Fernandina Pride
Press Release
Contact:Genece Minshew
Email: [email protected]
June 3, 2019 4:00 p.m.
The inaugural Fernandina Beach Pride Parade and Festival weekend will be held June 8th and 9th, 2019. With overwhelming support from the City of Fernandina Beach and community partners, Fernandina Pride is excited to sponsor this weekend of love and celebration with speakers, food, art, worship, and love. “We are so excited and encouraged by all the positive support we have received in our local community as we have prepared for our inaugural Fernandina Beach Pride Parade and Festival. It is going to be a fun family-friendly day of good food, good music, good friends and love”, said Fernandina Beach Pride President, Genece Minshew.
The Fernandina Pride Parade will be held Saturday, June 8th at 10:00AM. The parade follows the traditional parade route downtown from Central Park down Ash Street and Center Street. Local police and fire trucks will lead the way for area groups walking, decorated cars, and floats.
At 11:00 AM, the festival will begin in Central Park, located at 1200 Atlantic Av, Fernandina Beach, FL. The park will be filled with tents featuring non-profit groups, vendors and artists, a Kid’s Zone, and a variety of food trucks. The main stage will feature music and guest speakers throughout the day. Local band, Flipturn, will play for the crowd beginning at 5:00PM. The event concludes at 6:30PM. Entrance into the event is free and all ages are welcome!
On Sunday, June 9th, Fernandina Pride will hold a special multi faith worship service at 8:30AM at the gazebo at Main Beach. Members from the local faith community will participate and the community is welcome.
A variety of speakers, and local officials, will be featured throughout the day during the Festival on Saturday. Guest Speakers will include:
• Mayor Johnny Miller and other local officials
• Jacksonville native, Seth Owen, who after coming out at gay in high school was disowned by his family. He became homeless and still graduated from high school as the Valedictorian. He currently attends Georgetown University, is a Congressional Intern, and serves as President of Unbroken Horizons Scholarship Foundation. For more information on Unbroken Horizons, please go to www.unbrokenhorizons.org.
• Esmé (“Ez”) Rodríguez is the Pinellas Safe and Healthy Schools Coordinator and representative of Equality Florida. For more information on Equality Florida’s programs, please go to www.equalityflorida.org.
• Dan Merkan, Director of Policy for JASMYN in Jacksonville. For more information on Jasmyn’s programs, please go www.jasmyn.org.
• Dr. Tom Frank, Ordained United Methodist Minister, professor at Wake Forrest University and LGBTQ ally and activist
• Heather Gupte, local activist with a background in corporate leadership.
• Connor Fasel, local activist pursuing his Masters at the University of Iceland
• Genece Minshew, President of Fernandina Pride
• Dr. Theresa A. Sparks, Vice President of Fernandina Beach Pride
When asked about the upcoming event, Mayor Johnny Miller responded, “On this 50th anniversary of the Stonewall demonstrations, I am proud that our City will be celebrating our first of these important events. I encourage residents and visitors to embrace Pride’s message of equality and unity and to come out and enjoy this festival of peace and love.”