Waynesville residents praise pride flags, tell council Bridal on Main felt inclusive

Dozens of residents urged the Town of Waynesville council on July 8 to stand by the pride flags displayed on Main Street during the June 28 Bridal on Main festival, saying the banners made the event safer, more welcoming and economically beneficial for local merchants.

Reverend Mary Clayton McLaughlin, an interfaith minister, told the council, “When I saw the pride flags waving along Waynesville… it made my heart sing.” Several speakers framed the flags as a statement of inclusion and local hospitality rather than a political provocation.

The debate drew a large public turnout: the town attorney noted more than 20 people had signed up to speak. Henson Sturgill, who described himself as a seventh-generation local, said the festival felt like “the good parts of the mountains” and thanked the town and emergency workers for their support. Mitzi Simmons, a retired firefighter of 30 years, said the flags provided “a gesture of inclusion and welcome and safety.”

Max Greenback, identified as a board member of HACO Pride, described the group as “Haywood County’s first fully incorporated LGBTQIA+ 501(c)(3), established May 2024,” and said the organization seeks to provide mutual aid, events and connections for queer people and allied businesses. Greenback added that festival visitors spent money at inclusive shops and that the event’s services included a mobile cooling station and a partnered cooling site on the parade route.

Several speakers said the flags had a positive economic effect on downtown businesses that welcomed festival attendees. Allison Coleman, a business owner who recently moved to the area, said colorful visitors “were buying things” and that merchants who welcomed attendees benefited from the crowd.

Commenters also emphasized safety and mental-health concerns for LGBTQ youth. Lynn O’Hara warned of higher suicide risk among LGBTQ teenagers and described the festival as an important public-affirmation for young people; her remarks cited national statistics discussed during public comment (speakers attributed an approximate fourfold higher rate of suicide attempts among LGBTQ teens and cited 39% considering suicide in the past year, rising to 46% among transgender and nonbinary youth as reported by the speaker).

Speakers who said they had attended Bridal on Main described music, crafts, family activities and a friendly atmosphere. Several said they felt proud to live in a community where the town allowed the flags; others urged those who objected to avoid the event rather than seek to remove it.

Council members did not take a formal vote or issue a new directive on the flags during the July 8 meeting. Council staff earlier in the meeting reminded the public that the council’s regular meeting for July is scheduled for July 22.

The public comment period was limited to three minutes per speaker; speakers spoke from the public comment portion of the agenda and were not acting on behalf of the council. The council may consider the matters raised during future discussions but made no immediate policy change at this session.