At the bustling Richmond Ferry terminal on Friday came important reminders that June is Diversity Celebration Month in the city. And this year, the celebration is reaching all corners of the city.
Cesar Zepeda, president and co-founder of the Richmond Rainbow Pride, a growing LGBT advocacy group, helped draw sponsors including Mechanics Bank and other local businesses and individuals to erect 26 banners at various gateways to the city.
Thirteen of the banners commemorate Juneteenth, which celebrates African Americans and the end of slavery, while the other 13 banners celebrate LGBT Pride.
The banners kickstart the busiest month of diversity celebrations yet in Richmond, starting with a Richmond City Council proclamation on Tuesday.
On Friday, May 31, a flag raising ceremony will take place at 10 a.m. at Richmond City Hall that will erect both the Pride and Juneteenth flags.
Then on Sunday, June 2, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., the 5th Annual Richmond Pride Celebration will bring a large slate of live entertainment and fun to Marina Bay Park.
And then on Saturday, June 15, the daylong annual Richmond Juneteenth parade and festival will take place at Nicholl Park.
That’s not all.
“What you’ll see in the month of June is different businesses stepping up to be part of the celebration,” Zepeda said.
The Multicultural Children’s Bookstore in Richmond, for example, has an LGBT book section, and Kaleidoscope Coffee will be serving a Pride latte with rainbows in the drink.
“It’s pretty cool, I’ve already had a sample and it was great,” Zepeda said.
