Columbia Gay Pride Parade gets tax support again despite protest from some church groups

Despite protests from some religious organizations, the city of Columbia this week again granted public money to the Gay Pride Parade, a growing event City Hall has funded for at least eight years.

City Council granted $47,500 for the Oct. 24 parade, raising to $235,000 allocated to the event during that period from the city’s collection of hospitality taxes on prepared meals, city records show. Funding for the event has grown from $10,000 in fiscal 2009 to $47,500 each of the past two years as the parade has attracted more attendees.

Attendance at Saturday events has risen from 12,000 to 15,000 a few years ago to about 32,000 last year, said Chris Wade, treasurer of SC Pride.

Baptist Convention Public Policy spokesman Mark Hendrick asked council Tuesday not to spend tax dollars on the parade. He said he opposes allocating public money “to fund things like drag queen performances and things like that.”

Hendrick added, “It’s very offensive to me and my family.”

Mike Gonzales, director of S.C. Pastors Alliance, which he said represents more than 500 churches across the state, said the alliance opposes taxes going to “these kind of groups.”

Gonzales said many residents don’t know that council funds the Gay Pride Parade and said council’s action will be communicated to churches in Columbia and across the state.

This story was originally published August 20, 2015 at 2:04 PM with the headline "Columbia Gay Pride Parade gets tax support again despite protest from some church groups."