Today we’d like to introduce you to Erin Anderson.
Hi Erin, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today.
Since I was young, I’ve had two passions: creating special experiences for people and bringing visibility to matters of social justice in all forms, big or small. As early as 8 years old, I have been launching initiatives to improve this world in whatever way I could. Once I got into college, I launched my first business advocating for environmental awareness, sustainability, and the eradication of fast fashion practices. Paired with my pursuit of a Religious Studies and Women & Gender Studies degree, my passions continued towards creating equality, advocating for voices going unheard, and educating my community on a more inclusive future.
In 2019, I started working at The Mercantile as a retail associate. The Mercantile, owned by Brittany Kelly, quickly became known as a place of solace and safety in our community shortly after opening in November 2018. In 2020, The Mercantile hosted its first Anti-Bullying Drag Show, launching the business’s dedication to the LGBTQIA+ community. Following the overwhelming response of our LGBTQIA+ community’s feeling of safety, visibility, and validation, it became The Mercantile’s goal to continue to create an inclusive space for everyone in our small, Southern town.
After the fears of COVID-19 subsided, we sought to host our town’s first-ever Pride Festival in the summer of 2021. We chose the anniversary of the historic Stonewall riots as the date of our inaugural festival. With two weeks to plan, Brittany and I were able to coordinate an outdoor festival of 30 vendors and three events and raise approximately $10,000 in sponsorships. This festival became foundational. We were receiving both good and bad attention from all walks of life. We knew we had to keep going and keep growing.
By the following year, we attempted to grow our festival by applying to use a public parking lot or permit for a road closure to host our Outdoor Festival, as many other festivals do in our town. To our discouragement, we were denied our request. So we moved to private property, where we could safely host our festival without concern for the city. We grew exponentially in 2022. Still, only Brittany and I, our team of two, were able to raise almost $40,000, expand to 15 events, and coordinate an Outdoor Festival with 100 vendors. We did this with the support of local community members, families, small businesses, and others who were passionate about seeing this festival succeed.
In 2023, our festival continued to grow on private property. With over 15,000 attendees, we created a safe space in a place where only a few feel safe still to this day. Being a part of this festival and being able to coordinate it throughout the past three years has fueled my soul beyond belief. The stories I’ve been a part of will always be with me. I cannot wait to continue to be able to advocate for this festival and for the visibility and representation of our LGBTQIA+ community for years to come.
Can you talk to us about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned? Looking back, has it been easy or smooth in retrospect?
I’ve found that social justice work (especially in the South) is a challenging road. With advocacy for those who frequently go unseen comes a response to keep things that way. Living in a town famous for its historical injustice was difficult. Dealing with angry citizens is one thing, but we never thought we’d experience such difficulty getting a simple road closure or permit to use a parking lot. It makes you sit back and wonder how we are still dealing with such blatant discrimination and lack of consideration for people in our community. However, despite difficulties with permits and road closures, we’ve always found a way to persevere. While hopefully, our festival will be formally recognized one day, we will continue fighting for the visibility of our LGBTQIA+ community and our festival.
Thanks for sharing that. So, could you tell us a bit more about your business?
Rock Hill Pride Festival has not had an easy journey, but it’s been a heart-bursting, soul-filling, and life-changing. Not only has it changed the lives of those coordinating, planning, or volunteering, but it’s also changed the tone of our LGBTQIA+ community. With our festival being solely funded by sponsorships from local businesses and community members, it’s proven how many incredible businesses and people in this community are here to support, uplift, and validate those who identify as LGBTQIA+. It’s opened the door to countless resources, from churches to therapists to travel agencies. Some places here want to be a part of this community, see people thrive in their individuality, and truly feel safe being who they are. Rock Hill Pride Festival will continue to connect this community by bridging the gap between what’s always been here and what’s being seen. We will always advocate and work towards people being allowed to express their true selves without fear and know they have an incredible community that has their back and supports them through it all.
Can you talk to us about the role of luck?
The role of luck led me to be a part of the Rock Hill Pride Festival. Good luck got me a job at The Mercantile, to meet Brittany and open the door for me to be a part of the founding of this incredible festival. It was also luck that people showed up. It took significant bravery and boldness for anyone to stand up in bold support of this festival, especially businesses genuinely concerned that it could ruin them. While we’ve been dealt some bad luck regarding protestors or organization difficulty, we’ve always turned it around for the better. We will continue to spin straw into gold and create something beautiful out of the mess.
Contact Info:
- Website: rockhillpride.com
- Instagram: rockhillpride
- Facebook: rockhillpride
Image Credits
The Rock Hill Drone Guy
