Pride Charlotte is the newest pride organization serving the local GBLT community in Charlotte , NC , and the greater Charlotte areas  Jim Yarbrough and Raine Cole are the co- chairs of the Pride Charlotte Task Force.  The board consists of eleven members who have very specific duties - for example, the "opposition strategies" committee, charged with developing counter-approach strategies against those who plan to disrupt any event hosted by Pride.  

The organization’s name was changed to Pride Charlotte in March 2006. The former Charlotte Pride organization declined to stage the annual pride festival, after experiencing a very difficult year in 2005. "Q-Notes" (the local LGBT newspaper) and the Lesbian & Gay Community Center of Charlotte set up a task force to host the Pride Charlotte Festival, which was held on August 26, 2006 .  The organization was able to utilize private property to host the event, and this allowed them to keep protesters out of the venue. The event was a great success, raising $67,000 - with a surplus of $19,000! Of that surplus, $13,000 was given to the Community Center, and $1,000 to The House of Mercy (a local home for people living with AIDS). The remaining $5,000 was set aside to help fund the 2007 event. The Community Center provides groups like Pride Charlotte with more options in terms of networking, conducting meetings, welcoming local art exhibits, and hosting speakers.  

The theme for Pride Charlotte ’s 2007 pride event is "United For Equality". Some of the pre-pride events are listed here:

• August 18: "POWERfull," a Gay Chorus concert
• August 19: "Gay Day" at Carowinds amusement park
• August 20:  Eric Scott McPherson, producer/director, speaks about his film

                  The Oldest Gay Couple in America

• August 21:  Transgender Empowerment event at The Center
• August 22:  Queen City Theatre Company presents Sordid lives at Sprit Square
• August 22:   Special Pride Show at Scorpio Lounge
• August 23:   Covered Dish Dinner at The Center
• August 24:  "Miss Pride Charlotte" Pageant at Scorpio Lounge
• August 25:  Pride Charlotte Festival, 11:00 am to 7:00 pm
• August 25:  Pride Charlotte After party at velocity

On Pride Day, August 25, there will be a kids’ area to welcome the many children in our community. There will be fun and games for the kids.  The event promises to be family- friendly and diverse, with entertainment on stage from 11:00 am until 7:00 pm , vendors selling their products, and vital information being provided to, for, and about our community.

Pride Charlotte is a member of the Inner Pride Organization, is partnered with local church- and community-based organizations, and is a project of The Lesbian & Gay Community Center of Charlotte . For more information concerning Pride Charlotte, please go to www.PrideCharlotte.com or contact Jim Yarbrough, Co-chair of Pride Charlotte at jim@pridecharlotte.com