TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — On Saturday about 1,000 people packed the Kleman Plaza for the 2019 Tallahassee Pride Fest.
Many of the same vendors you might see at other festivals were in attendance, however there were two local churches that were at Pridefest to make a statement.
"I'm hoping in this community people know that they are loved in our church and welcomed in our church, and I hope that impact is to increase the love and acceptance and welcomes to the LGBTQ community." said Fotena Zirps, St. Paul's United Methodist Church
Fotena Zirps from St. Paul's United Methodist Church and Josh Hartstien from St. John Episcopol both say it's an amazing feeling to be supported by their church, because some people don't have that luxury.
"It was actually a church where I could go and be myself and accepted." said Josh Hartstien, St. John Episcopol
"When Jesus says all, our church says all, we mean all." said Fotena Zirps, St. Paul's United Methodist Church
Both churches say while strides have been between the LGBTQ community and religions, there is still room for growth.
Zrips and Hartstien hope someday their churches will allow same-sex people to get married in their church.
"It's actually something that they are working with in the Episcopal churches, in this diocese it's being worked on, so it's coming. It's going to happen." Josh Hartstien, St. John Episcopol
"It's really important that especially in the United States we have a loud voice that says this is unacceptable." Fotena Zirps, St. Paul's United Methodist Church
United Church of Tallahassee and Metropolitan Community Church also went to Pridefest.
