There is a community of support for you. “The Episcopal Church is a very open and inclusive denomination, and St. Mark’s has always been in the forefront of gay and lesbian issues.”
Posted on by Richmond Times Dispatch
Saturday’s VA PrideFest on Brown’s Island was the first for 15-year-old Nic Carwile.
“I came out to my mom last year,” said Carwile, of Chesterfield County, who identifies as transgender. “It’s really nice to see people who are the same as you.”
Carwile and a group of friends stopped at a tent hosted by St. Mark’s Episcopal Church in Richmond. “It’s just really nice to see that a lot more churches are opening their hearts.”
Festival-goers spent a muggy day enjoying live music, food and beer at the annual LGBTQ celebration, one of numerous held across the state throughout the year. Businesses and corporations continue to increase their support for the festival and the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community.
“The Episcopal Church is a very open and inclusive denomination, and St. Mark’s has always been in the forefront of gay and lesbian issues,” said Bill Martin, a church member who was helping staff the tent. “Every PrideFest is helpful. It gives you an opportunity to see that there are other gay people around, and it shows that there is a community of support for you out there as a gay or lesbian person.”