PRIDE Charlotte Mission:   

Empowering all lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender (LGBT) and allied peoples to stand as unique individuals and together as a community, with the purpose of uniting as a creative, social, economic, and influential force.

A brief history of Pride Charlotte

PRIDE Charlotte was born in 2006 after organizers of the former festival producer, Charlotte Pride, Inc, decided not to produce a festival due to burn out and other reasons. A Task Force of 17 people took over the project and affiliated it with the Lesbian and Gay Community Center of Charlotte.

The festival was moved from Marshall Park to its current location, Gateway Village.

Highlights of PRIDE Charlotte 2006 include:

* Over 6,000 in attendance
* Sold out vendor fair with over 70 vendors
* Entertainment featuring Christy Snow, The Near Misses, One Spirit Choir, Kat Williams, Seth Boulton, One Voice Chorus, Sister Funk, drag kings and queens.
* Speakers representing local government, sponsors and community organizations
* Sponsors: Bank of America, Q-Notes, Scorpio, Wachovia, Bud Light, Charlotte Eagle, Food Lion, Southern Country, Red Nightlife Magazine, Velocity, Breakfast Club, Fluent Language Solutions, Charlotte Business Guild, Liaisons, Metrolina AIDS Project, Piedmont Unitarian Universalist Church, Metropolitan Community Church of Charlotte, New Life MCC.
* A dance tent and a kids area
* Over $19,000 raised and benefitting the Lesbian & Gay Community Center and the House of Mercy.

PRIDE Charlotte is a member of Interpride - The International Association of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgendered Pride Coordinators. Web Site www.interpride.org