Shelby Pride to resume meetings, events

After two years of dormancy, a group for Cleveland County LGBTQ residents is looking to resume activities this summer.

On Tuesday, Shelby Pride, a nonprofit organization aiming to give safe spaces for LGBTQ folks to use for social activities, trips and to provide education on current issues, will reconvene.

The group was active before the coronavirus pandemic but stopped hosting meetings and events as a safety precaution.

"There is a need for people in the LGBTQ community and their allies to have a place where they can talk about books, current events, movies - to just kind of be who they are," said Dale Guffey, a Shelby resident and advocate for LGBTQ people in the area, who is helping to relaunch Shelby Pride. "There are many folks of a variety of ages who feel they are the only person in Cleveland County who isn't straight and that can be incredibly isolating. We don't want people to feel that they are wrong."

Guffey is working with Galaxy Lineberger, a Shelby business owner and musician, to get the Shelby Pride active again. Lineberger could not be reached for comment for this story.

Guffey said the group aims to resume regular meetings and possibly organize trips for members.

"It's really no different than any other group. (Shelby Pride) is a group where you call somebody up and say let's go get coffee or let's go to Charlotte or whatever to a place where people can exchange resources," she said.

The group has reserved a room at the Eugenia H. Young Memorial Library in Shelby for at 5:30 p.m. on Tuesday. The event will serve as a meet and greet for potential members and to discuss ideas for future events.

Dustin George can be reached at 704-669-3337 or Dustin.George@ShelbyStar.com.