This year’s Baltimore Pride Week attracted 150,000 people — record attendance that far exceeded initial projections of 100,000. But some see room for improvement and want organizers to address safety issues and make changes so the annual event that celebrates the LGBTQIA+ population is better run.
In comments on social media, people expressed concern about a stampede at a Pride block party after two people got in a fight and a chemical agent was sprayed. Others said the area at North Avenue and Charles Street where Pride was held was left with piles of trash. High fees priced out potential vendors and parade participants, others said.
Some have complained that when they raised these issues that Pride organizers ignored them.
Pride organizers say they have been met with opposition every step of the way. Attempts to move the parade and block party due to a growing number of attendees were met with ire from nearby gay establishments who claimed that their businesses would be hurt financially, the organizers said.
“We’re not sitting here in a bastion of opposition. We’re not sitting here suffering from a critical mass of pushback from the community. We have such a large volunteer push force because we have a lot of support,” said Cleo Manago, head of the Pride Center, which organizes the event.
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