PHOTOS: Pride at The Village 2022

ABOVE: Pride at the Village Founder John Gascot (C) accepts the city’s proclamation June 18. Photo by Dylan Todd.

Pinellas Park, Fla. | The second annual Pride at the Village was held June 18 at Pinellas Arts Village, the city’s emerging creative district.

Organizers made history with last year’s event, which marked the first official Pride celebration held in Pinellas Park. Local officials did so again by proclaiming June 18 as Pride Day within the city.

Vice Mayor Patti Reed read the proclamation, issued by Mayor Sandra Bradbury. She was joined by Councilmember Rick Butler, Pinellas Park Police Department Chief Michael Haworth, Pride at the Village Founder and Curator John Gascot, Pastor Joyce Stone from Christ the Cornerstone Church and more.

“All are welcome in the City of Pinellas Park to live, work, play, and retire,” Reed began. “Every family deserves a place to call home where they are safe, happy and supported by friends and neighbors.”

The proclamation continued by reflecting on the 1969 Stonewall Riots as well as the importance of Pride Month. June is “a special opportunity to become more knowledgeable about this history and to honor the many LGBTQ American leaders who have contributed to the progress of our nation,” Reed shared.

The vice mayor read further that Pinellas Park has a strong history of honoring inclusivity, values the contributions of its citizens and is proud of its diversity. She noted that while the LGBTQ community has made strides forward that full equality has not yet been realized.

“We must practice these values and teach them to future generations,” Reed said in closing. “On behalf of Sandra Bradbury’s office in the City of Pinellas Park and on behalf of all of our council members, our staff … I hereby proclaim June 18. 2022 to be Pride Day in the City of Pinellas Park.”

Read the proclamation’s full text below:

WHEREAS, all are welcome in the City of Pinellas Park to live, work, play, and retire. Every family deserves a place to call home where they are safe, happy, and supported by friends and neighbors; and

WHEREAS, a number of Pride events and people of all races have contributed to the history of equality for all people; and

WHEREAS, each year, the month of June honors the 1969 Stonewall riots in Manhattan and the struggle for basic civil rights for the Pride community to remind all cultures within our wider community of the important roles LGBTQ people have taken in shaping the social, historical, legal, and political worlds we live in today, and

WHEREAS, Pride month affords a special opportunity to become more knowledgeable about this history and to honor the many LGBTQ American leaders who have contributed to the progress of our nation; and

WHEREAS, the City of Pinellas Park has a strong history of honoring inclusivity, we value the contributions all our citizens bring to the City and pride ourselves on diversity, and

WHEREAS, the LGBTQ community has made great strides forward, but equality, inclusion, and acceptance have not yet been fully achieved. We must practice these values and teach them to future generations.

NOW, THEREFORE, I, Sandra L. Bradbury, by virtue of the authority vested in me as Mayor of the City of Pinellas Park, and on behalf of the entire City Council, do hereby proclaim June 18. 2022 to be PRIDE DAY in Pinellas Park and call upon our community to respect, honor, and celebrate our diverse community and to continue building a culture of inclusiveness and acceptance of the LGBTQ+ community.

Sandra L. Bradbury, Mayor

Event organizers subsequently introduced the recently crowned Miss Pride @ the Village 2022 Sade Erotica to help crown the celebration’s king. Cortez Blue was named Mr. Pride @ the Village.

The two performers entertained audiences throughout the day, joined by emcee Daphne Ferraro and fellow fan favorites Kori Stevens, Aquariius and Georgia Moore. Tampa Bay native and “RuPaul’s Drag Race” alum Coco Montrese headlined.

“Thank you so much for supporting us and being a part of this,” Montrese told the crowd. “Pride is not just a celebration, it’s a lot more than that. It’s for people to understand that we are here to stay. It’s amazing to be home … I love you.”

Attendees also enjoyed a wide array of vendors and food. Gascot estimates that attendance met or exceeded the inaugural event, which welcomed more than 1,500 people.

“I am so thankful to all who came out in celebration of diversity on our second year,” he says. “We made history yet again by receiving the first-ever official Pride proclamation from the City of Pinellas Park. We have raised the bar from last year and will continue to do so.”

Pride @ The Village benefits Diversity Arts, Inc., which assists underserved youth and much more. Learn more at DiversityArtsInc.com and view our photos from the event below.

Photos by Dylan Todd.