During the past month, Blue Ridge Pride has consulted local health experts, monitored other events, and polled the community.
Following, are the reasons for our decision.
Local Health Conditions Are Not Trending as We Had Hoped
This week we asked Buncombe County Health & Human Services (BCHHS) for their latest update. They reported that they are seeing rates of cases similar to what the county saw in late January 2021. They anticipate that a high level of transmission will likely continue for several more weeks.
Blue Ridge Pride pressed: “Is there any chance that the trend could break before September 25?” The organization had been moving forward, hopeful that the community would see a break in COVID trends. They did not foresee any likelihood that it would do so. In fact, they expect it to continue to increase. Meanwhile, they shared that the hospitals are once again nearing capacity limits.
A Community in Stress
Blue Ridge Pride also recently conducted a survey of festival volunteers, exhibitors, sponsors, procession walkers, healthcare practitioners, and the community at large. Some urged to keep the festival going: “we really need this!” … “outdoors can be safe”.
But too many respondents expressed deep concern. People said they had small children, parents, family members and colleagues who are at risk. Many respondents reported having compromised immune systems themselves.
Among those we surveyed, 40% say that, as things stand now, they do not plan to attend any large, outdoor events this month. If risk measures are still rising at festival time, 50% said that they are unlikely to attend the festival. Given that most survey respondents are committed volunteers, exhibitors, and sponsors, this is particularly worrying to organizers.
It isn’t enough to suggest that people with such concerns simply stay away. Blue Ridge Pride doesn’t produce the festival. The community does. Volunteers and community service organizations, most of them stretched to their limits right now, feel a lot of pressure to help make this event happen. Is it fair to ask them to weigh their commitment to community against their health?
Most respondents to the survey prefer that the event requires masks of everyone (84%) or that it requires them if not vaccinated (60%). Eighty-five percent object to a model based on personal choice. A third find a model that encourages masking insufficient.
This poses a problem. Because the festival is held in an open park, organizers cannot easily mandate or enforce proof of vaccination. It would depend on the goodwill of untrained volunteers.
Additionally, Blue Ridge Pride has looked at pictures of outdoor events around the country. Voluntary measures have seemed to have had a low compliance rate. Therefore, the organization had to be honest with itself: it cannot promise to meet the standards expressed by most stakeholders.
A Pride Festival, Under Current Conditions, Runs Counter to the Event’s Core Mission
The final reason cuts to the heart of the organization’s mission. The purpose of the Blue Ridge Pride Festival is to bring a diverse community together for a day of visibility, service, celebration, and dialogue. Organizers pack the park with social justice organizations, community services, corporations, entrepreneurs, artists, faith organizations, employers, health care providers, affinity groups, and government organizations. It invites anyone who comes in good faith to enter a space where all identities are welcome and everyone is celebrated.
The theme of the festival this year is “Inclusion Y’all!” For Blue Ridge Pride, an inclusive festival is one where everyone in the community feels safe and welcome. It would ring hollow to gather for such an event when so many of us feel unsafe or unable to do so.
A Special Thank You … And Next Steps
Blue Ridge Pride wants to offer a special thank you to sponsors, exhibitors, vendors, performers, community partners, and volunteers for the support and trust. The organization will be reaching out to everyone soon to discuss steps for securing refunds or redirecting your support.
Meanwhile, it is are already at work with local organizations and leaders on other community-building initiatives. It is particularly excited about the “Cup of Me” art installation in Pack Square Park. You can visit it in person through September and online starting September 2.
The strips of clothing represent life experiences – good and traumatic. The teacups represent the stories of hope and resilience that we offer to one another. Visit the tree or the online exhibit. Offer up your special cup of tea to share with the community.
Visit blueridgepride.org for additional information.