When Joshua Tarro talks about Fayette Pride, he isn’t thinking about the entertainment or the vendors—he’s thinking about belonging. Tarro, owner of Haunted Botanicals, will be among the 40 vendors at Saturday’s inaugural Fayette Pride celebration in downtown Fayetteville this next Saturday. As a husband, father and small-business owner, he says the event represents something simple but deeply meaningful: the chance for families like his to know they belong. “Growing up queer, you are really made to feel othered,” Tarro said. “Not always intentionally by people, but that’s definitely the way that a lot of queer kids grow up feeling.” He believes Pride events help change that. “Pride events are really important to show people—especially young queer kids—that it’s okay to be you,” he said. “There’s nothing wrong with you.” Tarro and his husband moved to Georgia from Michigan more than a decade ago and now live locally with their six-year-old son, who attends school in Fayetteville. Seeing Fayette County host its first Pride celebration, he said, has been encouraging. “It makes me really happy to see that Fayetteville is having a Pride festival,” he said. “I feel like Pride is really important to show people that there is a community that is welcoming and loving.” For Tarro, Fayette Pride isn’t simply an event for LGBTQ+ residents. He hopes it will be a community gathering where allies, families and neighbors come together. “I feel like in a city like Fayetteville, it will be…
*This content (including text, artwork, graphics, photography, and video) was provided by the third party(ies) as referenced above. Any rights or other content questions or inquiries should be directed to such third-party provider(s).
