Stay Safe, Stay Fabulous: Safeguarding Yourself at Pride Festivals

By Lauren Means

It’s pride festival season! This means music, friends, dancing, and making memories. Here are some key things to remember to keep yourself (and others) safe while having fun in the sun. 

Sun and Heat

June is Pride Month. June is also when we see some of the warmest weather in the South. For the festivals taking place in the heat of the summer, it’s important to be weather-aware. Depending on your area, you might need to dress in layers to accommodate hot days and cooler evenings. Wear proper and comfortable shoes. We all want to look cute but leave the heels at home.

Make sure you are wearing sunscreen. Dermatologists recommend zinc or titanium dioxide sunscreen with an SPF of 30 or higher. The key is to apply 15 minutes before exposure and reapply every two hours or after excessive sweating or water activities. 

It’s also imperative to stay hydrated. You can become dehydrated quickly without even realizing it. Most festivals allow you to bring empty water bottles to refill at designated water refill stations and some allow hydration packs. Be sure to take advantage of these opportunities. 

Avoid excessive consumption of alcohol or caffeinated drinks such as energy drinks and coffee as they can dehydrate your body further. A good rule of thumb to stay hydrated while drinking alcohol is to drink a glass of water between each alcoholic beverage. 

If you start to feel overheated, seek out shaded areas. Some festivals also have fans or misting stations set up. If you cannot find shaded areas or symptoms persist, check in with first aid/medics for attention. Additionally, if you come across someone experiencing dehydration or heat exhaustion, don’t just ignore them. You should alert security or medics so they can get proper assistance.

Safety in Numbers

While we hope pride festivals are safe environments, there’s always a chance that bad actors are out there. Be aware of your surroundings and follow your gut. It’s recommended to travel in groups or to use a buddy system. Specify a meeting place in case your group gets separated. Utilize security and first aid tents if you feel unsafe or if someone is harassing you. 

Keep valuables at home and keep your belongings secure and with you at all times. If you need a bag, opt for a fanny pack or cross-body bag to keep contents within eyesight. Most festivals may not allow personal self-defense items like pepper spray or pocket knives, but a personal alarm that can sound an alert would be a good investment. 

Share your daily schedule with someone who won’t be with you. Let them know who you’ll be with and keep them updated if plans shift. Write down the phone numbers of friends or family on paper as a backup in case your phone battery dies.

If you see something, say something. You don’t have to confront someone if you have a concern but if something seems off or out of place, let someone know so it can be checked. 

Recreational Activities

If you choose to drink while out, it’s good practice to not accept drinks from someone you don’t know or don’t trust. Never leave your drink unattended but, if you do, get a new one. Even when you have your drink in sight, try to keep your drink covered. Slipping something into a drink is more difficult if these precautions are taken. Some bars, like Frankie J’s and Diskin Cider, are Safe Bar certified by the Sexual Assault Center of Middle Tennessee and provide drug detection coasters to detect the presence of GHB and Ketamine.

While we do not promote the use of drugs, we want to make sure if you do partake, you do it responsibly. Don’t accept drugs from people you don’t know. Embrace drug checking with items like fentanyl test strips. Have naloxone available. The fastest way to reverse a fentanyl overdose is with Narcan. Don’t mix drugs. Most drug-related deaths occur from combined drug intoxication. You can find more information about preventing drug overdose deaths and order supplies at https://tennesseeharmreduction.com/.

Protests

There are two types of protests to address. First are the individuals who come to express their dislike of the festival. Organizers typically have a protocol for people who want to protest an event. Ignore these individuals and allow event organizers to handle these situations. They are usually just trying to get a reaction out of eventgoers and many are not even members of the community in which they are protesting. If you witness violence against a festival attendee, bring attention to the situation by being loud, making your presence known, making a scene, and recording the situation if — you’re able. Always alert festival staff and security of the problem immediately.

The second type of protest is a demonstration staged by our community to speak out about the treatment of the LGBTQ+ community. This is not typically in alignment with the actual festival and is started by an independent group. If you decide to participate in a demonstration or protest, don’t go alone, have your phone fully charged, and let someone know you will be in attendance. Remember, even peaceful demonstrations have the potential to become physical and even violent. If you are detained, programs like the LGBTQ Fund (https://www.lgbtqfund.org/) can sometimes assist with bail.