At Nashville Pride, festivalgoers celebrated LGBTQ rights but worried about the future

The Nashville Pride parade on Saturday was a celebration of LGBTQ rights and community. It led into a two-day festival at Bicentennial Park.

But there was also a tinge of worry underneath the celebration, as people couldn’t help but have the recent Supreme Court ruling on their minds.

Blaise Gainey WPLN News

Festivalgoers pose at the 2022 Nashville Pride Festival

Music, food, games and people sporting their favorite rainbow-themed clothing filled the downtown area over the weekend. Festivalgoer Evan Clendening, a Nashville resident, came out to enjoy the action. 

“Oh, I love it. it’s my first one I’ve been to. Didn’t really know what to expect but I enjoyed the parade and everybody just really being accepting,” said Clendening.

Blaise Gainey WPLN News

Festivalgoers pose at the 2022 Nashville Pride Festival

But after the Supreme Court decision on the Dobbs case, which initiated an impending abortion ban in Tennessee, some people at Pride said they were concerned about LGBTQ rights too: In a concurrent opinion, Justice Clarence Thomas mentioned that the court should reconsider the decision to allow same-sex marriage. 

Isa Cruz a Nashville resident says Thomas’s statement is shattering. 

“Loving someone and kind of having that recognized by the general public and community — that doesn’t need to be a question, right?” asked Cruz. “It kind of just tears at very essential fabrics of the community.”