Pride Winston-Salem

Per its own site, Pride Winston Salem's mission is 'to celebrate our culture, honor diversity, inspire engagement, promote inclusion, provide community outreach, and educate our friends, allies, and supporters on equal rights for all.' [pridews.org] Pride Winston Salem is a registered 501(c)(3) organization supported by volunteers. [pridews.org] The organization's listed address is 380 Knollwood Street, Suite H #315, Winston-Salem, NC 27103. [pridews.org] The organization runs the Pride Winston-Salem Festival, Parade, and Food Truck Rodeo. [pridews.org] Winston-Salem's first Pride parade was held in 1996, drawing approximately 10,000 supporters, alongside 12,000 counter-protesters. [www.yesweekly.com] The city did not hold another Pride festival or parade until 2011, which drew about 1,500 attendees (less opposition than in 1996). [www.yesweekly.com] There was no Pride parade in 2012; since 2013 there has been one every year except 2020 and 2021, when municipal celebrations were canceled due to the pandemic. [www.yesweekly.com] 12,000 people attended the Winston-Salem Pride parade in 2014; per this article, the 2024 parade drew a record 56,000 celebrants. [www.yesweekly.com] Winston-Salem held its first Pride Festival ten years before Greensboro held its first Pride festival (Greensboro's debuted in LeBauer Park in 2006 with about 400 attendees). [www.yesweekly.com] Per the Human Rights Campaign's Municipality Equality Index, Winston-Salem scored 92% in 2024, 90% in 2023, 92% in 2022, 87% in 2021, and 54% in 2020 — never reaching a perfect 100% score. [www.yesweekly.com] As of this June 2025 article, Jerry Morin is identified as Pride Winston-Salem President. [www.yesweekly.com] Pride Winston-Salem President Jerry Morin, discussing safety planning for the 2025 event. [www.yesweekly.com] The 2025 Pride Winston-Salem Festival, Parade, and Food Truck Rodeo was held Saturday, June 14, 2025, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. in the Downtown Arts District, with the parade beginning at 11 a.m. on 4th Street. [www.yesweekly.com] Jamie Lawson, artistic director of the Winston-Salem Theater Alliance, served as Grand Marshal of the 2025 Pride Winston-Salem parade. [www.yesweekly.com] As of this June 2026 article, Kandi Villano is identified as Pride Winston-Salem President. [www.wfdd.org] Pride Winston-Salem President Kandi Villano on her goal for the event. [www.wfdd.org] The 2026 Winston-Salem Pride parade and festival ran from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Trade Street downtown, with more than 200 vendors and 21 food trucks; the parade itself started at 11 a.m. on Fourth Street. [www.wfdd.org] Pride Winston-Salem states its purpose in these terms. [pridews.org] It is a 501(c)(3) supported by volunteers, at 380 Knollwood Street, Suite H #315, Winston-Salem, NC 27103. [pridews.org] Its annual event comprises a festival, a parade and a food truck rodeo. At the time of capture the organisation was recruiting volunteers and board members, and the site carried a parade route and parking information. [pridews.org]

“Given the current political environment and the dismantling of LGBTQ+IA rights that we have fought years for, we see increased challenges in creating and maintaining a safe space for our community. Many in the community don’t feel safe in large public gatherings. We have taken additional precautions working in conjunction with the Winston-Salem Police Department and Forsyth County Sheriff’s Office.” [www.yesweekly.com]

“We strive to make it a safe space for our community. With everything going on, and the targets on everybody's back, the fact that we're getting such support from downtown, our vendors, and stuff, it kind of makes things a little better. Not great, but a little better.” [www.wfdd.org]

“Our mission is to celebrate our culture, honor diversity, inspire engagement, promote inclusion, provide community outreach, and educate our friends, allies, and supporters on equal rights for all.” [pridews.org]