Pride events are really popular, and they are an excellent way for members of the LGBTQ community to come together. It is a way for people to come together to show and advocate for equal treatment, support, love, and acceptance.
It can be a great event for those who haven’t yet come out too, to be surrounded by people that understand the difficulties that you face. These people will fight for you to be able to live your life as your authentic self. And that can be really comforting.
You also don’t have to disclose any personal information such as your gender identity of sexuality, as many allies also attend Pride.
If you’ve chosen to go to a pride event this year, I can guarantee you it will be such an exciting day filled with vibrancy and fun. However, there are a few things that you’ll need to know before you attend.
This is because there are some things that are prohibited at these events and you will have certain items confiscated should you bring them with you.
Generally, food and drink are prohibited at the events for example. However reusable or refillable bottles are allowed as long as they contain water or non-alcoholic beverages.
Throughout this article, we’ll take a closer look at what items are and are not allowed at Pride events.
Can I Bring Water?
As mentioned above, yes you’ll be allowed to bring water to your Pride event given that it is in a reusable water bottle. In fact, bringing water is actually encouraged.
There are several water refill stations within the festival. The festival is a long day and when the weather is hot you can risk being dehydrated, so it’s really important to ensure that you are drinking water regularly throughout the event.
It may be checked to ensure that water is inside it though, since some individuals may try to sneak alcohol into the event which is prohibited.
Security Measures
Most Pride events work with both local and state authorities to keep all those in attendance safe, so it’s vital that you listen to any advice given by security.
Keep in mind that they are there for your protection so it’s in your best interest to follow all rules.
And that includes following the list of allowed and prohibited items. Any prohibited items that are found on your person will be confiscated and they will not be held for later pickup.
So, it’s really not worth trying to sneak anything in, because you’ll lose the item and the money that you’ve spent on it.
With that in mind, if you see any suspicious activity or behavior while in the event, you should always speak to the security staff. They’ll be noticeable in their plain-clothed uniform.
While having fun is the number one objective, your and others’ safety is a major concern.
Prohibited Items
The following list shows both items and activities that are prohibited during pride.
As mentioned above, if you are bringing in or engaging in any of the following, any items will be confiscated and you may be asked to leave. All bags, coolers, and backpacks will be searched before entering P
Items
Amplified Sound Systems
Generators
Fireworks
Grills/Fryers
Kerosene Lamps (Or Open Flames Of Any Kind)
Laser Pointers
Alcohol Not Purchased On The Premises
Food Not Purchased On The Premises
Noise Makers
Tents/Stand Umbrella/Tarps
Weapons Of Any Kind
Scooters/Bikes
Activities
Disorderly Conduct
Flying/Using Drones
Littering
Advertising, Promoting, Or Selling Any Third Party Product
What Items Are Allowed
Blankets
Lawn Chairs
Strollers (Including Wagons)
Coolers (Non-Alcoholic Drinks Inside Only, They Will Be Checked At The Gate)
Water Bottles/Non-Alcoholic Drinks
Code Of Conduct
Now that you know what you can and can not bring to a Pride event, let’s take a closer look at how you are and are not expected to behave.
Pride events are welcoming and accepting spaces for LGBTQ+ members and allies. Therefore the code of conduct centers around ensuring that the event stays this way and that the individuals attending are being treated with courtesy and respect.
Celebration Of Past Struggles And Future Possibilities – This is essentially the core of pride and why it is important. The event recognizes the difficulties that the members of the community face daily and asks all participants of the event to remember, embrace, and respect this.
Safe Space – The festival is known for being a safe space for those who are often threatened due to their sexuality. This is why there is a complete zero-tolerance policy on threatening, harassing, offensive or violent behavior. This goes for volunteers and staff, artists and performers, festival goers and parade participants, as well as security personnel or members of the public.
Celebration Of Diversity – There is also a zero-tolerance policy for any derogatory comments about a person’s race, age, sex, gender identity, ethnicity, sexual orientation, size, wardrobe, physical ability, religion, or economic status.
Pride is a really fun event, and essentially the code of conduct asks that we allow everyone to enjoy their day without them having to face abuse of any kind for any reason. As long as you are loving and supportive, you really shouldn’t have an issue throughout the event.
How To Get Help
While you should expect the best time, it is always best to be prepared for the worst-case scenario. Should you find yourself needing help when you are at the Pride festival, here are some places that the event has ensured are there to help:
Medical Emergencies
If you find that you or someone you know needs medical assistance for any reason you will find the medical tent located by the main entrance. You can also ask any member of staff for help.
Remember that your safety comes before anything else. Medical staff will be there to keep you safe, they are not there to get you into trouble. So always be honest with the medical staff, even if you have broken the rules of the event.
If you see anyone who looks like they need help, please try to look for the nearest staff member or personnel with a radio. They will be able to further assist you and the individual.
Questions
If you have any queries at all, you are more than welcome to take a stroll to the information tend which can be found at the north end of the festival.
Lost & Found
Any items that are found during or after the festival will be taken to the Information Tent where they will be held for the following 2 weeks.
Final Thoughts
Pride is a great event that you are sure to have a great time at. And I wish you the best of times attending!
Remember that refillable bottles of water are not only allowed but encouraged at the event, but that any other food and beverages will need to be purchased inside the event.
From this article, you should also now have a better understanding and idea of what you can and cannot bring with you as well as how you will be expected to behave.
Hello, my name is Gay Worlley - no, really - and I love learning about all things queer. I am also a qualified gardener and enjoy traveling in my spare time.
I love sharing my travel stories with anyone who will listen, and now I want to share them with the world through my new website! Not only that, but I want to inspire others and teach you about LGBTQ+ travel, queer media, pride, and much more.
Enjoy my website and, more importantly, enjoy learning about important subjects that need more educational attention. Thanks for stopping by!
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