The newly established Martinsville Pride Coalition, in conjunction with Blu Tattoo in Uptown, held its first fundraising event on June 23 and raised more than $2,000. Many local businesses teamed up to help raise money for the coalition and give members of the LGBTQIA+ community a place to congregate.
The event had the shop filled with different customers, with many willing to wait several hours to get a pride tattoo. Food items, haircuts, piercings, and 3D printed goods were some of the other items being offered to help benefit the coalition. Volunteers worked to help run the event, and provide face paint for children who were too young to get official body art.
“I feel like the pride event went really, really well. We had a lot of people, and it was a great turnout,” said Carter Tanney, a tattoo artist. “For not planning a lot of planning, I feel like we had a really great turnout.”
Owner Lara Blair said that two of her clients “got a little misty, and teared up a little bit,” while getting their tattoos. Another customer said, “it was the first time they had felt comfortable getting a tattoo in more than four years.”
Zackary Hopper, who drove from Greensboro, N.C., said, “I was really quiet about who I was as a person, and I am learning about the various ways to express who I am, which brings me to the event in Martinsville.”
He said that he felt it was important to support the LGBTQIA+ scene in Virginia and that traveling to the event was “fun.” He had a rose with the bisexual pride flag colors placed on his arm.
“I feel like I am truly myself now, and there’s no better way to mark such an important time in my life with artwork that reflects that for me,” he said.
More benefit events are planned with the Friday 13th event. The Pride Coalition will host a health relationship series on Thursdays from 6 to 7:30 p.m., July 11 to August 6 at the Virginia Harm Reduction Coalition office in Collinsville. It is open to all.
