Proud of Warrenton Pride

Other than a decked-out pick-up truck with a rainbow flag that went honking down Main Street the day Biden was elected in 2020, the LGBTQ+ community in Warrenton generally has a quiet and low-profile presence. As June rolled in this year, I was pleasantly surprised to see several signs of Pride in town. The Deja Vu consignment shop featured a spectrum of rainbow-adorned items in their window display, and a colorful flag hung proudly in front of the store. The Painted Fox tattoo parlor also had a welcoming rainbow flag beckoning patrons with its message, “Everyone is welcome.” In nearly every shop along Main Street that I visited on a Sunday afternoon in June, I saw Pride-themed merchandise.

I learned on Facebook that there is a Warrenton Pride group and that on June 1, Walmart sponsored a Warrenton Pride event at Eva Walker Park. It was a small celebration, but hey, it’s a small town.

As a transplant from the big city of Los Angeles, where Pride is an exciting city-wide extravaganza featuring an extravagant parade, celebrations, and festivities throughout the month of June, I am glad to see people coming out for Pride in our town. It shows that a small town does not mean small-mindedness. Thanks, Warrenton, for supporting the equality, dignity and right to self-expression of all the people living in our great town!