Birmingham Pride Parade draws protesters ‘trying to provoke people’

The annual Birmingham Pride Month celebration is underway, but the event has drawn a group of protesters looking to stir up tension. A social media report has already confirmed the presence of individuals stationed near the parade route with the apparent intent to provoke attendees.

Parade Kickoff Amid Protests

The Central Alabama Pride Festival & Parade officially kicked off at 8 p.m. this evening, centered at 32nd Street S and 7th Avenue.

According to a report on the Birmingham subreddit, attendees have been alerted to protesters near the intersection of 29th Street S and 7th Avenue S. User URA_qwerty shared an image of two men carrying signs with messages such as, “The kingdom of God is at hand, Repent and believe the gospel,” and “Turn to Jesus.” The post noted that these individuals appeared to be recording the crowd with a GoPro camera.

Community Response

The local response has been swift, with many on social media emphasizing unity over conflict. One popular comment questioned the motives of the protesters, asking, “What’s it like to be so miserable that you’re out protesting people just trying to enjoy their life?” Another user, moon_haven 77, offered a message of support, stating, “I’ll be marching in the parade with my church and several others. you are loved????never forget that!!”

A Long-Standing Tradition

Josh Coleman, president of Central Alabama Pride, noted that while a small number of protesters appear each year, the event has successfully continued for nearly 50 years.

In a statement provided to 205focus.com, Coleman emphasized the organization's mission: “Our focus remains exactly where it has always been: creating a safe, welcoming, and joyful celebration for the LGBTQ+ community and our allies. We fully expect tonight’s event to be a positive and successful celebration, and we encourage attendees to focus on the spirit of Pride rather than those attempting to distract from it.”