06/22/2026
What a cool flashback moment! Thanks to our friends at the Cabell County Public Library for sharing a little bit of history with us. On this day in 1997, Charleston organizers held the first pride festival with a theme of "Equality through Visibility."
Do you remember the first Pride event you attended in West Virginia? How has life changed in our state since then?
This week’s local history spotlight honors West Virginia’s first state organized pride parade. While Huntington as a city wouldn’t hold a pride parade until 2019, Charleston would hold the state's first pride festival on June 22, 1997. Following the national theme of “Equality through Visibility,” the march would run for about a mile along Kanawha Boulevard from the city office to the capitol building. While the parade was the main focus of the event, the festival would also feature a picnic, musical performances, and local speakers. Of note, this particular celebration began Rainbow Pride of West Virginia's tradition of awarding “Power of One Medals”, which are awards intended for openly LGBTQ+ West Virginia natives who have demonstrated the difference that one person can make within their community. While the first parade only had about 300 attendees, Charleston’s Pride Celebration now hosts thousands as the celebration continues to grow despite legislative pressure. Now, this celebration is just one of many across the mountain state, showcasing the importance of belonging and acceptance.
