Friendlier City Project Prepping For ‘Pride on the Plaza’
Photo by Derek Redd
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Since its creation, the Friendlier City Project has been taking gradual steps in growth as a group providing a safe and nurturing place for LGBTQ community members and their allies. This June, the organization takes its biggest step yet.
The Friendlier City Project will host its inaugural "Pride on the Plaza" on from 3-9 p.m. June 10 at Wheeling's Market Plaza. The event will be part of the FCP's Pride Month festivities. After holding several smaller gatherings and events, the organization is branching out into a larger foray of celebrating the Ohio Valley's LGBTQ community and those who support it.
"We have lots of festivals (in Wheeling)," said Ellery McGregor, a Friendlier City Project member and one of the event's organizers. "And people will be able to go to a festival that's kind of similar to the Arts Festival and the festivals down at Heritage Port and to know know that everyone is supportive and inclusive and loving."
FCP member Mikaya Green said another catalyst for holding the event was what happened when a Pittsburgh-based company attempted to hold a drag brunch at the Primanti Bros. restaurant at The Highlands. The brunch was canceled due to what organizers said were threats against the restaurant and the participants.
"I feel like that’s an even more important reason to have like a big city-wide event," Green said. "Because we kept saying (Clientele Art Studio), that is, like, our place. We feel comfortable there. But we deserve to be in more spaces than just behind closed doors, essentially. We deserve to be out in the city."
"Pride on the Plaza" will feature musical acts, artists and food vendors and a mini-trivia competition is planned. The group is looking for more food vendors and volunteers for the event, and those interested can email friendliercityproject@gmail.com or click the link in the bio of the Friendlier City Project Instagram page.
Starting a new celebration of the LGBTQ community and culture has the members of the young organization both excited and nervous for June 10. Yet any nerves are countered by the knowledge that this is the Friendlier City Project's opportunity to give the valley's LGBTQ community, especially its younger members, the chance to have fun in a safe space.
"We don’t want people moving away," Green said. "We want people to realize that you can have these communities and feel safe here. We’re going to be here so that queer kids growing up don’t feel like they need to move miles and miles away to live their lives.
"I was one of those kids," Green added, "and I moved to New York City, so I don’t want to feel like I have to do that. Wheeling is great. It has a lot of potential."