local hero, ran a letter that called me an abomination.”

Dear experienced the challenges that come with not being accepted based on her sexuality and the difficulties of coming out to those close to her. The one thing that remained strong was her faith, which is what eventually led to her founding the Joshua Generation Metropolitan Community Church, currently located in Oak Grove.

“People need a place to go where they feel safe and welcome, and I strive to make sure my church is such a place,” Dear said. “We are all different from one another, and that diversity should be celebrated because that is where our unity comes from, not in conformity.”

The idea of celebrating diversity led to this weekend’s Southern Fried Pride events.

“I got the idea back in January of this year,” said Lynn “LB” Bell, founder and current president of The Spectrum Center. “Many other big cities have pride celebrations, but living here in the Deep South, in general, it isn’t something many people are exposed to. The diversity of a city like Hattiesburg should be celebrated, which is the point of the events.”

Bell also cites the strides made for equality for LGBT individuals as a sign that Hattiesburg is ready for an event such as this one.

“Just a few months ago, the Supreme Court ruled in favor of marriage equality and steps are being taken to eliminate workplace discrimination,” Bell said. “With all of that, I think this is the right time to have the first Southern Fried Pride weekend.”

The events of this weekend overlap with National Coming Out Day on Oct. 11, an intentional decision made by Bell in the planning stages.

“When coming out, people usually come out to God last, and I’ve seen some people who have so much anxiety about going to church after coming out because they don’t feel like the church is a safe place for them,” Dear said. “We will have people here to share their coming out stories that will hopefully inspire others to come out as well, if only to themselves.”

Organizers of Southern Fried Pride are prepared for negative reactions to the events.

“On Saturday, because it is our most public event, we will have security present, and we will also have peace keepers present to calm anyone down who may feel the need to voice their concerns with our event,” Bell said.

Keenon Walker, founder of Keenon Walker Public Relations and Consulting, said having this in a place like Hattiesburg offers a unique opportunity.

“This is the Hub City, so people from Jackson or the Gulf Coast or New Orleans or Mobile could come and spend a weekend for an event like this, and it would be a great tourism opportunity for the city,” Walker said. “Also, Hattiesburg is a very open and accepting place to live in. I’ve been here for 10 years, and I have never faced any sort of discrimination for how I am. This city is constantly changing, growing and evolving and while something like this couldn’t have happened just a few years ago, now is the right time.”

Some involved with the project have great aspirations for Southern Fried Pride.

“I would love to see this event spread to other cities and become a collaborative effort where we can put aside our differences and just be one community,” Walker said.

Southern Fried Pride events

•Events kick off Oct. 9 with an LGBT South Convening starting at 9 a.m. Representatives from the Campaign for Southern Equality will be present at the Spectrum Center to discuss topics such as health care rights and families where a member is gay, lesbian, bisexual or transsexual.

•A wine, cheese and sexual health event will be held at Pepper’s Parties, Too from 7-10 p.m. Oct. 9. Games, food, beverages and sexual health information will be offered along with opportunities for prizes. Patrons must be 18 to attend this event and 21 to drink.

•The big celebration comes Oct. 10 in Town Square Park from noon-6 p.m. Speakers will include Joce Pritchett, a lesbian running for Mississippi state auditor, musical performances from The Squid and the Whale, and food and drinks from local vendors. A peaceful march through downtown will occur from 2-3 p.m.

•Immediately following the celebration in Town Square Park, there will be a pub crawl that goes from The Thirsty Hippo, The Skylight Lounge and Benny’s Boom Boom Room to Vicki’s on Walnut.

•There will be a service at Joshua Generation MCC at 11 a.m. Oct. 11 in honor of National Coming Out Day and then a brunch of complimentary chicken and waffles to follow.

•The weekend concludes at Brewsky’s for a Tea Dance from 2-7 p.m. Oct. 11 with DJ Will Lowe. A full bar and menu will be available for a $5 cover.