OUR HISTORY
Salisbury Pride was first organized by a group of friends who wanted a way to celebrate equality and diversity in Salisbury, NC. The first festival was held in 2011 and Salisbury Pride, Inc. was incorporated as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization in 2012.
Salisbury Pride is managed by a board of directors but would not operate without the tireless work of countless volunteers and supporters.
Salisbury Pride was honored in 2014 to be presented with the Trailblazer Award from the Human Rights Campaign for our work in promoting visibility and increasing public support for and education about the LGBTQ+ community in Rowan County. (Media coverage by the Washington Post and Qnotes)
SALISBURY PRIDE AWARDS
Each year, the board of Salisbury Pride selects the recipients of two awards, which are presented on the Main Stage during the annual festival.
The Salisbury Pride Volunteer of the Year Award is named for Rachel Merkwa, a tireless and dedicated volunteer who we lost in 2022. The recipients of this award embody the same commitment to the success of Salisbury Pride that Rachel showed and have served the organization in a volunteer role with dedication towards "Equality for All."
The Salisbury Pride Ally of the Year Award is named for its first recipient, Ralph Ketner. Widely known as the co-founder and former CEO of Food Lion, the late Mr. Ketner was also a strong supporter of equality and diversity in Rowan County, and we are proud to honor his legacy with this award each year. This award is given to a person or group for outstanding community leadership and for changing hearts and minds in the community.
The Rainbow Award is given at the discretion of the Salisbury Pride Board of Directors in recognition of service to Salisbury Pride and the Salisbury and Rowan County communities.
Recent winners of these awards are:
Rachel Merkwa Volunteer of the Year Award
2023 Dee & Jennifer McGann
2022 Jock Beeker
2022 Sandra Kesler-Kidd & Ellen Kesler
2019 Maddi McDaniel
2018 Tricia Douglas
2017 Steve and Lina Drinkard
2016 Athena Moore
Ralph Ketner Ally Award
2023 Evelyn Medina
2022 Heather & Scott Teeter
2022 Carol Williams-Swoope
2022 Capt. Melonie Thompson
2019 'Tis the Season Spectacular Committee
2018 Maggie Blackwell
2017 Margaret Almeida
2016 Bill Stanback
Prior years:
Lynn Jacek
Rachel Carden & Trisha Merkwa
Julia Thomason
Amy Smith
Bob Lambrecht & Jon Planovsky
Andy Linker
Prior years:
Sue Day Whitley
Ashley Jo Farmer
Mike Clawson
The Cataldo Family
Ralph Ketner
Rainbow Award
2023 Jay Horne & Rob Kent
2022 Tammy Rast