All through June, News4JAX has been shining a spotlight on our local LGBTQ+ communities and their allies for Pride Month.
On Saturday, the Big Gay Picnic in Willowbranch Park and the Pride Celebration at Riverside Arts Market brought together members of the community to celebrate as Pride Month came to a close.
Mixher and OUTdoorsy joined forces to host a field day event at RAM, featuring events you might remember from your grade-school days, like tug-of-war and dizzy bat.
Anthony and Brian from OUTdoorsy said events like the one held Saturday are what help the LGBTQ+ community find each other and bond, building camaraderie within the community.
MORE: News4JAX celebrates Pride Month all through June
“We made some new friends today because of this competition,” Brian said.
David Vandygriff, founder of the Jax LGBT Chamber, shared the importance of hosting the annual Big Gay Picnic at the location where the first Pride celebration was held in Jacksonville decades ago.
It all started with a picnic in Willowbranch Park in 1978.
“This is our way to give back to the community,” Vandygriff said.
Saturday’s event at the park included free hamburgers and hot dogs for the crowd.
Jessica and Alex stopped by the picnic and shared what it means to them to have a safe space for the LGBTQ+ community.
“It’s nice just with the way everything is right now to come and not feel pushed aside, just be out and proud and have a good time,” they said.
Dan Hutton, president of the AIDS Memorial Project, said the LGBTQ+ community has been integral in advocating for improvements in Willowbranch Park.
“This is what parks are for,” Hutton said. “They’re an extension of people’s homes. They’re an extension of community, and to see something like this happen to where people are around, using this, having fun, enjoying themselves, maybe talking to people they don’t know and haven’t met before, it gives me a lot of joy.”
