When N.C. Pride held its first parade in Durham in 2001, there was only one float on the route. The four-door Plymouth decorated like a wedding cake belonged to the organizer’s mother.That same organizer, John Short, says the N.C. Pride Parade has evolved into a 2.5-mile route, 13 commercial floats, 60 vehicles and 110 marching groups this year, to include many from Duke University.“When I see the young kids, the college students participating, when I was their age, I would never have been able to do this,” said Short, the volunteer executive director of N.C. Pride who is retired. “I would never have been able to be out, and think it’s just a wonderful thing for them to express themselves and be comfortable.”This Saturday, West Main Street in Durham will be transformed by blue body paint, balloon backpacks and rainbow flags from morning to evening with a 5K run, the parade and festival on Duke’s East Campus.The parade begins at 1 p.m. at the intersection of West Main Street and Campus Drive, and will turn right on Broad Street. From Broad Street, the parade will turn left on West Knox Street, then head down Ninth Street back to its starting point on Main. The festival is from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on East Campus.Daniel Kort, student president of Blue Devils United, Duke’s LGBTQ group for undergraduate students, has attended the parade for the past two years and will again this year. He rides the Duke float decorated by Duke’s Center for Sexual and Gender Diversity. “I would describe the pride parade as a sensory overload in the best way possible,” Kort said. “There’s of course a lot of rainbows, and you can see a lot of enthusiasm in the crowd and there’s all this great music. And it’s really just like, ‘football tailgate goes queer.’”N.C. Pride began as a public demonstration in the 1980s on Duke East Campus for gay and lesbian rights. Duke was the only place at the time that allowed the LGBTQ group to hold a demonstration, said Short, the volunteer executive director of N.C. Pride.

N.C. Pride’s 30-year anniversary theme, “Reflections of Pride,” will look back at the history of the statewide event. Stories and articles from past editions of the N.C. Pride Guide, a booklet of LGBTQ resources handed out during the festival, will be reprinted in this year’s guide to “look back at what we’ve accomplished,” Short said. N.C. Pride Events The N.C. Pride Parade and Festival includes an outdoor film screening, 5K run/walk, guest speakers and more: Friday, Sept. 26 8:30 p.m.

Durham Central Park

The Full Frame Documentary Film Festival will show a free screening of “The Case Against 8,” about the historic case to overturn California's ban on same-sex marriage.



Saturday, Sept. 27 8:30 a.m.

West Main Street and Campus Drive

The N.C. Pride 5K Run will send runners and walkers around the perimeter of Duke East Campus. Register online.



11 a.m. – 1 p.m.

East Campus Quad

Blue Devils United and Duke Student Government are hosting a pre-party with free food and live music.



11:30 a.m.

Join the Duke Center for Sexual and Gender Diversity and other community members in decorating Duke’s parade float, which will be located across from Domino’s Pizza at 1209 W. Main St.



Noon

East Duke Building portico

Hear from speakers, dignitaries and listen to special performances during the pre-parade Pride Rally, to include Chapel Hill Mayor Mark Kleinschmidt and Jennifer Rudinger of the ACLU of North Carolina. Carrboro Mayor Lydia Lavelle will serve as parade marshal. 1 p.m.

The parade starts at the intersection of Campus Drive and West Main Street. For the route map, click here.

Benjamin Reese Jr., Duke’s vice president for institutional equity, participated last year in the parade by walking alongside the Duke float and with Duke groups, and he is planning to attend again.

“It’s one of those events through the years that just highlights the inclusivity of the Duke environment,” Reese said. “It’s the kind of parade where people are just elated to be together.”

Duke’s Center for Sexual and Gender Diversity is inviting members of the Duke community to get involved in the parade. The center staff will meet before the parade starts to decorate the float and pass out glitter, whistles, beads and flags, said India Pierce, the center’s program coordinator. The Duke community is invited to join the Center in decorating Duke’s parade float starting at 11:30 a.m. on Sept. 27.

The float will be located across from Domino’s Pizza at 1209 W. Main St. Individuals also can contact the Center if interested in riding or marching with the Duke float during the Pride Parade.“Everyone is interested and committed to creating affirming spaces for LGBTQ people, and for that to be shown in such a visible way, that makes me happy,” Pierce said.

See how Duke undergrads celebrated the 2014 Pride Parade.