Hundreds Party for a Cause at Pride at Night in Raleigh

The music blared and the glitter was on point Saturday night when hundreds of rainbow-clad LGBTQ community members and allies lit up the streets outside Legends Nightclub in downtown Raleigh at the Pride at Night Festival.

The block party was aimed to spread awareness, promote education and provide financial resources to the LGBTQ community at large, according to organizer Brandon Moore.

The festival not only celebrates the history of Pride — commemorating thirty years since Raleigh’s first Gay Pride celebration, when over two thousand marched from N.C. State’s Memorial Bell Tower to Capitol Square on June 25, 1988 —  but also looks to the future of advocating for LGBTQ rights.

The proceeds from the event are being donated to Crape Myrtle Festival, which provides support for people with HIV and AIDS.

“For us, it’s not just this community, but it’s all inclusive,” Moore said. “All walks of life, of people. Looking at the smiles and expressions on people’s faces, this is everything.”

Drag queens lit up the stage lip syncing and dancing with the crowd in neon capes and sparkly bodysuits while a diverse and colorful crew of attendees packed the streets to explore vendors and learn about various community organizations.

Beyond the main stage, queens Vidra Jones and Genesis Carter mingled with passers-by flaunting decadent rainbow attire.

“I was one one of these people walking around and taking it all in and now look I’m this big old drag queen,” Jones said, laughing under a massive tower of red hair.

Up the street, Matthew Glenn, president of LGBTQ Democrats of Wake County, urged attendees to take their energy to the polls in November at a booth alongside Allison Dahle, who won her Democratic primary for a seat in the state House of Representatives in May.

“Being queer is a political issue,” Glenn said. “Using this venue is important to make sure people know their rights and agency is at risk.”

Holding a hand-drawn sign with a Spongebob meme, Durham resident Mani Antoine watched the drag show from afar, saying she was digging “all the gay energy.”

“We just love each other,” Antoine said.