The Annapolis Pride Board of Directors has made the difficult decision to postpone the Parade and Festival until June 4, 2022 to prioritize the health and safety of the entire community. It had been scheduled to take place on Oct. 30, 2021.
“We were hopeful that we could come together in person to celebrate in October, but with the resurgence of the COVID pandemic and stalling vaccination rates, in combination with the fact that children under 12 cannot be vaccinated at this time, the risk to the community is just too high,” said Annapolis Pride Founder and Board chair Jeremy Browning. “The Delta variant is on the rise in Anne Arundel County and across the country. This variant is more transmittable and potentially more deadly to unvaccinated populations than the original strain.
“If you have not already done so, please get the vaccine,” Browning added. “Also, please encourage your friends, family, and neighbors to get vaccinated to help stop COVID and the Delta variant.”
Information on Anne Arundel County and other nearby vaccination sites can be found here.
The Annapolis Pride Parade and Festival is an important celebration that brings visibility and awareness to the LGBTQ+ community and the decision to postpone was not made lightly, Browning said.
“We look forward to hosting small in-person events, vaccine clinics, and virtual events this fall,” he added.
Participants of the parade and festival will have their registration rolled over to the new date on Saturday, June 4, 2022. Any group unable to attend next June may request a refund. Parade and festival volunteers will also receive communications with the next steps in the coming weeks.
Annapolis Pride is a volunteer-run, grassroots nonprofit that advocates for the LGBTQ+ community all year round. Please email [email protected] to get involved.
