The CLog
Friday's Supreme Court decision to recognize same-sex marriages nationwide set off celebrations of LGBT Pride throughout the country. One celebration, organized by Charlotte Pride, turned into an impromptu block party at Pizza Peel in the heart of Plaza Midwood. Families both straight and gay, elected officials, those running for office and local business owners were among those who showed up to support the LGBT community and celebrate the court's 5-4 decision.
Creative Loafing was there to ask those in attendance what made them want to follow the flags to Pizza Peel following the monumental decision.
"I’m glad we got this ruling becase we had the potential to have the things that have already occurred turned around. It makes all the same-gender couples in North Carolina mobile, they can go anywhere and have their marriage recognized." -David Granberry, Mecklenburg County register of deeds (center), standing with Joey Hewell (left) and Scott Lindsley (right).
"Another chapter of inequality has been closed. We can actually move on and begin our lives. There’s no more fighting for this and it’s an opportunity for us to focus on building our families without devoting so much time to making sure that our families are respected and recognized." - The Charlotte Royals Rugby Club is Charlotte's only gay rugby team and was founded in 2004.
"The United States of America has always been founded on certain principles. Unfortunately, we haven’t always lived up to certain ideals. Today our Supreme Court decided that all U.S. citizens deserve the same opportunity to have a life filled with happiness and love." - LaWana Mayfield (left), Charlotte city council, district 3 representative
"I want everyone to be happy, and today is about happiness. Everyone should be able to make their own decisions. I want to teach my daughter that whoever she wants to be and whatever she wants to do is fine with us, as long as she’s a good person." - Brandon Arnold (left), local resident
"Today is a fantastic celebration, a very historic one but we still have so much to do. People can still get married today and fired from their job tomorrow or turned away from public accomodations or denied housing, so there’s still so much more to do, but we’re happy to celebrate today." -Crystal Richardson (left), local resident
"It's marriage. It's not gay marriage, it's marriage." - Jeffrey Snyder, LGBTQ advocate
"I’m celebrating the fact that Americans all across the country will have marriage equality; that people can be respected, appreciated and included for who they are and they can love who they want to love and be recognized legally in that union." - Jennifer Roberts (horizontal), Charlotte mayoral candidate, with the Charlotte Royals Rugby Club.
"It's about time!" - Milton Irizarry (third from left, in blue shirt), local resident.
Creative Loafing was there to ask those in attendance what made them want to follow the flags to Pizza Peel following the monumental decision.
"I’m glad we got this ruling becase we had the potential to have the things that have already occurred turned around. It makes all the same-gender couples in North Carolina mobile, they can go anywhere and have their marriage recognized." -David Granberry, Mecklenburg County register of deeds (center), standing with Joey Hewell (left) and Scott Lindsley (right).
"Another chapter of inequality has been closed. We can actually move on and begin our lives. There’s no more fighting for this and it’s an opportunity for us to focus on building our families without devoting so much time to making sure that our families are respected and recognized." - The Charlotte Royals Rugby Club is Charlotte's only gay rugby team and was founded in 2004.
"The United States of America has always been founded on certain principles. Unfortunately, we haven’t always lived up to certain ideals. Today our Supreme Court decided that all U.S. citizens deserve the same opportunity to have a life filled with happiness and love." - LaWana Mayfield (left), Charlotte city council, district 3 representative
"I want everyone to be happy, and today is about happiness. Everyone should be able to make their own decisions. I want to teach my daughter that whoever she wants to be and whatever she wants to do is fine with us, as long as she’s a good person." - Brandon Arnold (left), local resident
"Today is a fantastic celebration, a very historic one but we still have so much to do. People can still get married today and fired from their job tomorrow or turned away from public accomodations or denied housing, so there’s still so much more to do, but we’re happy to celebrate today." -Crystal Richardson (left), local resident
"It's marriage. It's not gay marriage, it's marriage." - Jeffrey Snyder, LGBTQ advocate
"I’m celebrating the fact that Americans all across the country will have marriage equality; that people can be respected, appreciated and included for who they are and they can love who they want to love and be recognized legally in that union." - Jennifer Roberts (horizontal), Charlotte mayoral candidate, with the Charlotte Royals Rugby Club.
"It's about time!" - Milton Irizarry (third from left, in blue shirt), local resident.
