By April L. Bogle
Some 100 people – from pre-kindergarteners to grandparents and every age in between – attended the Fernandina Beach Pride family picnic to eat, play and laugh together at MLK Park Saturday, April 22.
On a warm day, children took to the playground, adults tossed bean bags in games of cornhole, dogs sought shade, and most everyone munched chocolate chip cookies provided by a local church. An adjacent Little League game and a water aerobics class in the nearby pool provided the joyful sounds of summer.
The event was as American as apple pie.
Fernandina Beach residents Jen and Lance Ankrum attended to show their support for Pride. “My nephew is trans[gender], and I’m really scared for him. I just want to meet people and get involved,” Jen said.
Rev. Dr. Mark Charles, senior pastor of Fernandina Beach’s Memorial United Methodist Church, was there with some of his parishioners. His church provided the cookies.
“This event and [the upcoming] parade are important because they represent a cross-section of our community. And just like any other cross-section of our community — churches, political organizations, other social organizations — Pride ought to be able to gather freely as well,” said Charles.
Jordan Morris, treasurer of Fernandina Beach Pride, said the picnic exceeded his expectations. “We had been hearing rumblings after articles in the press expressed opposition to events such as ours, but people really turned out and showed a lot of love. We got an overwhelming amount of support, mostly from allies. I think there were more friends and supporters of our community than actual community members, which is really a wonderful thing,” he said.
Big Al’s Chicken Shack provided fried chicken, wings, slaw, potato salad and biscuits, part contribution, part paid for by Fernandina Beach Pride, so the off-duty police officers hired to ensure the peace had something to eat.
“That turned into a communal table for anybody to enjoy,” said Mason.
There were no disturbances. Not even a dog off-leash.
Open minds, open hearts. It’ great see!
Ms. Bogle, thank you for reporting on such a beautiful event. Our Pride parade and festival have always been family friendly events with love in the air.
Happy to know this. Sorry I missed the picnic!
Bravo! Sorry to have missed it. It was a gorgeous day!
Sex outside of marriage ( one woman and one man) is still a sin. Why are we glorifying sin?
Say the word and you’ll be free
Say the word and be like me
Say the word I’m thinking of
Have you heard the word is LOVE?
You’re confused about what was happening at the picnic. We ate food and played games. The children ran around together and we cheered on a nearby softball game. No one was glorifying anything but LOVE
Why are you pushing your puritanical beliefs on others? You do you, boo!
were you never single???
Please read the First Amendment to the Constitution. Government cannot establish a religion. Yes, most of us may be some sort of Christian, but the fastest-growing religion is “none.” Glorifying sin? That’s not in the Constitution; it never explicitly mentions G-d or the divine.
If you do not believe that a person should not have sex outside of marriage or that a marriage can be by two men or two women, then by all means, do not have sex outside of marriage and do not engage in gay/lesbian behavior. But please do not judge others who do not abide by your religious dogma.
What does a picnic have to do with sex? And isn’t there something in the Bible about whom ever is without sin should cast the first stone?
We had so much fun….a beautiful afternoon of good times with friends, food and fellowship. Great cookies!
Pride Parades are NOT as American as apple pie. Glorifying sin is a path that leads to destruction.
No one was glorifying sin. We were too busy glorifying love. The children tossed around balls on the basketball court and played Cornhole, we drew colorful flowers and rainbows with sidewalk chalk, people hugged and engaged in friendly conversation, we ate, we laughed, we cheered on a softball game on the other side of the fence.
Try to understand people who are different from yourself.
Gary, Gary, Gary, give it a rest. Whatever happened to LOVE covering a multitude of sins? And since when is a picnic a bad thing?
Rather than 85ft towers, Put forth a proposal for an all inclusive LGBTQIA2+ resort on that land. With minimal impact on the environment. Amelia Island would make a great pit stop on the way to Key West.
Thank you Fernandina Beach Pride for hosting another great event that my husband and kids enjoyed! Looking forward to the next one!
What a beautiful day! Got to see so many friends and made several new friends! Super proud to be in such company to support our LGBTQIA+ community!!
We had such a nice time! Thank you FB Pride for hosting this event. ☀️
What a great event enjoyed by all who were there. Thank you FB Pride! Such community, friendship, laughter, meeting new friends, and meeting up with old friends. My husband and I are proud to support our local LGBTQ++ community. Thanks to the local church for the delicious cookies! What a nice welcome treat!