Fort Smith LGBTQ community rallies for Pride Month and reproductive rights

"If your family doesn't love you, I will love you."

"I wanted to kill myself, my life depended on my transition."

"It made me feel alive, I don't normally dress like this, this is something I don't normally do, but I feel so welcomed and so happy to be part of the LGBTQ community."

These resounding messages of support from Fort Smith residents blared through a megaphone off Garrison Avenue.

On Saturday, June 25 the River Valley Equality Center and the Committee for Social Advancement teamed up to host a rally for Pride Month and reproductive rights amid the Supreme Courts overturn of the Roe V. Wade decision.

Phoenix Blair, Fort Smith native who identifies as transgender, decided to speak up at the rally.

"I feel it's very important for trans youth, who were like I was way back when, who've only been told that they shouldn't be alive," she said.

More: River Valley Equality Center connects transgender people to resources, hosts Pride rally.

Charlotte Maresse showed her support at the rally with a sign that read "marriage is about love, not gender."

"It's so important to me for everybody to have somebody because, people are scared to come out," she said "They need to know that they're safe."

Maresse said she was shocked at the news of Roe V. Wade being overturned on Friday, June 24.

"It threw me for a loop because I just cannot believe they would try to think they could take human rights away from us," she said. "That's not okay."

Drag performer and Wesley Fox showed his support at the rally as well.

Fox got his start in drag at Kinkead's in Fort Smith after he went through treatment for Hodgkin's and non-Hodgkin's lymphoma.

"I stay in Fort Smith because I know there's a rich tradition of drag here as far back as the 80s and 90s, that kind of fell off the map," he said. "A year ago I was the one drag queen that lived in Fort Smith, Arkansas."

Now, Fox said there's six drag queens who live and perform in Fort Smith.

A Pride of Greater Fort Smith committee has been in the works according to Fox, who's been the secretary.

"We all have full-time jobs," he said. "We're trying to find those people who have the time who can channel it into something. I do believe that the city, especially the mayor is supportive of a pride celebration."

More: Local activist says Fort Smith isn't doing enough for Pride Month, recalls being stabbed.