2021 Trans March photos: Todd Gill, Fayetteville Flyer
FAYETTEVILLE — The state’s first-ever trans march will return to the downtown area for a second year during the 2022 NWA Pride Festival.
The festival, which has been on hold for two years due to the pandemic, is scheduled for Saturday, June 18, and will feature a variety of events, including the return of the annual NWA Pride Parade.
About 500 people gathered for the inaugural Trans March (see photos) in 2021. The event was organized by NWA Equality to increase awareness for the rights of transgender and gender non-conforming Arkansans, and to raise awareness about issues the community still faces.
Attendees chanted and held signs and banners while marching along Dickson Street and Block Avenue toward the Town Center Plaza on the downtown square for a brief rally that featured several speakers, including Washington County Justice of the Peace Evelyn Rios Stafford, who is the first openly transgender elected official in the state.
Washington County Justice of the Peace Evelyn Rios Stafford speaks at the 2021 Trans March on the Fayetteville square.
Photo: Todd Gill, Fayetteville Flyer
This year’s march will begin at noon and travel west on Dickson Street for a rally planned at the festival main stage in the Walton Arts Center parking lot at the southwest corner of Dickson and West Avenue.
The Pride Parade is also scheduled on Dickson Street, but will move from early afternoon to 5 p.m., according to organizers. The parade route will also be extended to Arkansas Avenue for expected growth of the event, which will be broadcast live on social media platforms, officials said.
Glitterville, the official party of NWA Pride, will also return George’s Majestic Lounge this year, and will feature Symone, the winner of RuPaul’s Drag Race Season 13, along with Fayetteville’s Maddy Morphosis of Rupaul’s Drag Race Season 14. DJ Joe Pacheco will also perform.
Organizers said parade and festival event schedules will soon be available at nwapride.org.
2022 NWA Pride Festival schedule of events
NWA Pride Festival: 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. June 18, Dickson Street & West Avenue, Fayetteville
Trans March: 12 p.m. June 18, Dickson Street, Fayetteville
NWA Pride Parade: 5 p.m. June 18, Dickson Street, Fayetteville
Glitterville: 8:30 p.m. June 18, George’s Majestic Lounge, Fayetteville
More photos from the inaugural Trans March
