Happy Friday! You've all once again gone above and beyond supporting this petition. Thank you, and please continue the wonderful outreach and networking. I look forward to checking off more milestones. Here's another story from a local community member that I'm honored to be able to share. These stories show how much good Lowcountry Pride does in this area, and how much your support matters. Please read through and stick around for some action items below.

When I realized that I was trans, it was not something I particularly wanted for my life, but I knew the cost of trying to hide it was higher than I could bear. I was very hesitant to transition living in South Carolina due to how it can be received by others and the risks I would have to take. I did it anyways. Finding Lowcountry Pride was a huge relief for me. Through them I've found a real community of people who care for each other and encourage each other to grow as loving and compassionate people. I've been able to do education and work to heal the divide that was built between the LGBTQIA community and those who don't have any real exposure to people like me. I can do this because I have support and encouragement. I can be who I am, and I can help others be who they are.

Our community's goal is the same as most small communities, we seek to help people learn about us, we want to ensure when a family does have someone come out to them we can provide compassionate understanding to their position and help them grow so they continue to have a healthy relationship with their LGBTQIA person. And for the many who lost their families and friends due to their lack of understanding, we help them with support and friendship. We seek to place compassionate understanding before judgment, because we've all been hurt and understand we have the ability to give them room to heal and grow. We're not trying to make people be a part of this community, we just want those people who are a part of it to have a place and people who feel like home. That's what I found here, and my life is so much more complete when I didn't ever expect it to be. -  Gwenn McClune

If Gwenn's meaningful approach to compassionate understanding resonates with you like it does with me, please consider sharing some words of support for Lowcountry Pride, an outstanding community nonprofit that does life-changing, life-saving work. 

• You can submit a letter to The Island Packet/Beaufort Gazette: https://www.islandpacket.com/opinion/letters-to-the-editor/submit-letter/
• You can submit a letter to The Island News: theislandnews@gmail.com
• You can write or call the mayor and other council members to express support for the festival. Contact info here: https://www.portroyal.org/Directory.aspx?did=18
• You can plan on attending the next Town Council workshop (9/6) or full council meeting (9/13) to make a public comment or support public commenters. Both meetings start at 6:30 p.m. and are held at Port Royal's Town Hall - 700 Paris Ave, Port Royal, SC 29935. Simply joining supporters in the audience makes a big impact.
• And, of course, you can add the Pride Festival to your calendar and come out to support the event and its sponsors in person! I hope to see you on November 18, 2023 @ Live Oaks Park in Port Royal.